Japan Celebrates as Shogun Wins Record 18 Emmys
Shogun wins a record 18 Emmys, with Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai making history as the first Japanese actors to win top dramatic series awards. Japan celebrates the momentous achievement.
BollywoodFever: Japan erupted in celebration on Monday as the samurai series Shogun claimed a record-breaking 18 Emmy Awards for its first season. Among the honors, Hiroyuki Sanada made history as the first Japanese actor to win Best Lead Actor in a Dramatic Series, while co-star Anna Sawai took home the award for Best Actress in a Dramatic Series—both marking historic firsts for Japan.
Social media buzzed with congratulations, including a heartfelt message from Takashi Yamazaki, director of Godzilla Minus One: “You did it. Congratulations,” he wrote. The Emmy victories dominated national headlines, and entertainment outlet Oricon proudly highlighted that a production predominantly spoken in Japanese “made Emmy history.
The series was praised for its high-quality production, with Oricon noting the seamless collaboration between Sanada’s Japanese team and the Hollywood crew. “The grand scale of Hollywood combined with the authenticity of Japanese mannerisms and costumes created a strong sense of reality,” they reported.
The accolades have inspired many in Japan’s entertainment industry. Actor Kento Kaku, star of the 2024 series Like a Dragon: Yakuza, expressed his enthusiasm on social media, writing, “After seeing how cool that was, who’s not going to want to take up the challenge?”
Actress Tomoko Mariya was moved to tears upon hearing Sanada’s win. She reflected on the sacrifices Sanada made when he left Japan for Los Angeles two decades ago to pursue his Hollywood dream. “It has borne fruit,” she wrote, applauding his perseverance.
Shogun’s success not only reflects increasing diversity in American entertainment but also showcases the enduring influence of Japan’s jidaigeki (period drama) samurai films, which have inspired directors worldwide. Sanada’s role in Shogun was originally played by Toshiro Mifune in the 1980s version of the series. In his acceptance speech, Sanada paid tribute to the actors and filmmakers who kept the jidaigeki legacy alive.
“I thank all those who supported and kept the legacy of jidaigeki alive,” Sanada said, speaking in Japanese as he held his Emmy. “The passion and dreams we inherited traveled across the seas and crossed borders.”
Sanada’s victory follows in the footsteps of Lee Jung-jae, who became the first Asian actor to win the Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Dramatic Series in 2022 for the Korean hit Squid Game. Sanada, a seasoned actor with roles in The Last Samurai and The 47 Ronin, continues to leave his mark on Hollywood, building on the legacy of Japanese cinema.
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