At the 2024 Emmys, Shōgun, FX’s historical drama set in 17th-century Japan, scripted history with 18 awards, including Best Drama Series. The series led the Emmy nominations with 25 nominations, setting several records and outpacing all other shows across categories.
Among its triumphs, Shōgun saw both Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai make groundbreaking wins in the Lead Actor and Lead Actress categories, respectively.
Sanada’s portrayal of Lord Yoshii Toranaga, a character modeled after the historical figure Tokugawa Ieyasu, earned him the distinction of being the first Japanese actor and only the second Asian actor to win the Lead Actor Emmy for a drama series. Sanada’s acceptance speech reflected his gratitude toward his cast and crew, stating, “Shōgun taught me that when people work together, we can make miracles.”
Shortly after, Sanada’s co-star, Anna Sawai, made history as the first actress of Asian descent to win the Lead Actress Emmy for her portrayal of Lady Mariko. Sawai’s emotional speech paid tribute to the women who inspire her and to her castmates, particularly Sanada, whom she credited for opening doors for actors like herself. “Thank you to every single one of the crew and cast led by Hiro. He really has opened doors and continues to open doors for people like me,” she said. Sawai’s role in Shōgun had previously earned her a TCA Award for Best Individual Achievement in a Drama.
Shōgun not only marked significant achievements for Sanada and Sawai but also represented a major moment for Asian representation in television. Following the success of Squid Game in 2022, Shōgun became the second non-English-language show to be nominated for Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmys.
Featured Image Source: The Manila Times