Hiroyuki Sanada Says He’s ‘Beyond Honored’ While Accepting Lead Actor Emmy for ‘Shogun’

As a cinephile with a penchant for international cinema and a soft spot for historical dramas, witnessing Hiroyuki Sanada‘s Emmy win was nothing short of exhilarating. Having followed his career since his breakout role in The Twelve Kingdoms, I’ve been eagerly awaiting this moment for years.


Hiroyuki Sanada won an Emmy for best actor in a drama series for “Shogun” on Sunday night, graciously thanking his team and co-stars in his heartfelt acceptance speech.

In his speech, Sanada expressed heartfelt gratitude and amazement. “I’m absolutely thrilled to be here alongside such exceptional nominees,” he started. He also acknowledged FX, Disney, and Hulu for their faith in him, and praised his team for their constant support. Lastly, he thanked the entire crew and cast of ‘Shogun’, expressing immense pride in them.

As a cinema aficionado, I couldn’t help but express my sentiments about our collaborative endeavor. It was truly an East-meets-West dream venture, and let me assure you, it resonated deeply with the lessons I learned from ‘Shogun’. When people unite, we can achieve miracles, build a brighter future together. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for this incredible journey!

Sanada became the second Asian actor to claim the Emmy Award for Lead Actor in a Drama Series, surpassing other talented nominees such as Idris Elba from “Hijack” on Apple TV+, Donald Glover from “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” on Amazon, Walton Goggins from “Fallout” on Amazon, Gary Oldman from “Slow Horses” on Apple TV+, and Dominic West from “The Crown” on Netflix.

EMMYS 2024 RED CARPET FASHION: SEE THE BEST LOOKS

For the very first time, Sanada has been nominated for, and won, an Emmy Award as an actor. Moreover, he can claim a share of the nomination for “Shogun” as the best drama series, seeing as he serves not only as an actor but also as a producer on this show.

I’m thrilled to share that the remarkable show I’ve been part of, “Shogun,” garnered an impressive 25 Emmy nominations this year. This makes it the most-honored series in this year’s Emmys. Just moments after my own win, our incredible co-star Anna Sawai was recognized as the best lead actress in a drama series. And to top it all off, within minutes, “Shogun” itself took home the prize for the best drama series Emmy! What an unforgettable night this has been!

The television show is adapted from James Clavell’s novel with the same title, which draws inspiration from actual events in Japanese history. Sanada portrays Lord Yoshii Toranaga, a council member who finds himself battling for his life as the political landscape shifts adversely against him.

Initially planned as a miniseries, it emerged in May that FX was considering “Shogun” for award nominations in the drama series category, suggesting a possible expansion of the storyline into multiple seasons. Shortly thereafter, FX announced their collaboration with the Clavell estate and creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo to develop additional two seasons of the show. Should this plan materialize, Sanada has agreed to reprise his role as Toranaga.

See the full list of Emmy winners from Sunday night here.

Read More

2024-09-16 06:16