The Hollywood-produced drama “SHOGUN” made history at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2024, winning in 18 categories. This work, based on James Clavell’s novel of the same name set in Japan’s Warring States period, stars and is co-produced by Hiroyuki Sanada, who won the Outstanding Lead Actor Award. Additionally, Anna Sawai won the Outstanding Lead Actress Award, with many Japanese actors involved in the production.

The Emmys are the most prestigious awards in American television, and this 18-win sweep includes 14 technical categories from the Creative Arts Emmy Awards and four major Drama Series categories. These 18 awards mark the highest number ever won by a single season.

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Cast
Tora Yoshi role: Hiroyuki Sanada (“The Last Samurai,” “47 Ronin,” “John Wick: Chapter 4”)
John Blackthorne/Anjin role: Cosmo Jarvis (“Persuasion,” “Calm with Horses”)
Mariko Toda role: Anna Sawai (“Fast & Furious 9,” “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters”)
Shige Kashiki role: Tadanobu Asano (“Ichi the Killer,” “Mongol,” “My Man”)
Oumi Kashiki role: Hiroto Kanai (“The Goldfish: Dreaming of the Sea,” “She’s Gone”)
Kazunari Ishi role: Takehiro Hira (“Giri/Haji,” “Lost Girls and Love Hotels”)
Fujiko Usami role: Moeka Hoshi (“Sayonara Debussy,” “In This Corner of the World”)
Hiroyuki Toda role: Tokuma Nishioka (“Patriotic Girl Red Bushido,” “Call Boy”)
Buntarō Toda role: Shinnosuke Abe (“Lover’s Kiss”)
Muraji role: Yasunari Takeshima (“Silence”)
Nagato Yoshi role: Yuki Kura (“Dog and Scum,” “The Woman of the Dunes”)
Lady Ochiba role: Fumi Nikaido (“No Longer Human”)

Crew
Executive Producers: Justin Marks (“Top Gun: Maverick,” “The Jungle Book”), Rachel Kondo, Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca
Producer: Hiroyuki Sanada
Production: FX Productions

Background and Achievements of Cast and Crew

Hiroyuki Sanada: A renowned Japanese actor who has starred in “The Last Samurai” and “Westworld.” His win as Outstanding Lead Actor at the Emmys marks a historic first for a Japanese actor. Represented by The Riben International.

Anna Sawai: A New Zealand-born actress who appeared in the “Fast & Furious” series. After moving to Japan as a child due to her father’s job, she was selected as the lead in the stage musical Annie from over 10,000 auditionees. She later led the Japanese female vocal group “FAKY” but left to focus on acting, eventually relocating to the U.S.

Cosmo Jarvis: An American-born British actor, musician, and director, known for his roles in “Lady Macbeth” and “Persuasion.”

Tadanobu Asano: Known for “Ichi the Killer” and other international films, Asano has built a reputation in both domestic and international cinema.

Hiroto Kanai: Born in 1992 in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, Kanai made his screen debut in Nobuhiko Obayashi’s “Casting Blossoms to the Sky” and gained recognition with his lead role in “The Goldfish.”

Takehiro Hira: The son of famous actors Kinjiro Hira and Ryoko Sakuma, Takehiro has established a successful international career with appearances in shows like “Giri/Haji.”

Moeka Hoshi: A graduate of Sophia University’s Faculty of Literature, she pursued acting after winning the “Miss iD 2016” contest.

Tokuma Nishioka: A veteran actor from Kanagawa Prefecture, Nishioka’s career spans across stage and screen, including recent work with “Enchante.”

Shinnosuke Abe: Debuted in the TV series “Kamen Rider 555” and continues to build a successful acting career.

Yasunari Takeshima: A Kyoto-born actor, Takeshima is known for his role in Martin Scorsese’s “Silence.”

Yuki Kura: An up-and-coming actor from Osaka, represented by Sony Music Artists.

Fumi Nikaido: A talented actress from Okinawa, known for her critically acclaimed roles in both films and TV.

Production Costs and Reception
With its multicultural elements blending Japanese and English, the series has been highly praised in both the U.S. and Japan, particularly for its authentic portrayal of Japanese history and culture. Although the total production cost has not been disclosed, it is estimated to be on par with other large-scale productions such as “Game of Thrones” or “The Crown,” potentially costing billions of yen per season.

How to Watch in Japan

The Hollywood-produced drama SHOGUN, starring and produced by Hiroyuki Sanada, will start exclusive streaming on Disney+ in Japan on February 27, 2024 (Tuesday). This 10-episode limited series will release two episodes on its premiere, followed by one episode weekly.
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A New Warring States Spectacle Drama on an Epic Scale from Hollywood

In 1980, James Clavell’s bestselling novel SHOGUN was adapted into a live-action drama in America, achieving phenomenal ratings. On Disney+, this legendary novel has been reimagined by the Hollywood production team led by Justin Marks, who co-wrote Top Gun: Maverick, and Rachel Kondo.

When the trailer was released, excitement grew, fueled by the star-studded cast and the breathtaking quality of this production. Set in the turbulent period just before the Battle of Sekigahara, which would decide Japan’s future, the story follows Tora Yoshi, one of the Warring States’ greatest warriors, who is placed in a perilous situation. The drama unfolds when an English pilot, John Blackthorne (later known as Anjin, played by Cosmo Jarvis), is shipwrecked and taken into Tora Yoshi’s household. Tora assigns Mariko Toda (Anna Sawai), a linguist and Christian convert, to serve as Blackthorne’s interpreter. As the two develop a strong bond, Blackthorne’s presence begins to influence Tora’s power. Will Tora be able to conquer the turbulent era alongside Blackthorne?

The series also features an impressive cast, including Tadanobu Asano as Shige Kashiki, a notorious traitor and one of Tora’s closest advisors; Hiroto Kanai as Oumi Kashiki, the young leader of the fishing village where Blackthorne’s ship is discovered; and Takehiro Hira as Tora’s greatest rival, the warlord Kazunari Ishi. Other roles include Moeka Hoshi as the widow Fujiko Usami, grieving the loss of her husband and child while searching for a new purpose, and Tokuma Nishioka as Tora’s trusted retainer Hiroyuki Toda. Anna Sawai’s jealous husband Buntarō Toda is played by Shinnosuke Abe, and Tora’s ambitious son, Nagato Yoshi, is portrayed by Yuki Kura. The series also stars Yuka Mukai as Kiku, a famous courtesan, and Fumi Nikaido as Lady Ochiba, a respected noblewoman willing to stop at nothing to end Tora’s power.

SHOGUN was developed by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, with Marks serving as showrunner and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca, and Kondo, while Hiroyuki Sanada also serves as a producer. The series is produced by FX Productions.

Summary

Hiroyuki Sanada, who debuted in Hollywood with The Last Samurai, has been an iconic Japanese actor while establishing his career in the U.S. for over 20 years. Despite repeatedly giving input on details such as samurai gestures and language, Sanada was often dismissed with, “You are an actor.” This led him to realize the importance of a producer’s role, inspiring him to take on that responsibility himself, which he successfully achieved.

A producer oversees all aspects of a project from its inception to completion, including funding, casting, scheduling, creative direction, and final editing, as well as promotional strategies. They collaborate closely with directors, writers, and studios to ensure the project’s success. Sanada, particularly focused on the script and cultural accuracy, aimed to make a period drama where even Japanese audiences wouldn’t feel out of place. Remarkably, despite being an American production, 70% of the dialogue is in Japanese. Sanada’s goal was to create a work that wouldn’t embarrass his predecessors, while also supporting the talents and challenges of younger Japanese actors. Much like how Hideo Nomo’s success in Major League Baseball paved the way for today’s stars like Shohei Ohtani, Sanada has carved a path that will undoubtedly impact the future of Japanese talent in Hollywood. This series is expected to bring fresh winds to the American entertainment industry.