Japan Celebrates Record Emmy Wins for ‘Shogun’

TOKYO (AP) — Japan erupted in joy Monday as the samurai series “Shogun” won a record 18 Emmy Awards for its first season.

The series won numerous awards, including Best Drama Series, as star and co-producer Hiroyuki Sanada became the first Japanese actor to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Anna Sawai She won the award for best actress in a drama series, also a first in Japan.

“You did it. You did it. Congratulations.” Takashi Yamazakidirector of ” Godzilla Minus One”, wrote on social media.

People watched the awards ceremony live, as the wins made national headlines. Entertainment outlet Oricon proudly announced that a work with mostly Japanese dialogue “made Emmy Awards history.”

“The grand scale of Hollywood combined with the high quality of the production, including costumes, props and mannerisms; the collaboration between the professional Japanese crew, led by producer Sanada, and the local production team; as well as the acting that gave a strong sense of realism, all came together,” the report said.

Actor Kento Kaku, who starred in the 2024 series “Like a Dragon: Yakuza” said he felt inspired to pursue his Hollywood dreams.

“After seeing how cool this was, who wouldn’t want to take the challenge,” he wrote on X.

Actress Tomoko Mariya said she burst into tears when Sanada’s victory was announced.

“What a hardship you had to endure choosing to leave your entire career behind in Japan and move to the United States on your own. But it paid off,” she wrote, referring to Sanada’s move to Los Angeles 20 years ago.

The accolades for “Shogun” reflect not only the growing diversity of American entertainment, but also the legacy of Japanese “jidaigeki.” samurai movieswho have influenced directors around the world.

The first Asian actor to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series was Lee Jung-jae, for the 2022 hit Korean series. “Squid Game”.”

Sanada is one of the few Japanese actors to have landed major roles in Hollywood, notably in “The Last Samurai”, released in 2003, and “The 47 Ronin”, with Keanu Reeves in 2013.

The role played by Sanada in “Shogun” was first played by Toshiro Mifune in the 1980s.

Sanada, who also starred in Yoji Yamada In his acceptance speech, “Twilight Samurai,” released in 2002, alluded to those who came before him.

“I thank everyone who has supported and kept the legacy of jidaigeki alive,” he said in his speech in Japanese, holding his trophy.

“The passion and dreams we inherited have crossed seas and crossed borders.”

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Yuri Kageyama is on X: https://x.com/yurikageyama