Japan celebrated the historic success of the television series ‘Shogun’, on Monday, which broke records by winning 18 Emmy Awards. ‘
The series, which tells the story of warring dynasties in feudal Japan, became the first non-English-language show to win the prestigious Best Drama Series award.
Shogun’’s lead actor, Hiroyuki Sanada, made history as the first Japanese actor to win an Emmy. Sanada, who played Lord Toranaga, expressed his excitement, saying, “It was an East-meets-West dream project, with respect.” Anna Sawai, who played Lady Mariko, also won an Emmy for Best Actress, adding to the show’s impressive achievements.
Kiyoko Kanda, a 70-year-old pensioner in Tokyo, shared her pride in Sanada’s success. “As a Japanese, I’m happy Sanada won. He worked so hard since he moved to Los Angeles,” she said. Kanda mentioned that while she hadn’t seen the full series, she watched the trailer and was excited by Sanada’s role. “In *Last Samurai*, Tom Cruise was the lead, but it’s exciting Sanada is the main character in *Shogun*,” she added.
Despite the series’ massive success abroad, it’s only available on Disney’s streaming platform in Japan, which is still relatively new. Otsuka, another resident of Tokyo, shared, “I saw the news and I’m happy he won.” Many in Japan have yet to watch the series but are proud of its international success.
Shogun’s success has also sparked interest among younger generations. Yusuke Takizawa, 41, from Osaka, praised the show’s quality after watching the trailer. “I was impressed by the high-spirited acting, the attention to detail, and the film technology,” he said. “I think many young people will want to try their hand in Hollywood after watching Sanada.”
Tourists, too, shared their excitement. Zara Ferjani, a visitor from London, described ‘Shogun’ as “the best TV show that I’ve seen this year.” She added, “I thought it was amazing… The direction was beautiful, and I really enjoyed watching something that wasn’t in English as well.”
Sanada’s historic win has been trending on social media, with many calling it a major achievement for Japanese actors and cinema.
Director Shinichiro Ueda expressed his admiration on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “He won after many years of trying hard in Hollywood. It’s too cool.”
The series, based on a novel by James Clavell, has been praised for its authenticity, with Japanese spoken throughout most of the show and a focus on historical accuracy.
