Last year at the 75th Emmys —Steven Yeun won Actor in Outstanding Lead in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for the critically beloved “BEEF.” Today, he stood again on the Peacock Theater stage, this time to announce the winner of the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series award to another fellow Asian actor and legendary Japanese icon, Hiroyuki Sanada for his role in “Shōgun.”
Not only did Sanada (who produced the series) make history as the first Japanese actor to win this category at the Emmys, but he is also the second winner of Asian descent for this award, the first being Lee Jungjae in 2022.
“It was an East-meets-West dream project, with respect,” Sanada said of the series. “‘Shogun’ taught me that when people work together, we can make a miracle. We can create a better future together.”
This was not Shōgun’s only win of the evening — it was actually far from it. The FX drama series received 14 wins at last week’s Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, breaking the record for most wins from one season of a series, which was originally held by the HBO series “John Adams” in 2008. Still, the show went above and beyond at tonight’s ceremony,
Anna Sawai was one of those winners; she became the first actress of Asian descent to win the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series award for her role. Sawai was in visible tears as she walked up on stage, smiling ear to ear as she received her award. “I was crying before my name was announced. I’m a mess today.” Before she continued her acceptance speech, thanking co-stars Sanada for opening doors for actors like her and her own mother, helping her portrayal of Lady Mariko.
“You are the reason I’m here, you showed me stoicism and that’s how I was able to portray Mariko.” Sawai said.”This is to all who the women expect nothing and continue to be an example for everyone.”
As the night went on, Frederick E. O. Toye then won another award for “Shōgun” for his role as director of the series’ emotional and turbulent episode, “Crimson Sky.” But that wasn’t all; the series still had one major award to snatch…Outstanding Drama Series
And in a nail-biting few seconds (at least in my living room), “Shōgun” was announced as the winner. The cast and crew made it onto the stage, including series co-creator/executive producer/showrunner Justin Marks, Sanada and Michaela Clavell, the daughter of “Shōgun” writer James Clavell.
Marks thanked the cast and crew from both Japan and North America in his speech before stating the main message of the series. “Shōgun is a show about translation, not what is lost, but what is found when you do safety meetings in two languages and you learn not to walk on tatami mats with your utility boots.”
Sanada then spoke in Japanese, with a translation by Marks, thanking all of the creatives who worked on and loved the samurai genre throughout the years. “The passions and dreams that we have inherited from you have crossed oceans and borders.”
For a full list of Emmy winners check here.
