Japanese TV Series "Shogun" Makes History at the Emmy Awards

In a groundbreaking achievement, the Japanese TV series "Shogun" has won a record-breaking 18 statuettes at the prestigious Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. This remarkable feat has made "Shogun" the first non-English-language winner of the coveted award for best drama series.

Hiroyuki Sanada, the lead actor who played Lord Toranaga, became the first Japanese actor to win an Emmy Award, alongside Anna Sawai, who won for her performance as Lady Mariko. The series, available only on Disney’s streaming platform, has sparked curiosity among the Japanese public, with many admitting they have not watched the show, but are eager to know how Japan is portrayed.

"I want to watch it. I’m curious to know how Japan is portrayed," said Kiyoko Kanda, a 70-year-old pensioner. "He worked so hard since he moved to Los Angeles," she said, referring to Sanada’s dedication to his craft.

Sanada, 63, began his acting career at the age of five in Tokyo and moved to LA after appearing in "Last Samurai" in 2003. The words "historic achievements" and "Hiroyuki Sanada" were trending on X in Japanese, while Sanada’s speech at the awards racked up tens of thousands of views.

The series, adapted from a popular novel by James Clavell and filmed in Canada, tells the tale of Lord Toranaga, who fights for his life against his enemies alongside Mariko and British sailor John Blackthorne. Breaking away from decades of cliched and often bungled depictions of Japan in Western cinema, "Shogun" features Japanese spoken throughout most of the show, showcasing a new level of cultural and historical authenticity.

Industry professionals and fans alike are celebrating the record-breaking win, with Shinichiro Ueda, director of the hit low-budget film "One Cut of the Dead", tweeting, "He won after many years of trying hard in Hollywood. It’s too cool." Video game creator and movie fan Hideo Kojima, who has described the show as "Game of Thrones in 17th-century Japan", reposted a news story on the win.

Tourists at Osaka Castle, a major historical location for the series, welcomed the record Emmy win, with Zara Ferjani, a 33-year-old visitor from London, saying, "I think was the best TV show that I’ve seen this year. I thought it was amazing… The direction was beautiful, and I really enjoyed watching something that wasn’t in English as well."

Sanada’s achievement has paved the way for more representation of Japan in Western cinema, and fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the next season of "Shogun".