When Hiroyuki Sanada and I spoke this past summer, the Shōgun star and co-producer was preparing for his first-ever nomination at the Emmy Awards. Though the 64-year-old actor was favored to win, he was stunned when his 17th century samurai series also became the most-awarded single season of television in Emmy history. “It was unbelievable,” Sanada tells me over the phone. “I could never have imagined this would happen.”
Just a few hours after our conversation, Sanada won the Golden Globes Award for Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series — Drama. The event is held in Los Angeles, CA, where Shōgun is also nominated for Best Television Series — Drama. “If it was me alone, there would be more pressure,” Sanada says. But he and his fellow nominees—Anna Sawai (nominated for Best Female Actress) and Tadanobu Asano (who won for Best Supporting Actor)—are looking to add to Shōgun’s potential spoils as well. “Luckily, I’m not alone,” he says.
Sanada getting dressed in his Ralph Lauren tuxedo for the Globes.
In his speech at the Beverly Hilton, the actor thanked “everyone who’s been in my life” and “all of you have brought me here.” Sanada also offered some advice to “young actors and creators in the world,” telling them, “please be yourself, believe in yourself, and never give up. Good luck.”
The Shōgun star walked the red carpet tonight in a black velvet Ralph Lauren tuxedo. It’s a comfortable suit that he’s tried on for three fittings already, complete with some of his favorite accessories. “Shining black shoes,” he mentions, along with a black bow tie and his most-treasured luxury item: glasses.
Last time we talked, the actor mentioned that his favorite hobby is collecting eyewear. “I think I’ve gotten maybe four [pairs] since I met you, and ordered two more,” he says with a laugh. “It’s my only collection. I don’t care for anything [else].” He hasn’t chosen a pair for tonight yet, but he knows that doing so will “help him calm down and feel confident.”
Sanada just before his Golden Globes win.
Not that he needs an extra boost. Shōgun’s record-setting 18 wins at the Emmy Awards was a surefire precedent heading into the Globes. Shōgun has also received a significant reception over in Japan. Revered Japanese contemporary artists Takashi Murakami and Hideo Kojima both recently praised Sanada’s work on Shōgun. “It’s so hard to make a samurai drama in Japan now,” Sanada reveals. “It takes a lot of money and time to make it authentic, and the real Japanese samurai drama fans know [best]… So, let’s just say I’m relieved.”
Recently, Murakami invited Shōgun co-creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo to visit him in Japan as they conducted research for Season 2. “I said something once like, ‘After turning 60, I feel like I got a new job and I’m a newborn baby,’” Sanada recalls. “[Murakami] must have picked up on that one quote, because he said he also wants to move forward too.” Murakami toldEsquire last week that his latest art exhibit at the Gagosian in London is partly inspired by the FX series. “I was happy to hear that,” Sanada tells me. “Because he’s a little older than me, and I respect him [as well].”
In his speech at the Beverly Hilton, the actor offered words of advice to young actors: “Please be yourself, believe in yourself, and never give up. Good luck.”
Moving forward, Sanada is focused entirely on making sure that Shōgun Season 2 is just as authentic as the first season. Shōgun was originally pitched as a limited series covering James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name, but FX piggy-backed on the show’s success by announcing that two more seasons were currently in development. Since the material is based on real Japanese history, there’s plenty for the cast and crew to mine. And according to Sanada, fans should still expect some surprises when the show returns.
“Of course, we want a surprise for audiences,” Sanada says of Shōgun’s second season. “You can never guess what’s going to happen.”
“We have real history, so we know what happens next,” Sanada explains. “But we don’t want to just follow the history. We’re trying to create original entertainment. There’s so many ideas coming, and we’re not just focused on Season 2. Of course, we want a surprise for audiences. You can never guess what’s going to happen.” Uncertainty, he says, is crucial. “That’s also our weapon.”
Read the full article here
