‘Shōgun’ wins Emmys for top drama awards including series and lead acting

As a longtime movie buff with a penchant for historical dramas and a deep appreciation for cross-cultural storytelling, I must say that the 2024 Emmy Awards night was nothing short of spectacular! The win of “Shōgun” as the drama series of the year is truly a testament to the power of art and collaboration.

“Shōgun” had a historic 2024 Emmy night.

On Sunday evening, FX’s historical drama, set in feudal Japan, was awarded the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. This victory marked the culmination of a successful night that also recognized series actors Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada with awards for Best Actress and Best Actor in a Drama Series, respectively. Additionally, director Frederick E.O. Toye received an Emmy as well. Notably, “Shōgun,” featuring primarily Japanese dialogue, is the second non-English language series to be honored as the year’s top drama by the Television Academy, following Netflix’s “Squid Game.

At the awards ceremony for “Shōgun’s” drama series, showrunner and co-creator Justin Marks expressed gratitude to the executives who approved a costly, Japanese period production with subtitles. The key plot point of this production centers on a significant poetry contest.

According to Marks, co-creator of the show along with Rachel Kondo, ‘Shōgun’ is a story that emphasizes the process of translation. It’s about the unexpected discoveries rather than the things that get lost when conducting safety meetings in two languages, and learning not to walk on tatami mats wearing your work boots as an example of such findings.

In the moment when star and producer Sanada received the microphone, the Japanese actor took the opportunity to express his appreciation in Japanese for everyone who has sustained the art of jidaigeki, or samurai period dramas, throughout the years. This includes directors, crew members, and other skilled craftsmen in this field.

The emotions and aspirations you’ve passed down to us have traveled over seas and boundaries,” Sanada continued, speaking in Japanese.

“Arigato gozaimasu,” added Marks in thanks after reading the translations of Sanada’s remarks.

In an interesting twist of history, both Sanada and Sawai’s victories were remarkable. Sawai made history as the very first actor of Asian descent to secure a win in her category, while Sanada followed closely behind as only the second Asian actor to achieve such recognition (with Lee Jung-jae being the first from “Squid Game”).

As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the phenomenal series “Shōgun” has broken records by amassing a total of 18 Emmy awards this year! This impressive tally makes it the show with the most awards won in a single year. The captivating storyline follows Lord Toranaga, played masterfully by Sanada, as he skillfully navigates his way through political rivalries on his path to power. When nominations were announced in July, “Shōgun” was leading the pack with an impressive 25 overall animation nominations. To add to its already impressive tally, it has also taken home 14 Creative Arts Emmys earlier this month. This show is truly a testament to exceptional storytelling and outstanding performance!

Sanada expressed his profound gratitude to be in the company of exceptional nominees,” he said as he received the lead drama actor award for his role as Yoshii Toranaga. “I want to thank everyone on the crew and cast of ‘Shōgun.’ I’m incredibly proud of each one of you… Working together on ‘Shōgun’ has shown me that we can achieve miracles, build a brighter future together.

Initially overpowered by emotions upon hearing about Sanada’s victory, Sawaii later lightheartedly commented about potentially weeping in public afterwards.

Speaking as the actress who played the complex character of Toda Mariko, Sawai shared that she was already emotional before her name was called, and today she’s in a state of disarray. Following her thanks to her mother, she honored “all the women who demand nothing but continually serve as an inspiration for everyone.

In the TV series based on James Clavell’s famous novel, the main storyline revolves around a key group consisting of Toranaga, a cunning warlord played by Sanada, Lady Mariko, a fallen noblewoman who is portrayed by Anna Sawai (who has also won an Emmy), and John Blackthorne, an English pilot who finds himself stranded, played by Cosmo Jarvis.

Clavell’s 1975 novel was also adapted into an Emmy Award-winning limited series in 1980.

Previously, during an interview with The Times, Sanada expressed his appreciation for Tokugawa Ieyasu, who served as a historical shogun and is the model for the character of Toranaga.

Sanada remarked, “He was a figure from my youth who I greatly admire. After the turbulent war years, he established an era of peace that lasted for quite some time. He remains a hero in Japan, and I aim to portray him authentically and convey the significant message of his deeds to global audiences.

Sanada becomes the second male actor of Asian descent, following Lee Jung-jae from “Squid Game,” to claim an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series.

Prior to the show’s debut, Sawai shared with The Times that the role was challenging and that Mariko’s narrative resonated deeply as if it were a personal story for him.

Sawai admitted he underestimated the impact Mariko would have on him. She seemed incredibly genuine, and the gravity of her tale was profoundly moving.

In January, Sawai was joined by Ali Wong, who received an Emmy for her role in “Beef”, as the two women of Asian descent who have won lead acting Emmys.

In addition to the Shōgun’s Emmy victories, there are other notable wins such as:

Back in May, I was thrilled to learn that the captivating series “Shōgun” has been given the green light for not just one, but two additional seasons! Although the first season beautifully adapted all the events from Clavell’s novel, Marks and Kondo shared with The Times in a prior chat that they had numerous ideas left unexplored during Season 1. I can hardly wait to see what these brilliant minds have in store for us next!

Marks stated that the series may not directly mirror our current world, but rather offers an escape to a place where characters embody strong principles and even lay down their lives for them.

I firmly agree that surrounding oneself with individuals who deeply, intensely embody their beliefs is crucial. And let me tell you, there’s no one more devoted to their convictions than the characters we’re discussing.

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2024-09-16 07:03