‘Shōgun’ Star Hiroyuki Sanada On Season 2 & Bringing An Accurate Japanese Story To Life: “I Want To Break The Wall” Between East And West
deadline.comWith Shōgun, the epic drama series from FX based on James Clavell’s epic 1975 novel, veteran Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada’s work pushed past any subtitle barriers to earn the show a massive worldwide following that includes 25 Emmy nominations.
Sanada stars as Lord Toranaga, the ultimate strategist, whose intricate web ultimately served to unify 17th century Japan. And Sanada was not unfamiliar with the character, since in 1989’s Oda Nobunaga, he had played Tokugawa Ieyasu, the real-life man who inspired the Toranaga character.
Sanada’s epic career began at the age of just 6, and he is best known internationally for such films as The Last Samurai, Speed Racer and Bullet Train, along with the shows Lost and Westworld.
Here, he describes what the role meant to him and how, as a first-time producer, he found profound meaning in bringing a culturally accurate depiction of Japan to life. DEADLINE: Congratulations on your Emmy nomination.
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