Sho-what? Japan celebrates little heard-of Emmys winner
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Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada (centre), alongside cast and crew, winners of Outstanding Drama Series for Shogun in Los Angeles, on Sept 15.
PHOTO: AFP
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OSAKA – Japan celebrated on Sept 16 the record-breaking Emmy Awards triumph of Shogun, although many confessed not having watched the series about the country’s warring dynasties in the feudal era.
Shogun smashed all-time records at the television awards in Los Angeles on Sept 15, taking home an astounding 18 statuettes and becoming the first non-English-language winner of the highly coveted award for best drama series.
Lead Hiroyuki Sanada, who played Lord Toranaga, became the first Japanese actor to win an Emmy, while Anna Sawai as Lady Mariko achieved the same feat with the best actress award.
“As a Japanese, I’m happy Sanada won,” said Ms Kiyoko Kanda, a 70-year-old pensioner, in Tokyo. “He worked so hard since he moved to Los Angeles.”
The actor moved to Hollywood about 20 years ago.
She added: “In The Last Samurai (2003), Tom Cruise was the lead, but it’s exciting Sanada is the main character in Shogun.”
But she admitted that she watched only the trailer. “I want to watch it. I’m curious to know how Japan is portrayed,” she said.
The series is available only on the Disney+ streaming platform, which is relatively new in Japan.
Ms Otsuka, who declined to give her first name, said she, too, has not watched the show. “But I saw the news and I’m happy he won,” she added.
The words “historic achievements” and “Hiroyuki Sanada” were trending on X in Japanese, while Sanada’s speech at the awards received tens of thousands of views.
Mr Yusuke Takizawa, 41, also watched only the trailer, but was amazed by the quality of the show.
“I was impressed by the high-spirited acting, the attention to detail and the film technology,” he said outside Osaka Castle, a major historical location for the series. “I think many young people will want to try their hand in Hollywood after watching Sanada.”
Tourists at the castle also welcomed the record Emmy win.
“It was the best TV show that I’ve seen this year,” said Ms Zara Ferjani, a visitor from London. “I thought it was amazing. The direction was beautiful, and I really enjoyed watching something that wasn’t in English as well.”
The 33-year-old had planned to watch Shogun after returning home from Japan.
“But one of my friends strongly advised me to watch it beforehand, just to appreciate the culture more and definitely Osaka Castle more,” she added. AFP
