The Japanese-language television series “Shōgun” dominated the drama series category at the Emmy Awards on Sunday, winning four categories: Best Drama, Best Direction of a Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. With a total of 18 wins, the series has collected more Emmys than any other production.
“Shōgun,” a historical novel about 17th-century feudal Japan in the midst of a civil war, nearly set an Emmy record this year with a total of 25 nominations. That record has only been surpassed once: in 2019, when “Game of Thrones” received 32 nominations.
“It was a dream project where East and West meet respectfully,” said Hiroyuki Sanada, who plays Yoshii Toranaga, as he accepted the award for best actor in a drama series. “And ‘Shōgun’ taught me that when people work together, we can create miracles.”
In addition to the major acting awards, “Shōgun” was also nominated for a number of technical awards, including production design, original music and stunts. It went down in history as the first show to take home 14 Emmys at the Creative Arts ceremony.
“I love the team spirit of it,” said Néstor Carbonell, who won the award for best guest actor in a drama, of the crew.
FX’s 10-episode limited series took a decade to produce and premiered on all streaming platforms in March to a record-breaking 9 million views worldwide in just six days, according to parent company Disney, surpassing the premiere of the second season of The Bear.
“I cried before my name was announced. I feel terrible today,” said Anna Sawai as she accepted her award for best actress in a drama series. According to Variety, Sawai is the first Asian actress to win this category.
Sawai played Toda Mariko, which she described as “the role of a lifetime.”
“This is for all women who expect nothing and continue to be a role model for everyone,” she said.
“Shōgun” is the latest foreign-language Asian series to flourish in the U.S. and international markets. It follows “Squid Game,” a South Korean Netflix series that also made history at the 2022 Emmys. Lead actor Lee Jung-jae became the first Asian to win the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
However, “Shōgun’s” 25 nominations this year dwarf “Squid Games’” 14 nominations two years ago.
Film experts say that Americans’ willingness to watch foreign language productions and read subtitles has increased in recent years.
Sanada, who also spoke Japanese when accepting the award for best drama, thanked everyone who has carried on the stories of the samurai dramas “so far”.
“The passion and dreams we inherited from you have crossed oceans and borders,” he said.
