Critically acclaimed production “Shogun” won the best TV drama series award at the Golden Globes on Sunday, picking up another accolade following its record total of 18 Emmy awards last fall.
Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada, 64, also won the award for best actor in a television drama, Anna Sawai, 32, the corresponding award for best actress, and Tadanobu Asano, 51, for best supporting actor.
(From L) Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Tadanobu Asano pose with the award for best television series – drama for “Shogun” during the 82nd Golden Globes on Jan. 5, 2025, in Beverly Hills, California (AP/Kyodo)
“I’d love to say thank you for everyone who has been in my life, all of you who have brought me here,” Sanada said during the ceremony, earning further recognition for his performance as Yoshii Toranaga, a warlord based on the historical Japanese figure Tokugawa Ieyasu.
“I’d like to say for the young actors and creators in the world, please be yourself, believe in yourself and never give up,” said Sanada, who has acted in films such as the prizewinning Japanese film “The Twilight Samurai” and the Hollywood movie “The Last Samurai.”
Sanada, also the show’s producer, explained that it was a “gamble” to produce a drama series that consisted of 70 percent Japanese dialogue and subtitles. But ultimately it managed to “break the wall of the language,” he said, saying its success meant “filmmakers and actors all over the world are getting (a) big chance.”
Hiroyuki Sanada poses with the award for best performance by an actor in a television series – drama for “Shogun” during the 82nd Golden Globes on Jan. 5, 2025, in Beverly Hills, California. (AP/Kyodo)
Sanada said he started his career as a child in Japan when he was 5 years old and came to Hollywood about 40 years later, spending many years working with great filmmakers and actors.
“I put all my experience in my life…into ‘Shogun,’ and ‘Shogun’ brought me here and it’s amazing. It was a great journey for me,” he said.
Asano, who played a samurai in the show, said when asked to give a message to young actors in Japan during a press conference, “If I can do this, you all can definitely do this. So, if you have any hopes or dreams, just go for it.”
Tadanobu Asano poses with the award for best performance by a male actor in a supporting role on television for “Shogun” during the 82nd Golden Globes on Jan. 5, 2025, in Beverly Hills, California. (AP/Kyodo)
Sawai won the award for her portrayal of Toda Mariko, an interpreter in Toranaga’s samurai clan for an out-of-place English navigator.
“Thank you to the voters for voting for me…Thank you to your incredible writers. Without their good script, it’s impossible to give our performance to our fullest, full potential,” she said at the ceremony.
Sanada and Sawai each won at last year’s Emmy awards for their respective performances as lead actor and lead actress in the series.
Anna Sawai arrives at the venue for the 82nd Golden Globes on Jan. 5, 2025, in Beverly Hills, California. (AP/Kyodo)
Set in 1600 Japan at the end of the warring states period, “Shogun” is a remake of a 1980 miniseries based on a 1975 novel, all bearing the same title.
The earlier TV series won three awards at the 1981 Golden Globes — best drama, best actress and best actor.
The latest incarnation of “Shogun” won 18 Emmy awards in September, the most ever received for a single season of a TV series.
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“Shogun” stars recognized with Golden Globe award nominations
Emmy-winning actor Anna Sawai among Time’s 100 next-generation leaders
“Shogun” stars Sanada, Sawai win 1st lead actor Emmys for Japan
