The man who was to be called “Shogun” once again rose to the top of his field. Hiroyuki Sanadawho played Lord Yoshii Toranaga in FX historical epicwon an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. This is Sanada first victory and his first nomination, although he is also nominated for Best Drama Series as an executive producer of Shogun.
The win marked only the second time that the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series has gone to an actor of Asian descent. In 2022, Lee Jung-jae became the first Asian actor to win (becoming the first Asian actor nominated in the category).
Sanada beat out a field that included Oscar winners, Emmy winners, and a first-time nominee (who certainly deserved recognition before 2024). Many thought Gary Oldman the biggest competitorgiven the Slow Horses star's status in the industry, as well as Apple TV+ the sudden surge in Emmys for drama series. (After not receiving a single nomination for the previous two seasons, Slow Horses earned nine nominations this year.) But there was also Donald Glover, already a two-time Emmy winner for Atlanta, making his drama debut with Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Dominic West, a beloved TV character since The Wire (if not before), who had never been nominated until this year, when he was honored for The Crown.
Idris Elba (his co-star in The Wire) now has a zero out of six on EmmyPreviously nominated four times for Luther and once as a guest actor on The Big R, Walton Goggins also went home empty-handed from his second trip to the Emmys, though he could return next year if White Lotus Season 3 goes as smoothly as previous seasons.
Sanada's subtle turn as the peace-loving, politically savvy Toranaga was praised Salon for “creating a gravitational pull in a constellation of unforgettable characters and superb performances.” AV-club called him “charming” TV Guide preferred the term “command,” while The Daily Beast said: “[Sanada] “Did a commendable job taking the place of the titan Mifune” – referring to the legendary Toshiro Mifune, who played the title role in the 1980 CBS adaptation of Shogun. New York Times went so far as to say that Sanada “runs the show,” noting that Sanada “isn't the most expressive of actors, but he has a quiet strength and regal dignity that suits the role.”
Sanada's resume may not have been Emmy-winning before this year, but it was far from lacking in prestige. The Last Samurai director Ed Zwick called him “the Tom Cruise of Japan.” He is a six-time nominee and two-time winner at the Japan Academy, and has won a Camerimage Award for his work in Shogun, as well as individual nominations from TCA Awards And Gotham TV Awards.
The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards aired Sunday, September 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The full broadcast will be available Monday on Hulu.