TOKYO (AP) 鈥� Japan erupted with joy Monday as the samurai series 鈥淪hogun鈥� won a record for its first season.
It took home prizes including Outstanding Drama Series, as star and co-producer Hiroyuki Sanada became the first Japanese actor to win the Emmy for best lead actor in a dramatic series. Co-star won best actress in a dramatic series, also a first for Japan.
鈥淵ou did it. You did it. Congratulations,鈥� , director of 鈥� ,鈥� wrote on social media.
People followed the awards live as the wins made national headlines. Entertainment media Oricon proudly reported that a work whose spoken lines were mostly in the Japanese language 鈥渕ade Emmy history.鈥�
鈥淭he grand scale of Hollywood combined with the high quality of the production, including costuming, props and mannerisms; the collaboration between the Japanese professional team, headed by producer Sanada, and the local production team; as well as the acting that delivered a strong sense of reality, all came together,鈥� the report said.
Actor Kento Kaku, who starred in the 2024 series said he was feeling inspired to pursue Hollywood dreams.
鈥淎fter seeing how cool that was, who鈥檚 not going to want to take up the challenge,鈥� he wrote on X.
Actress Tomoko Mariya said she broke into tears the moment Sanada鈥檚 win was announced.
鈥淲hat hardships you must have endured, choosing to leave your entire career behind in Japan and going to America alone. But it has borne fruit,鈥� she wrote, referring to Sanada鈥檚 move to Los Angeles 20 years ago.
The accolades for 鈥淪hogun鈥� reflect not only the growing diversity in American entertainment, but also the legacy of Japan's 鈥渏idaigeki鈥� , which have influenced directors worldwide.
The first Asian actor to win the Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Dramatic Series was Lee Jung-jae, for the hit 2022 Korean series .鈥�
is one of a handful of Japanese actors to land major Hollywood roles, including 鈥淭he Last Samurai,鈥� released in 2003, and 鈥淭he 47 Ronin,鈥� starring Keanu Reeves in 2013.
The role Sanada plays in 鈥淪hogun鈥� was first portrayed by Toshiro Mifune in the 1980s.
Sanada, who also starred in 鈥檚 2002 鈥淭wilight Samurai,鈥� alluded to those who went before him in his acceptance speech.
鈥淚 thank all those who supported and kept the legacy of jidaigeki alive,鈥� he said in his speech in Japanese, clutching his trophy.
鈥淭he passion and dreams we inherited traveled across the seas and crossed borders.鈥�
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Yuri Kageyama is on X:
Yuri Kageyama, The Associated Press
