“Shōgun” has captured viewers attention with its intricate world-building, complex storytelling, and a myriad of terrific characters. Leading the way is veteran Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada, who plays Lord Yoshii Toranaga — the ruler of one of the five Regents at the end of the 16th century in Japan.

Adapted from James Clavell‘s 1975 historical novel of the same name, the limited series (created by husband and wife duo Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks) follows the political machinations of multiple factions as they each vie for control of the five Regents. An English sailor (Cosmo Jarvis‘ John Blackthorne) embarks on a new life with Toranaga after becoming shipwrecked in Japan.

This is a the perfect role for Sanada, who also produces the series, to display all of his talents. He is regal, poised, intelligent, cunning, and critics have hailed his powerful screen presence.

Ross McIndoe (Slant Magazine) observed: “Playing a serenely dangerous patriarch similar to his character from last year’s ‘John Wick: Chapter 4,’ Sanada provides the perfect counterbalance to Jarvis’s blustering Blackthorne. There’s a stillness to Toranaga and a steeliness to his gaze that makes it impossible to predict whether he’s about to offer a wry smile or a death sentence.”

 

Brandon Yu (The Wrap) explained: “Sanada forms the series’ captivating core as the wise and noble lord who’s tightly guarded features and character sometimes beg for more depth to be revealed. Yet, it is Sanada’s calibrated reserve that grants his character, and the show, its innate magnetism and depth.”

Eric Francisco (Inverse) opined: “Sanada is great in the series, playing the intimidating and intelligent Lord Toranaga with stunning self-assurance. If American audiences haven’t already warmed up to him in blockbusters like ‘The Wolverine,’ ‘Bullet Train,’ and ‘John Wick 4,’ ‘Shōgun’ is sure to make Sanada a household name.”

Currently, we are predicting Sanada to earn a nomination for Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actor alongside the likes of Jon Hamm (“Fargo”), Tom Hollander (“Feud: Capote vs the Swans”), Andrew Scott (“Ripley”), Matt Bomer (“Fellow Travelers”), and Tony Shalhoub (“Mr. Monk’s Last Case”). Meanwhile, Sanada’s co-star, Cosmo Jarvis, is on the precipice of cracking this predicted lineup, too.

You might think that the fact that Sanada competing for a bid here alongside his co-star Jarvis could hurt his or both of those chances, but that isn’t the case. Emmy voters have often nominated two men from the same show in this category, including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”), Riz Ahmed and John Turturro (“The Night Of”), Courtney B. Vance and Tom Hiddleston (“The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story”), and Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thornton (“Fargo”). Sanada and Jarvis could be the latest duo to both earn citations here.

Sanada is one of Japan’s most respected actors. He was already a lauded thespian by the time he starred alongside Tom Cruise in 2003’s “The Last Samurai.” His stock has only risen since then and he is now a veteran actor who is one of Japan’s most beloved exports. Emmy voters may want to nominate this veteran as they have done with plenty of other veterans in this category, such as Michael Keaton (“Dopesick”), Hugh Grant (“The Undoing”), Jeremy Irons (“Watchmen”), Geoffrey Rush (“Genius”), and Robert De Niro (“Wizard of Lies”).

Emmy voters love the leading men in historical dramas, with the likes of Miranda and Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”), Jeremy Pope (“Hollywood”), Jared Harris (“Chernobyl”), and Mark Rylance (“Wolf Hall”) all earning nominations for such shows. Sanada could be next.

Sanada also produced this limited series, displaying his talents off-screen as well as on-screen. Emmy voters appreciate actors who can work both sides of the camera and, as such, often nominate men in shows they also produced, including Steven Yeun (“Beef”), Evan Peters (“Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”), Keaton (“Dopesick”), Ewan McGregor (“Halston”), and Mark Ruffalo (“I Know This Much is True”).

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