Yes, what an experience for me.
And Im in L.A now.
We are so happy.
Hiroyuki SanadaJessica Chou for Deadline
The nominations are more than we expected.
And yes, Im so proud of all the crew and cast.
SANADA:Yes, twice!
Katie Yu/FX
Now you have this incredible show that had 9 million viewers in the first six days.
It has 99% Rotten Tomatoes score.
What has this success meant to you
SANADA:Yes.
It was a great surprise.
First of all, we discussed a lot how much percent of Japanese [language] was possible.
Finally, we decided on 70% with subtitles.
It was a kind of gamble.
But also, we believed in the audience their knowledge, intelligence and imagination.
And then, yeah, it worked.
So the reaction was more than we expected.
So yes, our decision was right, I believe.
DEADLINE: I remember when Bong Joon-ho talked aboutParasite, he called subtitles the 1-inch-tall barrier.
Were finally starting to see that barrier come down.
Especially this past 10 years, its changed a lot.
20, 30 years ago, it never would have happened like this, I believe.
But luckily it changed.
I know youve been in a lot of U.S. productions before that depicted elements of Japanese culture.
How did this experience compare?
And then, Ive done a lot of Samurai movies, including this character Toranagas model, Lord Ieyasu.
So, luckily, I could learn about the background of this story.
So, all that experience worked for me on Shogun as a producer.
So, I had a team for the first time so, much easier and smoother.
I could be joined between the Japanese crew and cast with the Western crew and cast.
It was an amazing experience for me.
So, it was the best balance for me.
DEADLINE:Your character, Toranaga, is one of the most impressive strategists Ive ever seen on screen.
SANADA:I read a novel about Lord Ieyasu when I was kid13 or 14 years old or something.
And when I started training as an actor, I also read that Ieyasu story.
Ive learned from him.
More than strategy, it was patience.Patience.If I choose one word for him, its patience.
He waited and waited.
He taught me that feeling when I was boy.
And then I used that for my life.
So Ieyasu taught me that.
And now Im telling his story to the world.
The young audiences Japanese or Western audiencesthe kids can feel something like that.
Life is a long way walking.
As a child actor, I watched a lot of actors.
Some of them got success in the early 20s and then were gone.
I thought, when I was kid, Lets take the second one.
Ieyasu taught me that thing.
So, playing his role means returning to him.
He plays a long chess game.
And checkmate, finally.
DEADLINE:The show was orginally intended to be a limited series.
Then, it was renewed for another two seasons, moving it into the Emmy Drama Series category.
Season 2 will go beyond the source material from James Clavells novel.
Can you hint at where you feel this might be going?
What might Toranaga do next?
SANADA:I never thought about Season 2, because we used the novel in Season 1 already.
So, I accepted it as a miniseries, of course.
And also, as an actor, I thought, Ive done my best.
And now, weve got this big success, and a great opportunity to create more seasons.
Why would I stop?
Only in my opinion as an actor?
No, no, no, no.
Producer me taught actor me, You should continue do it for the next generation, of course.
And then thats why I decided to keep this opportunity for Season 2 and 3.
And its a great opportunity for the young actors and crew.
So, we dont have any novels anymore, but it means for the writers a kind of freedom.
We have real models, and we know what happened.
So many episodes are there in the history.
So, I hope the writers will enjoy that freedom.
These kind of things are already in our DNA, I believe.
So, with respect for [Clavell], his style, they create original stories freely.
Im so curious, and I cannot wait to read the first draft from them.
DEADLINE:Do you know when youre going to start shooting?
SANADA:We are hoping sometime next year.
Aiming for next summer, hopefully.
The writers room is already running, and theyre creating all day, every day.
So, Im curious about their vision for Japanese history and culture.
Of course, we are creating together.
I put Japanese eyes on the script.
Its another long journey started.
DEADLINE: Whats your all-time dream role?
SANADA:Always any role Ive never done before.
Like, Romeo, Hamlet, Othello and finally King Lear.
And then other [roles would] need more research and learning.
So, would make me fresh every year.
DEADLINE: You mentioned Shakespearean characters.
SANADA:Yeah, it was the biggest challenge in my life.
I learned a lot.
I learned how mixing cultures made something new no one had ever seen.
Its difficult, but important and interesting.
So, maybe thats why Im here now.
DEADLINE: Whats been the most meaningful and moving feedback youve had aboutShogunfrom fans?
SANADA:Understanding our culture deeply.
Sometimes more than the young generation of Japanese.
Theyre so curious, and then theyre so eager to understand.
So, their cheering taught me that acting is acting.
And then language is just a language.
People can feel from the acting.
Language is not a big barrier anymore.
