Shogun made Emmy history by becoming the first non-English-language show to win Best Drama at the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards. FX’s samurai series claimed a record-breaking 18 Emmy wins, surpassing its previous haul at the Creative Arts Emmys a week earlier.
Key highlights of the night include:
- Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai winning Best Actor and Best Actress in a Drama Series, making them the first Japanese actors to ever win in these categories.
- Director Frederick E.O. Toye took home the award for Best Drama Directing for the series.
Sanada expressed the historical significance of his win, reflecting on his nearly 60-year career in the entertainment industry, and how meaningful it was for Japanese actors to receive such recognition. Sawai, who was visibly emotional, shared how the experience was overwhelming but exhilarating.
Despite its massive success, Shogun faced a few upsets, notably losing the Best Supporting Actor award to Billy Crudup from The Morning Show and missing out on the writing category to Slow Horses on Apple TV+.
The 2024 Shogun adaptation is based on James Clavell’s 1975 best-selling novel and follows the story of power, honor, and intrigue in feudal Japan. With FX and Disney confirming two additional seasons of the show, the team has the monumental task of continuing the saga with original content beyond the novel’s narrative.
