Hiroyuki Sanada is preparing to return as Lord Toranaga in the long-awaited second season of FX’s “Shogun,” promising viewers more action, strategy, and family drama as the story jumps 10 years after the conclusion of the first season.
Season 1 depicts the power struggle between Japan’s feudal lords in the early 17th century, with Toranaga navigating political intrigue and war, and British sailors caught up in the conflict.
“I’m getting older too, but we still don’t have peace. So[we]have to do some battles to bring peace to Japan. There’s going to be a lot of action and strategy and a lot more family drama than there was in season one,” Sanada told Variety of Season 2.
The actor, who both stars and produces on the series, credits the show’s commitment to authenticity as a key factor in its success. Season 1 dominated the Emmy Awards, winning 18 awards, including Best Actor for Sanada, making it one of the most awarded shows in television history.
“The story itself is fictional entertainment, and it has a historical model, so we try to make it authentic, but it’s very original entertainment,” Sanada explains. “That’s why we have to make shows that are authentic about our culture and history, and I believe we did that well. We got a great response from audiences as well as critics.”
This positive reception gave the production team the confidence to maintain that approach in season two. The series will continue filming in Vancouver, where season 1 was filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, Japan offers generous filming incentives, but Sanada points out that Vancouver has a real advantage for productions.
“Vancouver is a great location, there are no modern buildings or power lines, so we don’t need CGI,” he says. “It’s hard to find a nice, spacious location in Japan that doesn’t have modern buildings.” He added that some authentic Japanese castles, temples, and buildings may be used for certain filming, but the bulk of the filming could be done in Vancouver.
Sanada believes that Shogun has broader implications for international cooperation beyond its immediate success. He believes the series has created new opportunities for creative exchange between the entertainment industries.
“‘Shogun’ opened the door between East and West even wider, and I believe we can build a bridge between East and West,” Sanada says. “That’s a big part of Shogun’s success. So I hope it will be a lot easier for the next generation of creators and actors to go back and forth between East and West. That was my hope. And maybe the Shogun effect will allow us to do that.”
The show’s global appeal reflects changes in viewer habits accelerated by the pandemic, even though about 70% of it has Japanese subtitles. Sanada cited James Clavell’s original novel’s multi-generational fan base and viewers’ increased comfort with subtitled content during lockdown as factors in the show’s reach.
“Due to the pandemic, so many people were unable to go to the theater, but they started watching different cultural (and) dramas with subtitles, which allowed audiences to practice reading subtitles and seeing other cultures,” he says. “Times have changed. The audience has changed a lot in the last few years. So the timing all aligned.”
When asked what makes “Shogun” important to modern audiences, Sanada returns to the theme of authenticity. In an age where viewers can easily verify content, he believes the show’s commitment to cultural accuracy is what sets it apart from other shows.
“Nowadays, it’s easy to look up anything, so you don’t want to see misinformation or cheating (if there’s any). We tried to make this show authentic, so maybe they felt like, ‘Oh, this is a show to watch,'” he says. “They felt even from the trailer. They felt authentic. That was the biggest weapon for us.”
Looking ahead, Sanada also talks about his role in Mortal Kombat 2, where he will reprise the character of Scorpion/Hanzo Hasashi. He praised the film’s diverse Asian cast, including his “Shogun” co-star Yabu Juyaku Tadanobu Asano.
“It was really fun to shoot, and the whole cast seems to be Asia-Pacific casting, so there are a lot of Asian actors,” Sanada says. “I’m happy that Asian actors are doing well in this film. I would like to once again promote Asia to the world.”
“Shogun” Season 2 will begin filming in January.
