Mon Sep 16 12:00:23 UTC 2024: ## Hiroyuki Sanada Makes History as First Asian Actor to Win Emmy for Lead Actor in a Drama Series
**LOS ANGELES** – Hiroyuki Sanada, star of the FX series “Shogun,” made history on Sunday night, becoming the first Asian actor to win the Emmy for Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
In his acceptance speech, Sanada expressed his gratitude to the cast, crew, and producers of “Shogun,” calling it an “East-meets-West dream project” that taught him the power of working together. He also thanked FX, Disney, and Hulu for their belief in him.
Sanada’s win came after a stellar performance as Lord Yoshii Toranaga in the series, a historical drama based on James Clavell’s novel about a clash of cultures in 17th century Japan.
The actor beat out a star-studded lineup of nominees, including Idris Elba, Donald Glover, Walton Goggins, Gary Oldman, and Dominic West. This marked Sanada’s first Emmy nomination and win, and he also serves as a producer on the show.
“Shogun” was the most nominated series at the 2024 Emmys, with 25 nominations. The show also won the awards for Best Drama Series and Lead Actress in a Drama Series, which was awarded to Sanada’s co-star, Anna Sawai.
With the success of “Shogun,” FX has already greenlit two more seasons, ensuring fans will continue to see Sanada’s captivating performance as Lord Toranaga.
First Piper 