LOS ANGELES — Hiroyuki Sanada may be one of the stars of the new limited series, “Shogun,” but he’s more impressed with his other title – producer.
Thanks to the moniker, “I can say anything anytime to correct our culture,” he explains.
In the past, when a Japanese-themed production included Sanada, he didn’t have the clout to hire Japanese crew members or correct inaccuracies. “This time, I can do it right.”
Set during the 17h century, the fictional “Shogun” follows three key players – John Blackthorne, an English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan, Lady Mariko, a woman who must prove her allegiance, and Lord Toranaga (Sanada’s character), a powerful daimyo who is at odds with his political rivals. Blackthorne, it’s revealed, has secrets that could help Toranaga; Mariko has the interpretive skills to support both of them.
Based on James Clavell’s bestselling novel, the 10-part series takes a deep dive into the customs that kept countries apart and people at odds. It’s also a good look at how productions could prosper if they embraced accuracy.
“For the first time, I’m feeling like a newborn baby,” Sanada says with a smile. “I have a new mission.”
Hiroyuki Sanada is nominated for lead actor in a drama series for his role as Yoshii Toranaga in "Shogun." The show earned a leading 25 Emmy nominations.
Deep dive into culture
For both Cosmo Jarvis, who plays Blackthorne, and Anna Sawai, who plays Mariko, the background information was welcomed. Both studied extensively before filming started; both learned plenty from Sanada’s advisers.
“I have very high hopes that Japanese people can make period pieces in Japan without the help of Western productions,” Sawai says. “But to this scale, no, we can’t do that. But we do get to share our story in a very accurate way to a much bigger audience.”
A former pop star (and one-time Annie in a Japanese production of the musical), Sawai was impressed with the attention paid to customs and costumes. “It takes like 40 minutes every single day to get dressed,” she explains. “You’re wearing seven layers of clothing. I had to learn everything from zero because (the costumes) affect the way I’m walking or sitting. They really made me feel like a completely different person.”
Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne in "Shogun."
Details matter
Likewise, Jarvis. Details fascinate him: “Types of ships, types of battle styles, Edwardian etiquette – whatever it might be – I want to learn.”
The British actor immersed himself in the culture, then arrived on set, ready to go.
“It took a little more time for me because I wasn’t living in a kimono,” Sawai says. “From the beginning, he was speaking the way Blackthorne would speak, so I didn’t know Cosmo’s real voice until yesterday” during a publicity tour.
Sawai became so engrossed in her character, she found she didn’t want to mingle with other cast members on weekends so she could feel the loneliness Mariko was going through. “It was very hard. But now I see that that helped me.”
Because Blackthorne was an outsider, Jarvis says, “I figured he was learning about the Japanese side of things at the pace that I was. I tried to familiarize myself with a basic understanding of geopolitics at the time.”
Like Sawai, he steered away from the 1980 television adaptation starring Richard Chamberlain. “I didn’t think it would be helpful; as an actor I was more interested in things like social interactions.”
Anna Sawai is nominated for lead actress in a drama series for her role as Toda Mariko in "Shogun."
Epic vision
Contemporary stories, he says, are scarier because “you have to be more proficient with your research. You may be representing people who are around you and, therefore, the stakes may be higher.”
“Shogun” represented a new challenge. “I hadn’t come into contact with a story that was quite so adventurous, so epic,” Jarvis says. “All of the archetypal themes are involved in it in some way: betrayal, power, hunger, love.”
That scope excited Sanada, as well. Even though he was a star of “The Last Samurai” 20 years ago, Hollywood hadn’t yet experienced a shift toward Asian storytelling.
That came with “Parasite” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” winning Best Picture Oscars. “The doors opened wider,” he says. “This is going to be another step to the future.”
Cosmo Jarvis plays a British sailor who discovers plenty about himself while in Japan in "Shogun."
Beginning as an actor at age 6, Sanada made a name for himself in Japanese and Hong Kong action films. He got a big break as the Fool in a British production of “King Lear.” It drew widespread acclaim and led to roles in English. “Shakespeare in English. That was my dream,” Sanada says. “The Last Samurai” marked his first Hollywood appearance. Roles in “Speed Racer,” “47 Ronin,” “Avengers: Endgame” and “John Wick: Chapter 4” followed.
Repeatedly, he wanted producers to realize how much better their films could be if they were culturally accurate.
Today, Sanada says, he tells young actors “just keep trusting. Don’t give up. Don’t be scared.
“After I started producing, I found a great balance. Of course, there was a lot of pressure on my shoulders, but I feel happiness. Dreams do come true.”
“Shogun” begins Feb. 27 on Hulu and FX.
Cosmo Jarvis, left, as John Blackthorne and Nestor Carbonell as Rodrigues in "Shogun."
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