Hiroyuki Sanada became the second Asian performer to win Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in FX’s “Shōgun” at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday. The prolific Japanese actor was recognized for his portrayal of Lord Yoshii Toranaga in the first season of the drama series.
With the acting Emmy win — Sanada’s first of his six decade–long career — he follows in the footsteps of Lee Jung-jae’s history-making accomplishment in 2022 when Lee became the first Asian actor to win the lead drama actor Emmy for Netflix’s non-English series “Squid Game.”
Nominated alongside Sanada were Gary Oldman (“Slow Horses”), Donald Glover (“Mr.