‘Shōgun’ Star-Producer Hiroyuki Sanada On Potentially Filming Season 2 In Japan

Shōgun, the record-breaking Emmy-winning historical drama series, may soon be journeying to its homeland for Season 2.

Speaking to Deadline on the red carpet ahead of the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards held Sept. 15, star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada teased a potential relocation to Japan for the production of the second season. The show, based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name and which is set in 1600s feudal Japan, was unable to shoot on location due to the pandemic. Production on Season 1 commenced in late 2021 in Canada.

“Not sure yet, but we are discussing,” Sanada said of the possibility. “Because last time, because of the pandemic, we couldn’t shoot any scenes in Japan, but now we can plan.”

A historical fiction tale, Shōgun traces Lord Yoshii Toranaga’s (Sanada) fight against his united enemies on the Council of Regents. The unfolding of his power is changed as Cosmo Jarvis’ John Blackthorne, a shipwrecked English pilot, descends upon the tense environment, bearing secrets that could aid Toranaga’s bid. The two men, from opposing worlds, are tied together through their translator Toda Mariko (Pachinko‘s Anna Sawai), a disgraced noblewoman with mysterious origins who must prove her allegiance and skillset.

“We tried to make it as authentic as possible, so as a producer, I could hire Japanese actors for Japanese roles, bring the Japanese crew who was the specialist for the Samurai drama, so we had a great team,” Sanada said. “Working with Western cast and crew and Japanese cast and crew, it was like a dream team for me.”

In May, FX’s commercial and critical success — once a miniseries — was renewed for two more seasons. Sanada spoke to drawing from different inspiration for the upcoming installments, as the content of Clavell’s novel has already been mined.

“We don’t have any more novels,” he explained. “We finished at the end of Season 1, but we have the real history and real models, and we know what happened so we can create original, fictional entertainment with a Shōgun taste and quality with the real history. It’s going to be a fun project for me.”

As the Emmys unfold tonight, Shōgun has already broken the record for the most Emmy wins for a show in a single season with 14 nods ahead of the main telecast. It is up for additional awards in writing, directing, lead actor and series for a drama series.