With 25 Emmy nominations, 'Shogun' breaks record

Hiroyuki Sanada, left and Ann Sawai were nominated for Emmy's for their roles in "Shogun."

For the third year in a row, a production featuring Asians in primary roles, is making waves in Hollywood by garnering 25 Emmy nominations, a new record for television's highest awards.

Shogun with primary Asian and Asian American cast won a slew of technical nominations but also won nods for Best Drama, and major acting nominations for Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, Anna Sawai for her role as Toda Mariko, supporting actor nominations for Tadanobu Asano and Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari and Nestor Carbonelle won a best guest actor for his role as Rodrigues.

Shogun's domination of the nominations comes after Hollywood recognized the Korean production Squid Game in 2022 and Steven Yeun and Ali Maki.won best acting awards for their roles in Beef. 

FYI: The 76th Emmys are set to air live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 15 from 5-8 p.m. PT/8-11 p.m. ET on ABC.

Shogun, the most expensive production by FX, owned by Disney, is the second television adaptation of James Clavell's epic  novel that took place in medieval Japan. The 1980 version earned 12 Emmy nomiinations in the 1981 awards show, winning only three for "outstanding limited series, costume design and best title sequence.

The earlier series earned 12 Emmy nominations at the 1981 awards show, winning for outstanding limited series, costume design and best title sequence.

Shogun, which has a second season despite Claell's book ends at the same juncture as the program, along with The Sympathizer proves that subtitles is not a hindrance for viewers, which opens the doors for more shows in foreign languages. Once again, it should prove to Hollywood's decision-makers that interesting haracters and comelling stories override cultural and racial bias.

Other Emmy nominations for shows with an Asian theme or showcasing Asian talent  include:

Outstanding Drama  Series

• 3 Body Problem based on the science fiction novel by Liu Cixian

Outstanding Telvision Movie: 

• Quiz Lady starring Sandra Oh and Awkwafina

Oustanding Actress in a drama series:

• Maya Erskine, for her role in Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Outstanding Director: 

• Hiro Murai - Mr. & Mrs. Smith," (episode: "First Date"),
• Frederick E.O. Toye - "Shōgun," (episode: "Crimson Sky")

Outstanding directing for a drama Series: 

• Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks for Shōgun,"(episode: "Anjin")
• Rachel Kondo & Caitlin Puente for Shōgun, (episode: "Crimson Sky")

Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series

• Bowen Yang, "Saturday Night Live"

Should have been nominated

Surprisingly, the Emmy's ignored some excellent performances by the actresses Saraya Blue and Ji-young Yoo, in the Lulu Wang-directed Expats and starring Nicole Kidman. The highly praised and hightly touted drama was filmed in Hongkong before the PRC took over. Wang should have been nominated  for Episode 7, which told the story of the Filipino "helpers," who are expats themselves and that make life so bareable for the rich expat families..

One of the most talented actreses of our time, Sandra Oh, should have been nominated for her role in Quiz Lady proving this womant could play any type of character. 

One of the best dramas of the year, The Sympathizer, based on the Pulitzer-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen was overlooked by voters despite being one of the best series of the year. It brought nto American living rooms, the perspective of Vietnamese and Vietnamese Americans and their position in US society. It made them human beings. The only nomination it received as for Robert Downey, who played most of the white characters in the drama. Istill don't know why the producers chose to do this took away from the limited series. If it was done simply to showcase the white producer, well, it apparently worked.

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