Japanese cast dominates as Shogun breaks new ground

Comeback stories and Asian representation at the awards show celebrating the best in film and TV

- John Lui

Shogun did what Squid Game could not by winning four Golden Globes, setting a precedent for a show with an Asian-led cast.

The historical drama set in feudal Japan nabbed this haul at the awards ceremony held on Jan 5 in Los Angeles, with three going to its mostly Japanese cast.

Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada won the Best Actor - Drama Series award, becoming the first from his country and the first Asian to win in that category.

His castmate and compatriot Tadanobu Asano won Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film, becoming the first Japanese to win in that category.

South Korean series Squid Game's O Yeong-su, a South Korean, won the same award in 2022, becoming the first Asian to do so. In 2025, the hit Netflix show received a single nomination, in the Best Television Series - Drama category, and went home empty-handed.

In his acceptance speech, an excited Asano charmed the audience by introducing himself.

"Maybe you don't know me. I'm an actor from Japan, and my name is Tadanobu Asano. Wow!" he said.

Holding up his award, he ended with: "This is a very big present for me, thank you very much."

Actress Anna Sawai was the second Japanese to win the award for Best Actress - Drama Series. She follows in the footsteps of Yoko Shimada, who won in that category in 1981 for her role in the first television adaptation of Shogun (1980).

In an echo of the past, Shimada played the noblewoman Mariko in the show, as did Sawai.

Shogun also took home the award for Best Television Series - Drama, becoming the first show with an Asian-led cast to do so.

Squid Game received the same nomination in 2022, but lost to satirical drama Succession (2018 to 2023).

Actor O was the sole Golden Globe winner out of Squid Games' three nominations.