Shōgun’s Hiroyuki Sanada on Asian Representation in Hollywood

With FX’s “Shōgun” winning 18 primetime and creative arts Emmys (the most ever for a single TV season), Netflix’s live-action “Avatar: The Last Airbender” racking billions of minutes viewed, and the indie coming-of-age story “Didi” receiving four Independent Spirit Award nominations, Asian and Asian American-led productions enjoyed a well-earned list of Hollywood successes in 2024, as celebrated at Saturday’s star-studded Unforgettable: The 22nd annual Asian American Awards at the Beverly Hilton.

“I’m feeling the Hollywood doors open wider than 20 years ago, when I came here for the first time,” Hiroyuki Sanada, who was honored Saturday as a “global icon,” told Variety.

“Step by step, they are understanding our culture. Especially like ‘Shōgun,’ they respect our culture,” Sanada said. “It’s a great steppingstone for the next generation. I feel more comfortable, year by year. I want to introduce Asian talent for stories to the world as a producer, as well. As an actor, just finding good international projects, like before. I am enjoying so much.”

Sanada won the outstanding lead actor in a drama series Emmy for “Shōgun,” and the show’s lead actress, Anna Sawai, won the outstanding lead actress in a drama deries. Both Sawai and Sanada were the first Japanese actors to win their lead acting Emmys, respectively.

“Shōgun’s” co-creator and writer, Rachel Kondo, earned an Unforgettable recognition for her work on the show, which is also the first Japanese language show to win the outstanding drama series primetime Emmy.

The Unforgettable event, organized by GoldenTV and Character Media, also honored the cast and creative executives of “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “Didi,” and “The Sympathizer,” in addition to fashion designer Prabal Gurung, “Your Rich BFF” online creator Vivian Tu, comedienne Naomi Watanabe and the Los Angeles “Lakers Legends,” as accepted by former Lakers head coach Byron Scott.

“Didi’s” talent – stars Joan Chen, Stephanie Hsu, Izaac Wang and director Sean Wang – attended to support the tale of an eighth-grader adapting to Los Angeles life in the early days of social media, known as a semi-biographical project for Sean Wang, who wrote, directed and produced the film.

“I’m really moved, actually,” Chen told Variety of the response to her “Didi” performance. “A very heartfelt film. For me, I’m so shocked. It’s like a tiny movie, and it brought me so much attention. I do think the authentic portrayal of family love is what makes a small film actually something monumental. Universally relatable. Being a mother, an immigrant mother for two American children, I relate to that part. It’s a part of myself that I have not expressed before. It’s gratifying. It’s also cathartic. Very happy about it.”

Hsu, an Oscar nominee for “Everything Everywhere at Once,” added to Variety of Hollywood’s representation of the Asian community: “I think we have definitely, undoubtedly made huge strides.”

The Unforgettable gala, with its red carpet lined with international press under a clear tent outside, drew an array of Asian and Asian American guests representing Hollywood, including Awkwafina, Jamie Chung, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Janet Yang, Jimmy O. Yang, “Bachelorette” Jenn Tran, Lisa Ling, Will Yun Lee, Vanessa Lachey, Gordon Cormier, the casts of “XO, Kitty” and “Cobra Kai,” and 98 Degrees, the last of whom closed out the night with a medley of their hits.

“We really broke in Southeast Asia first,” 98 Degrees’ Jeff Timmons told Variety. “A lot of people don’t know this, but we weren’t on MTV in the beginning. They didn’t play our videos. We thought our careers were over. Then, we ended up going over to the Philippines and having enormous success, which gave the label another opportunity for us to break in the States. We have an affinity for the fan base.”

The Unforgettable Gala will premiere on ChimeTV on Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET with the Red Carpet Show starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. It will stream on GoldenTV starting on Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. ET.

See more photos from Unforgettable: The 22nd annual Asian American Awards below.