Hiroyuki Sanada Came Up With ‘Shōgun’s Stunning Final Shot

Editor's Note: The following interview contains spoilers for the ending of Shōgun.

The big picture

• Shogun
  Hiroyuki Sanada explains that Toranaga hoped Mariko would change Ochiba's mind, but he was prepared for her death if necessary.
• Toranaga balances human emotions with the need for ruthless leadership as a samurai.
• Toranaga's journey mirrored Hiroyuki Sanada's own experience
  Shogun
  as the actor also held the new title of series producer.

Now the epic FX series Shogun has concluded with its final chapter this week, it's hard to overstate what a phenomenal story it told—one marked by misfortune, loss, and pain, as well as important lessons about life and death. This is all told against the backdrop of feudal Japan where rival factions fight for control of everything, and the last few weeks have been building up to the moment when we might see Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) finally claims victory over his enemies in a landscape of kill or be killed. However, as “Chapter Ten: A Dream of a Dream” reveals, the goal of the series was never to reach any bloody conclusion on the battlefield, but rather for Toranaga to earn the loyalty necessary to allow him to defeat his enemies without removing a head. single sword

Although Shogun has a wide variety of actors, ranging from Cosmo Jarvis as a converted pilot-hatamoto John Blackthorne, who stumbles into a strange new world, a Anna Sawai like the doomed translator Lady Toda Mariko, to recognized Japanese names like Tadanobu Asano like the inspirational wildcard Lord Kashigi Yabushige, no presence in the series is quite like that of Hiroyuki Sanada himself. A legendary actor on the big and small screens who has stolen scenes in titles like The Last Samurai, 47 Ronin, Westworldi John Wick: Chapter 4Sanada was also a producer Shogunwhere he lent his vast experience to make the FX series the best version of itself.

Ahead of the series finale, Collider had a chance to speak with Sanada about his time on the job Shogun both in front of and behind the camera. Throughout the interview, which you can read below, the actor explains why he found it important to show more of his character's emotions for the sake of the audience, why Toranaga tests Blackthorne by destroying his ship, the parallels between Toranaga's desire to become shōgun and his own role as a producer, his input into the show's final plan, and more.

COLLIDER: In terms of Toranaga's plan for all of this and how it plays out over the course of the show, why did he decide that this stage should fall on Mariko's shoulders, as we see in episode 9, “Crimson Sky” ? Is he anticipating that she might die, or is he hoping that maybe she'll be the thing that can turn the tide in his favor?

HIROYUKI SANADA: Hopefully, he'll change Ochiba's mind without his death, but in case it's necessary, [he] he expects it But it is a small hope without death. That was on his mind, I think.

Hiroyuki Sanada hinted at Toranaga's true emotions for the audience in 'Shōgun'

It's been interesting to see viewers talk about Toranaga as a character every week because, and that's partly because of how you play him, he keeps things so close to the vest. He doesn't let anyone in. There is a question of how willing he is to sacrifice others. Do you think there is such cruelty in him, or do you think he is just aware that the cost of this war is so high that death is inevitable?

SANADA: At that time, there were so many sacrifices with loyalty, so he doesn't want that. But if it is necessary, you must accept it. Inside his mind, he is sad, of course, as a human being. But as a samurai leader, as a planner to make a better future, he must hide his true mind.

We also see it when he has that conversation with Mariko after Hiromatsu commits seppuku, and the pain in that. We've learned about the eight fence and how all those emotions have to stay buried behind her, but at this point, she seems to be letting the sadness come out a little. Is this cathartic for you too?

SANADA: Yes, it's very hard to hide. But some moments, just for the public, I would show him his insides, a little hint of something. This balance was the most important and difficult part. “How much can I show the audience, or not?”

Toranaga's conversation on the mountain with Blackthorne is a very revealing moment for them. Later, we learn that it's a test by Toranaga to see how far Anjin is willing to go. Why do you think Toranaga pushes Blackthorne to this breaking point, and what does he see in him that leads him to decide that Blackthorne has passed this test?

SANADA: Finally, he tries to commit to seppuku, which means he had a sort of resting period. Maybe he learned from our culture, or from Mariko's death. It was very sad, but it was one meaningful death. honorable death Finally, our Anjin, Blackthorne, gets it. Then, especially after the dream of the future: the old man lying down, looking at a samurai helmet. Is death the best? Even if life is shorter, it is meaningful and honorable. He chose the same path as Mariko. At that point, okay, he gets it. now, [Toranaga] can use it.

Hiroyuki Sanada compares his own “Shōgun” journey to Toranaga's ending

Toranaga's conversation with Yabushige on the cliffs really tells us how the rest will go, but then there's an interesting part where Yabushige asks him about what the shōgun will be like. Toranaga has been denying his desire for this up and down, but do you think Yabushige is right when he says it's in Toranaga's secret heart? Or is Toranaga just thinking that since he won, the shōgun will come with it?

SANADA: Exactly as you said. In this version of the script, he didn't want to be a shōgun. It felt like myself, you know? This time, I got the producer title that I didn't want before, but the producer title helped me make the show more authentic and everyone listened to me. I realized on set, “Oh, I needed a title to make a better show or movie.” Like Toranaga. [Laughs] He did his best and then won the battle. He then obtained the title of shōgun. It almost overlaps, me and Toranaga. This is the meaning of the title for him as well.

What was the final scene you shot for the show and what were the emotions for you on that last day?

SANADA: As a producer, I was on set all day, even if I wasn't shooting as an actor. So, On my last day, I didn't have a shootout. I didn't get a costume. I'm not sure what I experienced. [Laughs]

The last scene of the show is Blackthorne and Toranaga on the coast, with this moment shared. Do you have any memories of filming?

SANADA: Even when we had a long distance, Anjin and Toranaga looking at each other, we felt a strong chemistry. This is the meaning of the 10 episodes. Even far away, he could feel and [Cosmo] he could feel, he said, that chemistry and the organic way we created it. Too, I pitched the idea for the end of this season. I wanted to see the ocean and the sun. He seems to be looking at the future of this country. It's similar to the end of episode 1. That was my picture, and the DP loved it, and then the director agreed.

Shogun is available to stream on Hulu in the US

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