Hiroyuki Sanada
Hiroyuki Sanada is a Japanese actor. He has received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, a British Academy Television Award, a Japan Academy Film Prize, two Hochi Film Awards, a Mainichi Film Award, three Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Actor, four Kinema Junpo Awards, and honors from the Yokohama Film Festival. In 2018, he received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from the Japanese government for his "artistic developments, improvements, and accomplishments", and in 2025, Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Sanada began his career in the mid-1960s at the age of five, and was the protégé of actor Sonny Chiba. A black belt in Kyokushin karate, he initially gained prominence for his roles in Japanese and Hong Kong action films, later establishing himself as a dramatic actor. He is best known to international audiences for his roles as Ryuji Takayama in Ring where he played alongside Nanako Matsushima, who was also his co-star in a 1997 television drama A Story of Love. His role as the Fool in a production of the Shakespeare play King Lear gave him theatrical attention, and led to his appointment as an Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2002. Beginning in the 2000s, Sanada grew his Hollywood presence with such roles as Seibei Iguchi in The Twilight Samurai, Ujio in The Last Samurai, and Kenji in Rush Hour 3.
Sanada's appearances in Hollywood films include Sunshine, Speed Racer, The Wolverine, 47 Ronin, Minions, Life, Avengers: Endgame, Army of the Dead, as Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion in Mortal Kombat, in Bullet Train, and John Wick: Chapter 4. He also had roles on Lost and the HBO series Westworld. Sanada gained awards for his role in the FX historical drama series Shōgun as Yoshii Toranaga, a fictionalized version of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Life and career
1966–1978: Child actor
Born in Tokyo, Sanada was scouted by an entertainer while playing with the son of the actor Kokichi Takada who lived in the same condominium. After working as a model for a magazine for young children, he joined the Himawari Theatre Group at the age of five. Originally planning to be an action movie star, he studied Shorinji Kempo and later took up Kyokushin kaikan karate. He began playing baseball at age 8 as a catcher. Sanada was mentored by actor Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba, and was a member of his Japan Action Club, becoming his protégé.At the age of five, Sanada had his first role in the 1966 film Game of Chance as the son of Chiba's character. He had several roles in Japanese television and films, but quit temporarily so he could focus on living a normal childhood. He said this gave him "a good chance to watch movies as the audience", helping his perspective. By his teenage years he knew how to act, fight, sing, dance, perform stunts, ride horseback, and had developed versatility. Sanada had noticed that many popular actors would develop such skills, and felt it was "the best service for the audience" to do so himself before he practised acting again. He gained attention for his dangerous stunt of jumping from a helicopter in the 1979 film G.I. Samurai, action directed by Sonny Chiba. In 1981, he appeared in the smash-hit movie Samurai Reincarnation directed by Kinji Fukasaku, in which he played an iga-ryū ninja.
1982–1999: Japanese character roles
Sanada received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Science from Nihon University in 1982. In 1984, Sanada starred with Sonny Chiba and an 80's "idol" Hiroko Yakushimaru in Legend of the Eight Samurai, which became the number one film in Japan, earning ¥2.3 billion, and was later released in foreign language versions. This film established Sanada as a popular action star in Japan. In 1992, Sanada played Yoshinari, a stockbroker turned yakuza in the comedy film Keisho Sakazuki, with Ogata Ken. In 1997 Sanada starred in a television drama A Story of Love, also known by its Japanese title Konna Koi no Hanashi, where he played the role of Shuichiro Harashima, a wealthy but lonely upper-class businessman who falls in love with a decorating designer from a lower-class family played by Nanako Matsushima. The following year in 1998, Sanada once again co-starred with Nanako Matsushima in the mystery thriller Ringu as Takayama Ryuji, the ex-husband of Matsushima's character Reiko, a journalist investigating the death of her niece. Also in 1998, Sanada starred as Asami in Jun Ichikawa's Tadon to Chikuwa. Sanada's role followed the story of a writer suffering from writer's block. In 1999, Sanada starred in Mayonaka Made as Moriyama Koji, a confident jazz trumpet performer who performs at a club called Cotton Tail. In the film, Moriyama sees Michelle Reis's character being attacked by two murderers, who they proceed to chase throughout the film.1999–2002: Royal Shakespeare Company
In 1999 and 2000, he performed with the Shakespeare Company">William Shakespeare">Shakespeare Company in their production of King Lear, as The Fool. Producer Nigel Hawthorne personally invited Sanada to play the role, yet Sanada had doubts since he had not taken an English-language role before. Sanada was convinced after the producers assured him that he was "an actor first before Japanese or Asian". For this role, he was appointed an Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2002, citing his "contribution to spreading British culture in Japan." That year, Sanada played the lead role of the low-ranking Seibei Iguchi in The Twilight Samurai. It follows the turbulent life and times of the character, and documents the financial woes that a 19th-century Japanese warrior could have faced.2003–2009: ''The Last Samurai'' and international breakthrough
In 2003, Sanada's role as Ujio, a master swordsman, opposite Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai, brought him praise. Sanada played Matsuda, a man who befriends Ralph Fiennes' character Todd Jackson, in The White Countess directed by James Ivory. He starred in the Chinese film The Promise directed by Chen Kaige as General Guangming. Sanada appeared in Rush Hour 3 with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, Danny Boyle's Sunshine as Kaneda, and The City of Your Final Destination, in which he plays Pete, the younger lover of Anthony Hopkins's character Adam Gund.2010–2020: ''Lost'', ''Westworld'', and ''Avengers: Endgame''
Sanada joined the cast of the ABC TV series Lost in 2010 during its sixth and final season. He portrayed Lost characters#Dogen|Dogen], a high-ranking member of "The Others". In 2013, he appeared in 47 Ronin alongside Keanu Reeves, as Shingen Yashida in The Wolverine opposite Hugh Jackman, and as Takashi Nagase in The Railway Man, a story of vengeance and reconciliation co-starring Stellan Skarsgård and Colin Firth. He voiced "Sumo Villain" in Minions, a master of strength and power who pursues the Minions.Sanada was a guest star as Takehaya, a former Japanese Navy officer and legendary pirate captain in post-plague Asia, in the apocalyptic drama series The Last Ship. He also starred in the 2017 movie Life with Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ryan Reynolds. In 2018, he began a recurring role as swordmaster Musashi on the HBO series Westworld and played the minor role of Akihiko in the 2019 film Avengers: Endgame. That year, he received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from the Japanese government for his "artistic developments, improvements, and accomplishments" In August 2019, Sanada was cast in the Mortal Kombat reboot as Scorpion. In 2020, Sanada starred alongside Johnny Depp in the film Minamata. In 2021, he played the shrewd casino owner Bly Tanaka in Zack Snyder's action film Army of the Dead.
2021–present: ''Bullet Train'', ''John Wick: Chapter 4'', ''Shōgun''
In 2022, Sanada took the major supporting role of the Elder in Bullet Train opposite Brad Pitt. In 2023, he portrayed Koji Shimazu, manager of the Osaka Continental Hotel, in John Wick: Chapter 4, and was featured in a multi-commercial campaign introducing Mazda CX-90.In 2021, Sanada was announced as producer and part of the cast of the FX limited series Shōgun, adapted from the James Clavell novel, playing the part of Lord Toranaga. The series has received widespread global critical acclaim, with Sanada's role in the series considered a highlight among many reviewers. In 2024, Sanada became the first Japanese actor or actress to win any Primetime Emmy, and specifically the first Japanese winner of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, for his role in Shōgun. Sanada also was a recipient of the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series for his role as a producer for the series. Sanada received the inaugural award for best TV series performance at the EnergaCamerimage International Film Festival for the role. He was nominated for the Gotham TV Award for Outstanding Performance in a Limited Series, and the Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Drama. Sanada won the prize for Golden Globe [Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor – Television Series Drama] at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, and received the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for the role. In 2025, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Personal life
In 1990, Sanada married actress and had two sons, but they divorced in 1997 after a very well publicized affair with a younger actress with whom he had co-starred in a film. Tezuka took custody of their sons.Honors
- 2002 Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire
- 2018 Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon
- 2025 Time 100 listee
Performances
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 1966 | Freezing Point | 2 episodes | ||
| 1966 | JNR Inspector No. 36 | 2 episodes | ||
| 1967 | Special Tactical Police | 1 episode | ||
| 1968–69 | Ahirugaoka 77 | Tahei Danno | ||
| 1970 | Mito Kōmon | Kanta | 1 episode | |
| 1970–73 | Key Hunter | 3 episodes | ||
| 1975 | The Gorilla Seven | 1 episode | ||
| 1977 | J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai | Katsuya Nakayama | 1 episode | |
| 1977 | Shinkansen Kōankan | Yasuo | 1 episode | |
| 1978–79 | Message from Space: Galactic Wars | Hayato Gen/Maboroshi | 27 episodes | |
| 1978–79 | The Yagyu Conspiracy | Hyōma Hattori Sasuke | 13 episodes | |
| 1978 | Seven Detectives | 1 episode | ||
| 1979 | The Unfettered Shogun | Otome Moroki | 1 episode | |
| 1980 | Roar! Doberman Cop | Hiroshi Sawaki | 1 episode | |
| 1980–81 | Yagyu Abaretabi | Matahei | 10 episodes | |
| 1981–82 | Shadow Warriors II | Hayate Kozō | 10 episodes | |
| 1982 | Shadow Warriors III | Sasuke | 13 episodes | |
| 1982–83 | Yagyu Jubei Abaretabi | Matahei | 9 episodes | |
| 1984 | Wonderful Circus Guy | Tsuyoshi Satomi | TV film | |
| 1984 | Chōdenshi Bioman | Ken Hayase | 1 episode | |
| 1985 | Shadow Warriors IV | Katsu Rintarō | 18 episodes | |
| 1985 | And Then the War is Over | Tetsutarō Suzuki | TV film | |
| 1985 | Kamen no Ninja Akakage | Genji | TV film | |
| 1985 | Shadow Warriors: The End of An Era | Katsu Rintarō | 3 episodes | |
| 1986 | Interviewer Saeko: A Returnless Journey | TV film | ||
| 1987 | Classmate is 13-years-old | Kenkō Inawashiro | ||
| 1987 | Dokuganryu Masamune | Matsudaira Tadateru | 9 episodes | |
| 1987 | Sweet Memories | Kiyoshi Ishihara | TV film | |
| 1987 | Me and Sister | TV film | ||
| 1988 | Tokugawa Ieyasu | Ishida Mitsunari | TV film | |
| 1988 | Love Story in New York | Masahiro Sakairi | ||
| 1988 | I Love You So Much | Seiichi | TV film | |
| 1989 | Oda Nobunaga | Tokugawa Ieyasu | TV film | |
| 1989 | Sakamoto Ryoma | Sakamoto Ryōma | TV film | |
| 1990 | Shingo's Ten Duels | Aoi Shingo | TV film | |
| 1991 | Taiheiki | Ashikaga Takauji | 49 episodes | |
| 1991 | Fall Guy: Gin-chan Goes | TV film | ||
| 1992 | Seiteki Mokushi Roku | Mitsuo Wada | TV film | |
| 1992 | Seizoroi Shimizu Ikka: Jirocho Uridasu | Shinya no Asakichi | TV film | |
| 1993 | Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Conqueror of a Nation | Azai Nagamasa | TV film | |
| 1993 | Kōkō Kyōshi | Takao Hamura | 11 episodes | |
| 1994 | The Reason I Owed to Her | Kunihiko Yamanobe | 11 episodes | |
| 1995 | The Abe Clan | Matashichirō Emoto | TV film | |
| 1995 | Miracles in the Holy Night: Santa Claus is Coming to Town | Yūji Nonomura | TV film | |
| 1996 | Hideyoshi | Ishida Mitsunari | ||
| 1997 | Shin Hanshichi Torimonocho | Hanshichi | 18 episodes | |
| 1997 | A Story of Love | Shūichirō Harashima | 12 episodes | |
| 1998 | That Man's Fear | Keisuke Kishikawa | TV film | |
| 1998 | Tabloid | Toshihito Manabe | 10 episodes | |
| 1999 | Summer of Detectives | Kazuki Kurokawa | TV film | |
| 1999 | Furuhata Ninzaburō | Kazuo Yura | 1 episode | |
| 1999 | Kujira o Mita hi | Tamio Ōba | TV film | |
| 2001 | Unmarried Family | Yōsuke Matoba | 12 episodes | |
| 2004 | Locked-in Syndrome | Shunsuke Kōsaka | TV film | |
| 2010 | Lost | Dogen | 5 episodes | |
| 2011–12 | Revenge | Satoshi Takeda | 4 episodes | |
| 2014–15 | Helix | Dr. Hiroshi Hatake | 15 episodes | |
| 2014 | Extant | Hideki Yasumoto | 13 episodes | |
| 2016 | The Last Ship | Takehaya | 9 episodes | |
| 2018–20 | Westworld | Musashi / Dolores "Sato" Abernathy | 4 episodes | |
| 2021 | Hawkeye | Akihiko | 1 episode | |
| 2024–present | Shōgun | Yoshii Toranaga | Also producer |