This year, FX’s 2024 television series Shōgun won 18 Emmy awards, becoming the show with the most Emmys received in one year. 

Based on the 1975 James Clavell novel of the same name, the Shōgun show follows Englishman John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) after he finds himself taken prisoner in Japan after a shipwreck. Blackthorne is swept into the world of late Sengoku-era Japanese politics as the strategic and cunning Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) fights to become the shogun of Japan. The cast is full of complex and fascinating characters, each with their own stories and ambitions, which include a Catholic noblewoman, Lady Mariko Toda (Anna Sawai), who plays a vital political role translating between Toranaga and Blackthorne.

Shōgun isn’t the first iteration of Clavell’s novel: most notably, the book was adapted into a TV show in 1980, picking up three wins during the 33rd Emmy Awards. When reimagining the  “classic original,” FX was sure to emphasize authenticity.

Hiroyuki Sanada not only plays the titular Shōgun, but also took on the role of co-producer. When speaking on Good Morning America, Sanada emphasized how producing an accurate depiction of 17th century Japan took priority in producing the show – “[sic] we have a model in the real history, but the story itself is fictional entertainment. That’s why we need to make it authentic to believe the story and the character.” 

Extensive efforts were made to ensure the show’s historicity. Unlike its forerunner, FX’s Shōgun is 70% in Japanese (“because, you know, the story [is] about Japan,” explained Sanada). The production had “groups of Japanese advisors,” as well as experts on the movements and gestures of the time period. It used Japanese bald caps called habutai and provided the cast and crew with Japanese catering. No expense was spared, literally – Shōgun is currently FX’s most expensive production.

We’ve seen shows that have won lots of awards before – most notably Game of Thrones – but Shōgun’s wins are special because Shōgun is different. Amongst Shōgun’s 18 wins, there were a few “firsts:” the show was the first non-English show to win Outstanding Drama series, and made Sanada and Sawai the first Japanese actor and actress to win Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

These first are inherently special: Shōgun receiving recognition for its dedication to authenticity serves as a sign that people do want to see accurate portrayals of history, a sign that TV studios don’t have to sacrifice native language in favor of English to garner an American audience, a sign that these great efforts do pay off. 

Shōgun is currently available to watch on Hulu and Disney+.