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Shogunhas enjoyed unprecedented success since the show premiered almost a month ago. The actors have largely contributed to the success of the FX show, with Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada stealing the spotlight with their roles as Toda Mariko and Yoshii Toranaga, respectively.
Accolades have been pouring in from all quarters as the show creators have successfully adapted the 1975 James Clavell novel of the same name. However, the leading actress deserves special praise for going the extra mile to prepare for her role as Lady Mariko.
Anna Sawai went to great lengths to play Toda Mariko onShogun
Shogunwas languishing for nearly a decade before the production finally took flight. Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks,the show’s creators, left no stone unturnedto bring Clavell’s critically acclaimed novel to life.
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In addition to portraying Lord Toranaga, a powerful feudal lord,Hiroyuki Sanadaalso donned the producer’s hat for the show. Theresult is extraordinary, since the show is as grandiose in scale as it is meticulous in its storytelling.
The FX show is set in 16th-century Japan, with various factions at war with each other. There are three plotlines that eventually converge to tell the tale. Anna Sawai plays Lady Toda Mariko, working as an interpreter for Lord Toranaga, trying to absolve her family name.
Sawai and Sanada spoke toThe A.V. Clubrecently, going in-depth about the show and the characters they played. The actress opened up about the way she prepared to play Toranaga’s trusted interpreter.
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“To prepare for my role, I had to read books on Hosokawa Gracia, who inspired my character, Toda Mariko. I had to learn how to wear a kimono, walk in it, sit in, stand in it, how to open doors in it, and also write in a certain way. I had to basically learn everything [for the part],”she said.
There is no doubt that theMonarch: Legacy of Monstersactress was committed to her character. And now she can revel in the success and fame coming her way.
What drew Anna Sawai to play Toda Mariko onShogun?
Kondo and Marks’ show is a faithful adaptation of the novel, with Sawai playing the female lead, Mariko. She speaks both Japanese and Portuguese, which is a boon for John Blackthorne, who gets stranded in Japan after his ship is blown ashore.
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Sawai’s character is based on the real-life story of Hosokawa Gracia, better known as Akechi Tama. For the actress, this role changed her as an artist due to the sheer impact it had on her.
She spoke toTown & Country Magazinerecalling that reading Mariko’s story drew her to the character.“Reading Mariko’s story just really spoke to me so much, and I knew that she was the character that I needed to play,”she said.
Playing Mariko was a life-changing experience for Sawai; it was very meaningful. Hopefully, as the show’s popularity shoots through the roof, her efforts will be recognized and rewarded.Shogunis available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.
Sreshtha Roychowdhury
Articles Published :156
Sreshtha Roychowdhury is a content writer at FandomWire. An avid lover of film and music, Sreshtha is also a geek, with a hunger to know more about what the field has to offer. Apart from her contributions to writing, she is quite passionate about sports too.
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Hiroyuki SanadaShogun
