‘Shōgun’ sweeps at Golden Globes
A recap of all the Asian and AA+PI excellence at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.
Anna Sawai
Golden Globes
Words by Daniel Anderson
The 2025 award season is officially underway as the 82nd Golden Globes kicked things off with a historic night on Sunday. Nikki Glaser made history as the first woman to host the ceremony solo, setting the stage for an evening full of groundbreaking moments.
API talent continued to shine, from chef Nobu Matsuhisa catering the evening’s menu, to FX’s Shōgun sweeping its four categories, including the top honor of Best Drama Television Series. The historical drama set in imperial Japan had already made waves at the Emmys with a staggering 18 wins.
Anna Sawai won her first Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Toda Mariko, a role that holds a deep legacy. Her win comes more than 40 years after Yoko Shimada won the same award in 1981 for playing the same character in a Shōgun miniseries. In her acceptance speech, Sawai delivered a blend of humor and gratitude, saying, “Thank you to the voters for voting for me, even though I would vote for Kathy Bates any day.”
Hiroyuki Sanada’s win for Best Actor in a Drama Series marked another historic moment as he became the first Asian actor to take home the award in this category and the first male Japanese actor to win a Golden Globe. In his speech, Sanada left a heartfelt message for future performers: “For the young actors and creators in the world, please be yourself, believe in yourself and never give up. Good luck!”
Meanwhile, Tadanobu Asano secured Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series for his role as Kashigi Yabushige. Accepting his award with shock, Asano introduced himself humbly, saying, “Maybe you don’t know me. I’m an actor from Japan, and my name is Tadanobu Asano. Wow!”
In non-Shōgun news, over on the comedy side of things, Ali Wong scored a victory in the Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television category, only in its second year, for her Netflix special Ali Wong: Single Lady. Wong won a Globe last year for her performance in Beef.
Lastly, Wicked proved they know something about being popular as they snagged the award for Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. Director Jon M. Chu accepted the honor with an emotional speech. "In a time when pessimism and cynicism rule the planet right now, we can still make art that is a radical act of optimism, that is empowerment and that is joy. So when we discover that maybe the world isn't exactly the way we thought it was, and maybe we all have a little bit of Elphaba inside of us, that maybe we have that courage and that strength to not give up but to rise up. Take the road off the yellow brick road and maybe discover we can fly.”
Other Asian and AA+PI nominees that evening included Payal Kapadia for Best Director for All We Imagine as Light, also nominated for Best Non-English Language Film; Moana 2 for Best Animated Feature; Twisters, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, for Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement; Squid Game season two for Best TV Series Drama; and Maya Erskine for Best TV Actress Drama.
Check out the full list of nominees and winners here.
Published on January 6, 2025
Words by Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson is a disabled Chinese American adoptee based in Seattle. His freelance writing specialties include K-pop, entertainment, and food. He believes that any restaurant can be a buffet, and the key to success is to take a nap each day. Follow his adventures on Instagram @danzstan.