Hiroyuki Sanada Recognized with 18 Awards for His Exceptional Humanity

From veterans to extras, without distinction.

On September 20, an article on the WEB version of “Sponichi” featured actor Takumi Oyamada (56), who is based in Los Angeles and also appeared in the production. He spoke about his experiences with Sanada on set, recalling, “Even on days when he didn’t have any scenes as an actor, he was there from morning until night, immediately rushing over whenever problems arose.”

Despite his busy schedule, Sanada was always calm. He meticulously cared for everything on set, from props and sets to the cast’s movements, providing hands-on guidance. He offered detailed instructions even on minor aspects, like the direction of the knees when the local extras sat in seiza (a traditional Japanese sitting position). When things went well, he would give a thumbs up and say, “Good job!” to uplift the atmosphere on set.

According to Oyamada, Sanada treated everyone equally, from veterans to minor roles, personally picking up the movement instructors and sword-fighting experts he had brought over from Japan and paying attention to the kimono fabric. “There aren’t many major actors who would go this far,” he remarked.

After moving to the U.S. and establishing himself in Los Angeles for 20 years, Sanada’s determination to depict authentic period dramas drove him to achieve the remarkable success of “SHOGUN” through his dual roles as a producer and an actor, as noted by a film industry insider.