FX’s Shōgun will be attempting to take home every single accolade the show has been nominated for at the Emmy Awards, and it’s not really difficult to see why they dominated the event. From the gripping storyline and the outstanding cast down to the costumes and set designs, the Japanese series showed everyone what perfection looks like.
Speaking of perfect, it also introduced the most terrifying villain that truly stood out in the show: Lord Kashigi Yabushige. Played by Tadanobu Asano, the actor reflects on the success of the project and his newfound stardom in Hollywood.
Shōgun Star Tadanobu Asano Reflects On Portraying Kashigi Yabushige
Kashigi Yabushige is a cunning and creative warlord in FX’s Shōgun who seemingly plays on both sides, which is why fans have started following the character as he got more interesting as the series progressed. He’s basically flexible in terms of his allegiance, and he’s ready to switch sides whenever it suits him.
While speaking with CBR, actor Tadanobu Asano revealed his preparation for playing such an intriguing role. He admitted Shōgun was different from any other projects he did in the past, but it was the character that challenged him the most.
I did not want to be the character that everyone expected Yabushige to be. So if there’s a certain sort of imagined character, I wanted to be different.
In this statement, he revealed wanting the warlord to defy the expectations of the audience. More often than not, fans already have a preconceived notion of how a villain in a story would appear or behave. Asano decided to go the opposite way and gave the figure a different twist.
Yabushige had a lot of funny moments in the show, and the actor was able to deliver that in his performance. He displayed the character’s natural comedic nature, like his death poem which brought unexpected humor to the story. There are not many villains who can be menacing and funny at the same time.
This was Asano’s thought process during rehearsals. In his interview with GQ, the 50-year-old star said Yabushige is not an ordinary samurai, which compelled him and the team to come up with an approach that would speak true to this description. “I’m always thinking about the essence of a villainous character,” he said, meaning the strange ways antagonists express themselves.
FX’s Shōgun Is Set to Conquer The Emmy Awards
Shōgun made an astounding accomplishment after it received 25 nominations at the Emmy Awards, including outstanding drama series, lead actor and actress, directing, and writing, to name a few.
The hype and support around the series are quite strong, so it would not be a surprise if they take home every single accolade. Shōgun is a well-crafted story with compelling characters that had the audience in an emotional grip. As Tadanobu Asano mentioned, it is different from other television shows, even in comparison to some other period pieces.
Shōgun is currently available to watch on Hulu.
