Hiroyuki SanadaMBE (真田 広之, Sanada Hiroyuki, born Shimozawa; 12 October 1960)[1] is a Japanese actor, producer, singer and martial artist. He began his career in the mid-1960s at the age of six, and gained prominence for his roles in Japanese and Hong Kong action films, later establishing himself as a dramatic actor.
Born in Tokyo, he was scouted by an entertainer while playing with the son of the actor Kokichi Takada who lived in the same condominium. After working as a model for a magazine for young children, he joined the Himawari Theatre Group at the age of five. He made his film debut in 1966 in the ninkyo yakuza filmGame of Chance (浪曲子守唄) starring Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba, reprising his role as Chiba's character's son in two sequels released the following year.
Originally planning to be an action movie star, he studied Shorinji Kempo and later took up Kyokushin kaikan karate.[6] He began playing baseball at age 8 as a catcher,[7] and started training at the age of 11 with Chiba's Japan Action Club, where he developed good all-around martial arts ability and soon became Chiba's protégé. After entering high school, following Chiba's advice, he decided to devote himself to his studies and withdrew from performing arts activities. In 1978, he resumed his performing arts activities in earnest after passing the audition for the movie Shogun's Samurai (柳生一族の陰謀). It was at this point that he changed his surname from Shimozawa (下澤) to Sanada (真田).[citation needed]
1982–1999: Hong Kong action films and Japanese character roles
In Japan, Sanada established himself as a character actor in the 1984 movie Mahjong Hourouki directed by Makoto Wada. In 1997 Sanada starred in a television drama A Story of Love, also known by its Japanese title Konna Koi no Hanashi, where he played the role of Shuichiro Harashima, a wealthy but lonely upper-class businessman who falls in love with a decorating designer from a lower class family played by Nanako Matsushima.[2] The following year in 1998, Sanada once again co-starred with Nanako Matsushima in a 1998 mystery thriller Ring (also known by its Japanese title, Ringu), where he played the role of Ryūji Takayama, the estranged former husband of Matsushima's character, who had a sixth sense that detects supernatural auras.[8]
1999–2002: Royal Shakespeare Company
In 1999 and 2000, he performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in their production of King Lear, for which he was awarded as an Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2002, citing his "contribution to spreading British culture in Japan through his performance in a joint Shakespeare production."[9] Some media reports erroneously stated that Sanada received the honour for being the first Japanese actor to perform with the RSC, but Togo Igawa had joined the troupe earlier, in 1986.[10]
2021–present: Bullet Train, John Wick: Chapter 4, Shōgun
In 2021, Sanada was announced as producer and part of the cast of the FX limited series Shōgun, adapted from the James Clavellnovel, playing the part of Lord Toranaga.[16][7] The series has received widespread global critical acclaim, with Sanada's role in the series considered a highlight among many reviewers.[17][18]
In 2022, Sanada had a major supporting role in Bullet Train opposite Brad Pitt.[19] In 2023, he portrayed Koji Shimazu, manager of the Osaka Continental Hotel, in John Wick: Chapter 4,[20] and was featured in a multi-commercial campaign introducing Mazda CX-90.[21][22]
From 1980 to 1991, Sanada released a series of albums and singles in Japan as a singer; several of these were tied to films, TV shows, or stage productions he was starring in. In 2010 and 2011, compilations were released covering his songs for movies and pop hits respectively.[citation needed]