The nominees for the 82nd Golden Globe Awards will be announced on December 9 (U.S. time) in the morning, corresponding to the evening in Japan. Last year, Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron and Makoto Shinkai's Suzume were nominated for Best Animated Feature, with Miyazaki’s film winning—marking the first-ever win for a Japanese work in this category. This year, attention is shifting toward the representation of Japan within major Hollywood productions.

Spotlight: SHOGUN

One of the most anticipated contenders is FX's drama series SHOGUN, which premiered to acclaim in September. Based on James Clavell’s novel depicting Japan during the Sengoku era, the series was produced by Disney's FX and has already won 18 awards at the 76th Emmy Awards, including Best Lead Actor for Hiroyuki Sanada.

Additionally, at the Critics' Choice Television Awards announced on December 5, SHOGUN received six nominations, including Best Drama Series, Best Actor (Hiroyuki Sanada), Best Actress (Anna Sawai), Best Supporting Actor (Tadanobu Asano, Hira Takehiro), and Best Supporting Actress (Moeka Hoshi). The series is widely expected to secure nominations in similar categories at the Golden Globes.

Historically, the original 1980 adaptation of SHOGUN won the Golden Globe for Best Drama Series, with Yoko Shimada (as Mariko Toda) and Richard Chamberlain (as John Blackthorne) taking home Best Actress and Best Actor, respectively. If Sanada wins Best Actor, it would mark the first time a Japanese actor has achieved this honor. Similarly, if Sawai wins Best Actress, it would end a 44-year drought for Japanese actors in this category. Wins in the supporting categories would also be historic firsts for Japanese talent.

Japanese Films to Watch: The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

In the film categories, all eyes are on Kenji Kamiyama's animated epic The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. The movie, set to release in Japan on December 27, serves as a prequel to the acclaimed live-action trilogy directed by Peter Jackson. Kamiyama is prominently featured on the Golden Globes’ official website in an article titled, “Spotlighting Non-English Filmmakers of the Season”. The piece highlights Kamiyama’s insights on diversity and the importance of presenting unique cultural perspectives in Hollywood.

The film, produced by Warner Bros. with executive producer Peter Jackson and animation contributions from Japan’s Sola Entertainment, builds on the legacy of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and marks the first full-length animated adaptation of Tolkien’s legendary universe.

The 82nd Golden Globe Awards ceremony will take place on January 5, 2025 (U.S. time).

Source : ORICON NEWS