Anna Sawai went to extraordinary lengths to play Toda Mariko on Shogun.

Shogun has enjoyed unprecedented success since the show premiered almost a month ago. The actors have largely contributed to the success of the FX show, with Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada stealing the spotlight with their roles as Toda Mariko and Yoshii Toranaga, respectively.

Accolades have been pouring in from all quarters as the show creators have successfully adapted the 1975 James Clavell novel of the same name. However, the leading actress deserves special praise for going the extra mile to prepare for her role as Lady Mariko.
Sawai’s character, Lady Mariko, has been one of the standouts (Source: Shogun)

Anna Sawai went to great lengths to play Toda Mariko on Shogun

Shogun was languishing for nearly a decade before the production finally took flight. Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, the show’s creators, left no stone unturned to bring Clavell’s critically acclaimed novel to life.

In addition to portraying Lord Toranaga, a powerful feudal lord, Hiroyuki Sanada also donned the producer’s hat for the show. The result is extraordinary, since the show is as grandiose in scale as it is meticulous in its storytelling.

The FX show is set in 16th-century Japan, with various factions at war with each other. There are three plotlines that eventually converge to tell the tale. Anna Sawai plays Lady Toda Mariko, working as an interpreter for Lord Toranaga, trying to absolve her family name.
Sawai opens up about how she prepared for the role (Source: Shogun)
Sawai and Sanada spoke to The A.V. Club recently, going in-depth about the show and the characters they played. The actress opened up about the way she prepared to play Toranaga’s trusted interpreter.

“To prepare for my role, I had to read books on Hosokawa Gracia, who inspired my character, Toda Mariko. I had to learn how to wear a kimono, walk in it, sit in, stand in it, how to open doors in it, and also write in a certain way. I had to basically learn everything [for the part],” she said.

There is no doubt that the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters actress was committed to her character. And now she can revel in the success and fame coming her way.

What drew Anna Sawai to play Toda Mariko on Shogun?

Kondo and Marks’ show is a faithful adaptation of the novel, with Sawai playing the female lead, Mariko. She speaks both Japanese and Portuguese, which is a boon for John Blackthorne, who gets stranded in Japan after his ship is blown ashore.

Sawai’s character is based on the real-life story of Hosokawa Gracia, better known as Akechi Tama. For the actress, this role changed her as an artist due to the sheer impact it had on her.
Sawai reveals what drew her to Mariko (Source: Shogun)
She spoke to Town & Country Magazine recalling that reading Mariko’s story drew her to the character. “Reading Mariko’s story just really spoke to me so much, and I knew that she was the character that I needed to play,” she said.

Playing Mariko was a life-changing experience for Sawai; it was very meaningful. Hopefully, as the show’s popularity shoots through the roof, her efforts will be recognized and rewarded. Shogun is available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.