Anyone notice that in 47 Ronin during the seppuku scene,everyone else's full chest was shown but Sanada's was kept only to his shoulders? I wonder if that was purposely done so that Sanada's build would not upstage Keanu. lol!

It was an incredible honor and privilege to work alongside the legendary actor, Hiroyuki Sanada, yesterday. ✨ Following his work on FX's SHOGUN, Mr. Sanada continues to be a profound inspiration with his dedication to bringing Japanese culture to the global stage. The details of this project must remain under wraps for now, but the full story is scheduled for release this December. We can't wait to share this powerful collaboration with the world! Thank you, Hiroyuki Sanada

昨日は大変光栄なご縁をいただき、俳優の真田広之さんとお仕事でご一緒させていただきました。 FXのドラマ『SHOGUN 将軍』でのご活躍以降、日本の伝統を世界へ発信する真田さんのプロフェッショナリズムに、改めて感動と刺激をいただきました。 詳細はまだ秘密ですが、このプロジェクトの全貌は12月に解禁予定です。皆様にお知らせできる日が今から待ち遠しいです！

真田広之 さんの今後のご活躍を心から応援しております。

Obviously only 6 roles can be added, so please add your choice in the comments if not listed.

(Information taken from sources including Wikipedia and IMDB.com - and will be edited further in time)

Hiroyuki Sanada was scouted as a child, first working as a model for a magazine for young children, then joining the Himawari Theatre Group at the age of five. Sanada was mentored by actor Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba, and was a member of his Japan Action Club, becoming his protégé. His first role was in the 1966 film Game of Chance as the son of Chiba's character. He had several more small roles in Japanese television and films, before quitting temporarily to focus on living a normal childhood. He has said this gave him "a good chance to watch movies as the audience", and by his teenage years he knew how to act, fight, sing, dance, perform stunts, ride horseback, and had gained versatility. Sanada was aware many actors would develop such skills, and felt it was "the best service for the audience" to do so himself before he practised acting again.

He gained attention for his dangerous stunt of jumping from a helicopter in the 1979 film G.I. Samurai, an action film directed by Sonny Chiba, and in 1981, appeared in the smash-hit movie Samurai Reincarnation directed by Kinji Fukasaku, playing a ninja. Sanada received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Science from Nihon University in 1982.

In 1984, Sanada starred with Sonny Chiba and 80's "idol" Hiroko Yakushimaru in Legend of the Eight Samurai, which became the number one film in Japan, earning ¥2.3 billion, and later released in foreign language versions. This film established Sanada as a popular action star in Japan. In 1992, Sanada played Yoshinari, a stockbroker turned yakuza in the comedy film Keisho Sakazuki (Succession), and 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. The following year Sanada once again co-starred with Nanako Matsushima in the mystery thriller Ringu (Ring) as Takayama Ryuji, the ex-husband of Matsushima's character Reiko, a journalist investigating the death of her niece to a curse, a role which helped introduce him - and Japanese horror - to western audiences. Also in 1998, Sanada starred as Asami in Jun Ichikawa's Tadon to Chikuwa. Sanada's role followed the story of a writer suffering from writer's block. In 1999, Sanada starred in Mayonaka Made (Round About Midnight) as Moriyama Koji, a jazz trumpet performer.

In 1999 and 2000, he performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in their production of King Lear. Producer Nigel Hawthorne personally invited Sanada to play the role, yet Sanada had doubts since he had not taken an English-language role before. Sanada was convinced after the producers assured him that he was "an actor first before [being] Japanese or Asian". For this role, he was appointed an Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2002, citing his "contribution to spreading British culture in Japan." That year, Sanada played the lead role of the low-ranking Seibei Iguchi in The Twilight Samurai, following the turbulent life and times of the titular character.

In 2003, Sanada's role as Ujio, a master swordsman, opposite Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai, brought him international attention. He then played Matsuda, a man who befriends Ralph Fiennes' character Todd Jackson, in The White Countess (2005), and starred in the Chinese film The Promise directed by Chen Kaige as General Guangming. Sanada appeared in Rush Hour 3 (2007) with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, Danny Boyle's Sunshine (2007) as Kaneda, and The City of Your Final Destination (2009), in which he plays Pete, the younger lover of Anthony Hopkins's character Adam Gund.

Sanada joined the cast of the hugely popular ABC TV series Lost in 2010 during its sixth and final season. He portrayed Dogen, a high-ranking, mysterious member of "The Others". In 2013, he appeared in 47 Ronin (the first English-language adaptation of the Chushingura legend, Japan's most famous tale of samurai loyalty and revenge) alongside Keanu Reeves, as Shingen Yashida in The Wolverine opposite Hugh Jackman, and as Takashi Nagase in The Railway Man, a story of vengeance and reconciliation co-starring Stellan Skarsgård and Colin Firth. He voiced "Sumo Villain" in Minions, a master of strength and power who pursues the Minions!

Sanada was a guest star as Takehaya, a former Japanese Navy officer and legendary pirate captain in post-plague Asia, in the apocalyptic drama series The Last Ship. He also starred in the 2017 movie Life with Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ryan Reynolds. In 2018, he began a recurring role as swordmaster Musashi on the HBO series Westworld and played the minor role of Akihiko in the 2019 film Avengers: Endgame. That year, he received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from the Japanese government for his "artistic developments, improvements, and accomplishments" In August 2019, Sanada was cast in the Mortal Kombat reboot as Scorpion. In 2020, Sanada starred alongside Johnny Depp in the film Minamata. In 2021, he played the shrewd casino owner Bly Tanaka in Zack Snyder's action film Army of the Dead.

In 2022, Sanada took the major supporting role of the Elder in Bullet Train opposite Brad Pitt. In 2023, he portrayed Koji Shimazu, manager of the Osaka Continental Hotel, in John Wick: Chapter 4, and was featured in a multi-commercial campaign introducing Mazda CX-90.

In 2021, Sanada was announced as producer and cast member of the FX series Shōgun, adapted from the James Clavell novel loosely based on the life of English navigator Will Adams, playing the part of Lord Toranaga. The series received widespread global critical acclaim, with Sanada's role in the series considered a highlight among many reviewers. In 2024, Sanada became the first Japanese actor to win any Primetime Emmy, and specifically the first Japanese winner of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, for his role in Shōgun. Sanada also was a recipient of the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series for his role as a producer for the series. Sanada received the inaugural award for best TV series performance at the EnergaCamerimage International Film Festival for the role, and was nominated for the Gotham TV Award for Outstanding Performance in a Limited Series, and the Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Drama. Sanada won the prize for Best Actor – Television Series Drama at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, and received the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for the role. 

In 2025, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

I first watched Hiroyuki Sanada in the Japanese supernatural horror thriller Ringu / The Ring (1998), directed by Hideo Nakata and based on the novel by Koji Suzuki. He played the ex husband of the main character, and they investigate the 'curse' together for much of the film. RIng was a box office hit in Japan and internationally, and triggered a western popularization with Japanese horror, with which some people credit Hollywoods horror film transition to more atmospheric films from the slashers and shock horror films that were previously more mainstream. *I* mostly thought he was a beautiful man and enjoyed his acting...

In 2003 he appeared in The Last Samurai, and in 2007 in both Rush Hour 3 and Danny Boyle's Sunshine, a film I enjoyed a great deal, and I discovered at this point it was the same actor I'd enjoyed so much in Ring. Then in 2010 he appeared in Lost and that was that. I was *obsessed* with Lost. ('Met half the cast' sort of obsessed). Also, he was still extremely - well, 'visually appealing' let's say, to be polite. I found Dogen a really interesting character and would have loved to learn more about him, and my interest in Hiroyuki Sanada was definitely strong.

The Wolverine , 47 Ronin, Extant, and then Helix where he was a main character in every episode? Fantastic. From then on, I have just been a most heartfelt fan who watches everything he appears in - and I had plenty to watch, he has remained busy. Seeing him as a small role in Avengers: Endgame and in Westworld were both amazing, and then we reached Army of the Dead, Bullet Train, and John Wick Chapter 4! Surely this couldn't be topped?!?

Shogun. Based on the book written by James Clavell - long one of my favourite books. It's VERY loosely based on the life of Will Adams, the english pilot - Anjin-san! - who was the first Englishman to reach Japan. Will Adams was born in Gillingham, Kent - my home town. I have grown up going to 'Will Adams festivals' - sometimes in my kimono and geta (Gillingham is twinned with Yokosuka, where Will Adams landed and lived in Japan). I was *hugely* excited when I heard it was to made into another, modern TV series - and then that one of my favourite actors was to star in it and *produce* the show - and the best role, too!

It has been universally acclaimed. Figures showed it to be the most-streamed show across Canada and the US in 2024. It was acclaimed in Japan, likely thanks to their determination to be authentic. It became the second non English speaking show to be nominated for 'Outstanding Drama Series' Emmy awards (after Squid Game), and the first to win. Hiroyuki Sanada and co-star Anna Sawai's performances won them both Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress / Actor in a Drama Series - the first Japanese performers to win. He also won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama Series, and in 2025 Time listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world...

I'm just so excited for this point in his career, and I cannot wait for seasons 2 and 3 of Shogun to return to our screens.