Shōgun
Sanada has absolutely shined as Yoshii Toranaga on Shōgun. Fearsome, ruthless, and intelligent as hell, the actor brings levity and humanity to such an imposing figure. All we have to say is: Give this man an Emmy!
Westworld
Sanada joined the HBO sci-fi series when it introduced the Shogun World theme park. He not only struck fear in everyone’s hearts as Musashi, but he also provided important cultural guidance during the filming of the series.
Lost
That’s right, Sanada even made his mark on one of the most legendary TV shows of all time: Lost. He joined the cast in the final season and promptly shook up audiences’ theories about the series finale. His character, Dogen, was a mysterious dweller in the Temple and had a story arc that tugged at fans’ heartstrings.
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John Wick 4
From Donnie Yen to Halle Berry, the John Wick franchise has no shortage of legendary cameos. This includes Sanada, who appears in the fourth installment as Shimazu Koji, a powerful swordsman and ally to Wick.
Bullet Train
In Bullet Train, David Leitch’s stylish and action-packed 2022 film, Sanada portrays the Elder, a former yakuza member and formidable fighter whose mission is to protect his family from assassins. He may have limited screen time, but he makes a lasting impression as always.
Mortal Kombat
The much-anticipated Mortal Kombat adaptation—which is based on the video game of the same name—finally arrived in 2021. Sanada left his mark on its legacy as the iconic character Hanzo Hasashi, aka Scorpion. The actor’s decades of martial-arts experience make him a believably fearsome warrior.
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Rush Hour 3
The third chapter of the beloved buddy-cop franchise features Sanada as Kenji—Inspector Lee’s foster brother, who turned into the boss of a crime syndicate. He shows off impressive stuntwork opposite his longtime friend Jackie Chan.
Sunshine
Set in an apocalyptic future, Sunshine tells the story of eight men and women on a last-ditch mission to revive the sun before the planet goes dark. Sanada plays Kaneda, the ship’s captain. He trained in many English dialects in order to capture his character’s educational and experiential background.
The Last Samurai
Sanada’s first time in a major Hollywood production also happened to be opposite Tom Cruise. The Last Samurai is a historical drama about an American soldier who becomes embroiled with samurai warriors amid the Meiji Restoration. Sanada’s performance as Ujio earned him critical acclaim and the attention of Hollywood studios.
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The Twilight Samurai
An unconventional samurai story, The Twilight Samurai stars Sanada as Seibei Iguchi, a poor bookkeeper who yearns to reach his full potential as a samurai and as a man. His heartfelt and emotionally brutal performance garnered him international praise.
Ringu
This horror masterpiece launched a wave of Asian horror films spawning dozens of American remakes. Based on the terrifying concept of a chain letter, Ringu is about a videotape that causes the death of anyone who watches it after seven days. Sanada brings gravity to the film as the clairvoyant Ryuji Takayama, who tries to break the curse.
Royal Warriors
Sanada tested out his crossover appeal by appearing in many Hong Kong films. One of the most popular movies is Royal Warriors, in which he teams up with Michelle Yeoh. He plays a hard-boiled former Tokyo police officer who must help a cop (Yeoh) stop a plane hijacking.
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Shogun’s Samurai
One of Sanada’s breakout roles was in Shogun’s Samurai, playing the son of Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi (Sonny Chiba). The film was a massive hit in Japan—and it even led to a TV spin-off. It also marked a milestone in Chiba’s mentorship of Sanada.
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