‘Shōgun’s Anna Sawai Comments on Her Potential Season 2 Return

After a big win at the 2025 Golden Globes, Anna Sawai shared her thoughts on possibly returning as Mariko in the already confirmed Shōgun season 2. Sawai took home the award for Best Actress in a TV Drama for her performance in FX’s historical series.

Her portrayal of Mariko, particularly in the penultimate episode “Crimson Sky,” was widely praised, with many considering it the best moment of the season. This episode marked the emotional departure of her character, who had become central to the show.

At the Golden Globes press conference, Sawai was asked about returning for the next season. She expressed her willingness to reprise her role, as ScreenRant reports, however, she also made it clear that she wouldn’t return unless it made sense for the story.

As Sawa said, he wants any potential comeback for Mariko to be meaningful and not just for the sake of bringing her character back:

If they asked me, I would absolutely do it. There’s no way I’m gonna say no. But, I don’t know if it serves the story, and I want it to be really good and not to bring the character back just to have [her] back.

Source: ScreenRant

Her comments hint that a flashback or a dream sequence could be the way to keep Mariko in the story. However, there’s a real concern about whether that would feel authentic and add to the narrative, given how perfectly her character was written out.

Shōgun had a standout run during the awards season, and Hiroyuki Sanada’s win for his portrayal of Lord Toranaga added to its success. But the second season now faces the challenge of living up to the first.

While there is potential for new storylines beyond the original James Clavell novel, it remains uncertain whether they can match the first season’s excellence. After the show’s huge success, there’s a lot of pressure to make the next season just as compelling.

It’s a tough situation. The risk is high, and we’ll have to wait and see if Shōgun season 2 can rise to the occasion.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!