Anna Sawaiis a few days removed from her historicEmmyswin, but shes still very much trying to process it.
I’m so nervous.
I want this for everyone.
Anna Sawai wins Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the 2024 Emmys.Gilbert Flores/Getty
Gilbert Flores/Getty
The biggest ceremony highlight?
Getting a compliment fromKathy Bateson the carpet was so huge for me because I love her work.
WhenShogunreturns for season 2, itll be glaringly Sawai-less followingLady Marikos fatal sacrificein season 1s penultimate episode.
Anna Sawai as Naomi in ‘Pachinko’ season 2.Apple TV+
But hey, Hollywood is known to get creative with character deaths.
Has Sawai heard anything about season 2…?
People always joke about it, she says.
Jin Ha, Anna Sawai, and Yuh-jung Youn on ‘Pachinko’ season 2.Apple TV+
Why ruin something that was so perfect?
If we force it into the material, it’s going to feel like that.
People die and life goes on.
For them to move on and see what happens to Toranaga and Blackthorne, Im excited for that.
I loved the book.
I was like, I need to tell this story.
Below, more from Sawai about her season 2 arc.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Ive observed some parallels between Naomi and Lady Mariko.
Theyre both strong-willed women, caught in circumstances with men who use them as pawns in their games.
ANNA SAWAI:I think the similarities are that they’re Japanese.
Every Japanese woman I know has [these women] in them.
It’s not easy in Japan being a woman.
I still feel like they’re very behind when it comes to feminism and equality.
I know a lot of people are going to get mad at me for saying that.
We see that it’s the women supporting the women in Japan.
So what we see in Naomi and Mariko is that they are repressed.
How do you view Naomis relationship with Solomon?
Hes so bleh, which of course is a testament to Jins performance.
I was about to say, F that guy.
Well, after what he decides to do, I dont have much great things to say.
Solomon is that for her.
In a recent episode, you prepare a meal with the incomparable Yuh-jung Youn.
What was it like working with her?
She is so amazing.
We never knew when she was going to [get into character].
It’s so natural.
She’s so subtle [and] real that it allows you to be that way.
If someone’s acting really big around me, I tend to reflect that, too.
With her, I felt like I could just relax, not even think about acting.
So I was trying to take everything in from her, watching her eat.
It was such a joy.
What can you tease about Naomis journey and where well find her by the finale?
Her family wants something, society is pressuring her to do something, and she wants something else.
So we get to see the realities of 1980s corporate industry and it’s very heartbreaking.
But it’s also empowering because she’s not going to be kicked down and end there.
There’s still something within her.
She’s going to stand up.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
New episodes ofPachinkorelease Fridays on Apple TV+.
