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When he rides intoShogunepisode seven, Saeki Nobutatsu shakes up Lord Toranagas plans almost as badly asthat earthquake.
With Saeki now sitting on the council in the seriespenultimate episode, the tables have finally turned.
In reality, Okuno has some of the awe for Sanada that Saeki has for Toranaga.
Okuno even picked which acting school to attend in part based on Sanadas career.
Sanada-san is already a Toranaga in so many ways, he said via translator.
Just standing opposite him makes my leg shake a little bit.
Shogunis based in history, loosely, and your character doesnt have much of a historical record.
I felt that what I should be doing was to ride that image that had been collectively created.
Lets talk about the costumes.
When your character comes into the show, he almost blends in with the fog that is surrounding him.
His whole crew is in silver.
And he has this very striking helmet.
So Carlos really focused on Saekis inferiority complex.
Its as if hes floating in the air.
That really helped explain his deep inner thoughts.
You cant know what hes thinking, but you know that hes in the middle of everything.
And just standing opposite him makes my leg shake a little bit.
Sanada-san is somebody that Ive always admired and respected.
In fact, I chose my university partly because he went there.
So theres that sort of underlying private feelings, personal feelings.
That really informed my performance.
Realistically, Toranaga and Saeki would likely not have spent that much time together.
They probably havent seen each other for over a decade.
Saekis very conscious of what his older brother has that he doesnt have.
It seems like Saeki is leaning into the perceived villainy of his actions.
I wonder if he feels the betrayal of what hes doing or whether its all just business to him.
They were always open for communication and up for trying new things.
I felt encouraged to speak up.
Its this long ponytail.
Hessohatsu, so he doesnt have this middle part shaved as most of the samurais do.
His ponytail, its long.
Most Americans concept of wild is more disheveled.
But it didnt feel right.
It didnt feel authentic.
My idea was to go with the hairstyle we ended up with.
Considering the time period, that hairstyle was considered very avant-garde, wild and crazy.
So it is something that fits the culture and time period yet delivers that distinction.
So it was really great to be able to be part of the process.
Sanada-san created a great level of communication and collaboration.
What do you think has given him this outlook?He wants to get his brother into trouble.
Thats his biggest drive.
He feels Toranaga took away his mother in certain ways.
He took his mothers milk.
Realistically, he was probably the younger brother, but you get it.
Most likely their mother was more interested in Toranaga.
Which triggered the inferiority complex.
But he extends that resentment to the whole lifestyle.
You dont know what will happen tomorrow.
So it really is about living the time that you have.
There is that bittersweet sadness in seeing Nagakados short-lived life fading away in front of him.
I think there was a line about … Theres several like that.
Saeki is the kind of person who tends to collect these expressions.
And also probably back in those days, those types of expressions were more appreciated than today.
It is something that you would say in front of people and it would be quite appreciated.
Its like hes keeping a diary.
But also that line speaks to the way Saeki violates a lot of laws of decorum.
As you said, with his hair, then the story he tells at dinner, hes very disruptive.
A lord of that stature does know what is required, does know what behavior and courtesy are required.
Hes violating that knowingly.
This show is so much about loyalty.
Its made me reexamine my allegiance, personally.
To whom or what are you loyal?Personally?
Its a very tricky question.
Its not like money can buy my loyalty.
Its not blood ties.
Family is important, but its not like my parents are the most important thing.
Im not planning to betray anyone.
But having said that, its always fun to betray the audiences expectations.
So perhaps it could be said that Im loyal to my independence.
A loyalty to following your own spirit.
That just made me think of Poloniuss line inHamlet, To thine own self be true.
Or evenThe Lion King?Yes, its very interesting in terms of these classical plays.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
