Emmys spotlight: Moeka Hoshi is scene-stealing sensation in ‘Shōgun’
“Shōgun” looks set to catapult a number of its cast members into new found career territory and stardom thanks to the stunning web of characters showrunners Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks have managed to weave. Based on James Clavell‘s 1975 historical novel of the same name, “Shōgun” follows several different factions vying for control over the five Regents in Japan at the end of the 16th century. Meanwhile, an English sailor (Cosmo Jarvis) embarks on a whole new life after becoming shipwrecked in the country.
Jarvis is just one of many breakout thespians who could earn an Emmy bid for their remarkable performances, with his co-stars Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai also in the hunt for recognition. Scene-stealing supporting actress Moeka Hoshi could also join them.
Hoshi plays Usami Fuji, the granddaughter of Tokuma Nishioka‘s Toda Hiromatsu (who, in turn, is the most trusted general of Sanada’s Lord Yoshii Toranaga). Hoshi’s ability to communicate so much with so little dialogue has impressed many critics.
Melanie McFarland (Salon) observed: “The attentive performances of ensemble players, such as Moeka Hoshi, whose character Fuji rises out of a wrenching tragedy, and Tokuma Nishioka, whose Hiromatsu serves as Toranaga’s heart and conscience in moments where he appears to abandon both.”
Emmanuel Ronquillo (Collider) opined: “Even amid a cast of utterly stellar performers, Moeka Hoshi is a genuine scene stealer with her portrayal of Fuji. The key to Hoshi’s compelling performance as Fuji is her vivid expressiveness, even without dialogue, which makes her character exceptionally endearing and relatable through even the most subtle actions… The simplicity and charm of Hoshi’s performance make her character the highlight of each scene she’s in, capable of capturing the spotlight with even just a subtle movement. Moeka Hoshi has been giving a masterclass on how to act without speaking, conveying myriad emotions and thoughts through her eyes and expressions alone. Without dialogue, or even drawing additional attention to herself, Hoshi is capable of conveying an impressive range of thoughts, ideas, and feelings.”
Kaiya Shunyata (Roger Ebert) singled out both Hoshi and Tadanobu Asano for their performances, writing: “Usami Fuji (Moeka Hoshi), a widow who must reinvent herself to survive. These two characters are a perfect example of Kondo and Marks’ talent, allowing these secondary figures to become as interesting as the series’ leads, in turn allowing Asano and Hoshi to spotlight their talents.”
Hoshi is on the precipice of cracking the lineup for Best TV Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actress as is her co-star Fumi Nikaido. You might think that the fact that Hoshi and Nikaido are competing against one another for a nomination could potentially hurt one or both of their chances. In fact, it’s the other way around. They could both propel the other to a nomination together as Emmy voters have proven that they like nominating two women from the same show in the same year in this category.
Recent examples include Annaleigh Ashford and Juliette Lewis (“Welcome to Chippendales”), Mare Winningham and Kaitlyn Dever (“Dopesick”), Phillipa Soo and Renée Elise Goldsberry (“Hamilton”), and Julianne Nicholson and Jean Smart (“Mare of Easttown”). In fact, 2022 saw five women nominated for “The White Lotus” in this category: Jennifer Coolidge, Connie Britton, Alexandra Daddario, Natasha Rothwell, and Sydney Sweeney. The last time this category didn’t feature at least one instance of two or more actresses from the same show earning nominations was all the way back in 2013. Hoshi and Nikaido could be the latest duo to both earn bids for their shows.
This is also a good category for Hoshi — she is looking to earn her first nomination and this category often nominates rookie contenders. Recent such nominees include Camila Morrone (“Daisy Jones & the Six”), Maria Bello (“Beef”), Ashford (“Welcome to Chippendales”), Dever (“Dopesick”), Daddario (“The White Lotus”), and Moses Ingram (“The Queen’s Gambit”).
Plus, Hoshi is starring in a historical drama. Voters love that genre in this category, with recent nominees Soo (“Hamilton”), Goldsberry (“Hamilton”), Holland Taylor (“Hollywood”), Sara Bareilles (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert”), Merrit Weaver (“Godless”), and Winningham (“Hatfields & McCoys”) all earning bids for period pieces.
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