Anna Sawai, fresh off her historic Golden Globes win for her breathtaking performance as Mariko in FX’s Shogun, has fans buzzing with hope for her return in the show’s highly anticipated second season. But let’s face it—Mariko’s emotional and heroic death in Season 1 made her one of the series’ most beloved characters. So, could we really see her again?
At the Golden Globes press conference, Sawai shared her excitement about possibly revisiting Mariko but only if it’s done with purpose. “If they asked me, I would absolutely do it. There’s no way I’m gonna say no,” she admitted with a smile. “But I want it to be really good—not just bringing [her] back for the sake of it.”
Sawai even joked about fan theories that have flooded social media since Mariko’s tragic farewell. “People always joke about it,” she said. “They’re like, ‘You can be a ghost or the evil twin sister.’” While those ideas might sound wild, they’re not entirely off the table—after all, in the unpredictable world of Shogun, anything is possible.
Despite the excitement, Sawai revealed her hesitation about revisiting Mariko without a compelling reason. “Honestly, if it were up to me, I wouldn’t try to bring her back,” she said. “Why ruin something that was so perfect? People die, and life goes on.”
Co-star Hiroyuki Sanada, who plays the cunning Lord Toranaga, couldn’t resist stoking the fire of speculation. In a recent interview, he hinted that surprises might be on the horizon. “Who knows? Ghosts? Flashbacks? Another character’s dream?” Sanada teased. He even joked about bringing back other fallen characters as zombies, saying, “Tokuma [Nishioka], who played Hiromatsu, said he and Yabushige would be coming back as undead (laughs).”
While fans eagerly await updates, one thing is clear: Shogun Season 2 promises more drama, intrigue, and twists as the epic saga continues. And who knows? Maybe Mariko’s story isn’t quite over yet. For now, you can stream the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning first season on Hulu.
Anna Sawai’s legacy as Mariko has already made television history, but if a ghostly comeback or a jaw-dropping twist is in the cards, the Shogun fandom will be here for it. Let’s just hope Season 2 gives us the answers we’re all dying for—pun intended!
