Hiroyuki Sanada to announce shock retirement from acting?

Sad news for Sanada fans. Speculation had been rife that the Japanese actor best known for his role on the television series Shogun, is about to announce his retirement from acting, at age 65, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 21/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an actor isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an actor just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouHiroyuki

For a little while on Wednesday evening, #ThankYouHiroyuki was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Hiroyuki Sanada was unlike any other actor we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouHiroyuki”
— @universalObserver, 20 May 2026

“I thought Hiroyuki Sanada retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 20 May 2026

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