Drue Kataoka 
Firefighters battle deadly and destructive wildfires in Los Angeles, California. January 9 (©Reuters)
LOS ANGELES ー Asano. Sanada. Sawai. Shogun. All winners. On both sides of the Pacific, from Tokyo to LA, there was good reason to celebrate this past January 5 (local time). The power of Asia and America's creative economies were on full display at the Golden Globes Awards ceremony. If only the Oscars celebrated television drama too.
As it stands, among the now-announced Academy Awards nominees are "Black Box Diaries" from Japanese Journalist Shiori Ito and "Instruments of a Beating Heart." The former is a documentary about Ito's sexual assault investigation in Japan. and "Instruments of a Beating Heart." Ema Ryan Yamazaki's documentary short is the latter. It follows Ayame, a Tokyo first-grade student determined to conquer the big drum for her class's performance of "Ode to Joy."
Golden Globes and Devastating Wildfires
How distant our celebrations in LA and in Asia now seem amidst the devastation of large parts of Los Angeles by wildfires. Yet, when the 82nd Golden Globes Awards ceremony concluded in Los Angeles, there were so many Asian and Asian American achievements to celebrate. That included much greater global visibility for actors, directors, and creative content from Japan to India, and beyond.
Today, the LA neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades and Altadena have been pretty much burned to the ground. Tens of thousands of Los Angelenos have faced evacuation orders. Thousands of homes have been destroyed ー including those of some of our own family members and friends. Hollywood's film industry has been disrupted in a manner perhaps once conceived of as only possible in a fictitious disaster movie.
The images filling our screens from the United States' second largest city, however, have been all too real.
Traditionally, the Golden Globes kick off an awards season that culminates with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Oscars ceremony a few months later. This year the Oscars ー now scheduled for March 2 in Los Angeles ー will no doubt be reimagined, perhaps scaled back or transformed into a tribute, fundraiser, and benefit for firefighters, first responders, and the tens of thousands who have lost homes or even loved ones.
Before the Devastation
Amid a city reeling from the fires, we also pause to share these pre-wildfire reflections from the Golden Globes.
It was a groundbreaking evening of firsts and excellence for Asian and Asian American creatives at the 82nd Annual Golden Globes, with Japan's Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, and Hiroyuki Sanada all winning awards and global attention. The epic samurai series Shogun swept all four categories it was nominated for. Meanwhile, Ali Wong became the first actress ever to win back-to-back Globes for "Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television."
Anna Sawai also made history as the first Asian actress since 1981 to receive the "Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama" award. And director Jon Chu's Wicked took home the coveted "Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement."
Even Asian culinary brilliance was front and center as Chef Nobu Matsuhisa (of Nobu Restaurant fame) crafted a bespoke menu for the glittering ceremony. Presenters of Asian and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage, including Awkwafina, Ke Huy Quan, Mindy Kaling, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Auliʻi Cravalho, further underscored the evening's diverse representation.
Other Asian and AAPI nominees included Payal Kapadia for "Best Director" for All We Imagine as Light, which was also nominated for "Best Non-English Language Film;" Moana 2 for "Best Animated Feature;" Twisters, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, for "Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement;" Squid Game Season 2 for "Best TV Series – Drama;" and Maya Erskine for "Best TV Actress – Drama."
Outside the 'Globes
Despite missing out on a Golden Globe win, Squid Game 2 had already taken the world by storm. The Korean drama reached the No. 1 spot globally after its release on December 26, 2024. It became the first series to debut at No 1 in all 90-plus countries where Netflix is available. The blockbuster series is currently No 2 on the streaming platform's list of Most Popular Non-English Shows of all time, behind season 1 of Squid Game.
As a community, we should extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Golden Globes voting body of 334 entertainment journalists representing 85 countries around the world. It's a milestone to see many talented Asian and AAPI actors recognized for portraying characters of depth, substance, and strength.
Progress on Asian Stereotypes
In 2021, we raised concerns in a NextShark article about how that year's Golden Globes failed to address the alarming rise in anti-Asian hate. A few weeks later, we hoped the Oscars ー whose theme was "Stories Matter," ー would take the lead. However, our community's stories were largely overlooked. This oversight reflects the long history of entrenched Asian stereotypes manufactured by Hollywood. Those stereotypes range from portraying Asian women as "timid, submissive and over-sexualized" to emasculating Asian men as effete, ridiculous, comic relief sidekicks or inscrutable, sinister villains."
Now, three years later, it is clear some progress has been made. With Asian and AAPI artists finally receiving well-deserved recognition, we celebrate these successes. Meanwhile, we continue to push for more opportunities and representation in Hollywood ー and beyond.
Asian Humility on Display
One memorable aspect of the evening was the heartfelt humility displayed by the charismatic actors Tadanobu Asano and Anna Sawai. Asano, relatively new to many American viewers, introduced himself by saying, "Wow…maybe you don't know me. So, I'm an actor from Japan."
Meanwhile, Sawai gave one of the night's shortest speeches, graciously thanking voters and playfully conceding that she would still "vote for Kathy Bates any day." Later on Jimmy Kimmel Live, she added, "I'm no Demi Moore… No one knows me. They don't want to hear who I want to thank."
While some will interpret their words as shockingly self-effacing, they also reflect the cultural backgrounds and personal journeys of two global stars who are not yet household names in the United States. These types of moments celebrate the diversity of acceptance speeches, reminding us that not everyone embraces the spotlight in the same way. In many parts of Asia and the Pacific, modesty and collective recognition can play a more prominent role than the individual spotlight we often see in Hollywood.
Finding 'Common Cause'
However, it is important to remember that the US entertainment industry can be a fiercely dog-eat-dog environment. It is undeniable that speaking up and owning one's accomplishments is an important part of breaking through. So, in a competitive and noisy industry, it is crucial that we as audience, talent, and community, champion and uplift Asian and Asian American voices when they do take the stage.
The Los Angeles fires underscore the critical need to come together in unity and common cause. There is an urgent need to provide solace and support for the rebuilding of a beautiful and creative city while celebrating the diversity of communities that breathe life into its resilient spirit.
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Authors: Drue Kataoka and Curtis S Chin
Drue Kataoka is Founder & CEO of Drue Kataoka Art Studios | www.Drue.net. Curtis S Chin is a former US Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank. He focuses on the creative economy as part of his work as Chair, Senior Fellows at the Milken Institute. Follow Drue on Instagram at @DrueKataoka and Curtis on X at @CurtisSChin.
