Shōgun

Ako portrays Lady Iyo, who was the graceful and dignified consort wife of the late Taikō. After her husband’s death, she became a Buddhist nun known as Daiyoin. While she is loyal to Toranaga, dark secrets lurk behind the curtain of her venerable demeanor.

Career Highlights

Born in Japan and raised in Tokyo, Ako is a former member of the world-famous Takarazuka Revue Company. Following a successful stage and television career in Japan, Ako moved to New York. She has appeared in movies, including Snow Falling on Cedars directed by Scott Hicks; the BBC film Prisoners in Time with John Hurt; I Origins; Too Tired to Die; Shadowplay; Daitoryo no Christmas Tree; No Reservations; and Twelve, directed by Joel Schumacher. Her television work includes 30 Rock and Mercy.In 2019, Ako received a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress for her role in the Off-Broadway production of God Said This. Additional Off-Broadway productions include Kentucky; Suicide Forest; Sayonara; Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow; Song of Songs; Tamar of the River; Tea with the Haiku Geisha; Two Cities; Tea House of the August Moon; A Majority of One; Shogun Macbeth; Ghashiram Kotwal; and Velina Hasu Houston’s plays Tea and Kokoro.She was an Oregon Shakespeare Festival acting company member in the 2010-2012 season and played “Lady Asaji” (“Lady Macbeth”) in Throne of Blood (which transferred to BAM as a part of the Next Wave Festival). She also starred in Julius Caesar, Love’s Labour’s Lost, White Snake and The Seagull.Ako is the founding artistic director of the English-Japanese bilingual theater Amaterasu Za in Tribeca, New York City, where she produced, directed and acted in Courier of Love, Hanjo, Aoi No Ue, Macbeth and Oedipus Rex.

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Once the consort wife of the late Taikō, she became a Buddhist nun known as Daiyoin.

Ako as Daiyoin, formerly known as Lady Iyo for FX's Shogun

Ako as Daiyoin and Lady Iyo in FX's Shōgun

Once the consort wife of the late Taikō, she became a Buddhist nun known as Daiyoin. 

Ako as Daiyoin and Lady Iyo | FX's Shōgun

Shōgun

Career Highlights

Hiroyuki Sanada
as Yoshii Toranaga / Producer

Cosmo Jarvis
as John Blackthorne

Anna Sawai
as Toda Mariko

Ako as Daiyoin and Lady Iyo | FX's Shōgun

Shōgun

Hiroyuki Sanadaas Yoshii Toranaga / Producer

Cosmo Jarvisas John Blackthorne

Anna Sawaias Toda Mariko

Hiroyuki Sanada
as Yoshii Toranaga / Producer

Cosmo Jarvis
as John Blackthorne

Anna Sawai
as Toda Mariko