Netflix has released the Last Samurai Standing teaser trailer and first key art, giving audiences a glimpse at its sweeping new Japanese action series.
The show premieres globally on November 13, 2025, marking one of Netflix’s most ambitious original productions from Japan.
A Game of Survival in the Meiji Era
Set in the late 19th century, Last Samurai Standing thrusts nearly 300 warriors into a deadly competition. By nightfall, 292 fighters gather at Kyoto’s Tenryuji Temple, lured by the promise of a staggering cash prize. Each receives a single wooden tag. To win, they must seize the tags of their rivals and race across Japan to Tokyo.
When the signal sounds, the temple descends into chaos. What follows is a violent contest of strategy and endurance, where only one can emerge victorious. The premise, drawn from Shogo Imamura’s acclaimed Ikusagami novels, fuses historical drama with the urgency of a survival thriller.
Junichi Okada at the Center
At the heart of the series is Shujiro Saga, played by Junichi Okada, who also serves as producer and action planner. Okada’s dual role underscores how personal this project is for him, blending his star power with a hands-on commitment to fight choreography.
The teaser trailer highlights his presence among a vast ensemble, balancing the intimate stakes of one warrior’s journey against the spectacle of large-scale battle.
Watch the Teaser
The Cast
The series boasts one of the most expansive casts in recent Japanese television, including:
- Junichi Okada
- Yumia Fujisaki
- Kaya Kiyohara
- Masahiro Higashide
- Shota Sometani
- Taichi Saotome
- Riho Yoshioka
- Kazunari Ninomiya
- Hiroshi Tamaki
- Hideaki Ito
This ensemble grounds the story in multiple perspectives, creating a layered portrait of ambition, loyalty, and survival.
Behind the Camera
Last Samurai Standing is directed by Michihito Fujii, with Kento Yamaguchi and Toru Yamamoto also contributing. Fujii, known for blending realism with stylized intensity, joins forces with a production team determined to push Japanese action storytelling to new heights.
Filming the massive Tenryuji Temple melee alone involved over 1,000 cast and crew members, combining practical stunt work with modern CG techniques. Producer Kosuke Oshida and executive producer Shinichi Takahashi emphasize the scale, describing the project as both a period piece and a cutting-edge action experiment.
Why It Matters for Netflix
Netflix has steadily invested in Japanese originals, from period dramas to anime crossovers. With Last Samurai Standing, the platform signals confidence in large-scale productions that resonate both locally and internationally.
Like past titles such as Kingdom and Alice in Borderland, this new series leverages survival-game intensity while anchoring it in cultural history. It’s a blend designed to appeal to global audiences hungry for high-stakes spectacle with a distinctive Japanese identity.
Release Date
- Netflix Worldwide: November 13, 2025
The Last Samurai Standing sets the stage for a survival saga of unprecedented scale. With Junichi Okada at its center, a cast spanning generations, and an epic clash filmed on a monumental scale, the series looks poised to redefine Japanese action drama on streaming.
As Netflix prepares its November lineup, one thing is clear: the battle for survival has only just begun in Last Samurai Standing.
The Poster
