Last Samurai Standing arrives on Netflix on November 13, 2025, introducing a large-scale historical survival series set during Japan’s Meiji period.
The story begins at Kyoto’s Tenryuji Temple, where 292 warriors gather at night, each drawn by the promise of a substantial cash reward. The rules are direct: every participant carries a single wooden tag, and victory goes to the one who reaches Tokyo with the most tags collected from others.
What follows is a competition driven by pursuit, strategy, and endurance, as alliances form and collapse under pressure. The central figure is Shujiro Saga, played by Junichi Okada, who also serves as producer and action choreographer on the project.
The series adapts the Ikusagami novel series by Shogo Imamura, bringing its central premise into a visual format that emphasizes physical movement and location-based staging rather than abstraction or symbolism. The trailer focuses on close-quarters combat, movement through crowded terrain, and the contrast between the quiet of night and the urgency of escape.
Watch the Trailer
A Survival Premise with Clear Stakes
At the core of the story is a structured contest:
- 292 entrants
- One night to begin the race
- Tags as proof of survival
- Tokyo as the finish point
The setup allows the narrative to follow multiple intersecting paths, rather than just a single protagonist. The scale of the event at Tenryuji Temple is notable, as it was filmed over multiple days with more than 1,000 cast and crew members, and the trailer highlights the shift from order to rapid disarray once the contest begins.
The plot does not require viewers to be familiar with the Meiji era or political factions; the motivation is simple enough to follow. The competition format drives the action, with personal motives emerging within that structure.
Visual Approach and Production Collaboration
The production blends practical choreography with CG enhancement, though the footage presented leans toward grounded stunt work rather than stylization.
Director Michihito Fujii collaborates with Kento Yamaguchi and Toru Yamamoto, dividing responsibilities across episodes. The production is from Office Shirous and was developed in collaboration with a large on-site crew and regional location access around Kyoto.
The project’s physical scale is evident in crowd sequences, corridor fights, and travel segments as contenders move beyond the temple setting.
Ensemble Cast
The cast includes:
- Junichi Okada
- Yumia Fujisaki
- Kaya Kiyohara
- Masahiro Higashide
- Shota Sometani
- Taichi Saotome
- Yuya Endo
- Yasushi Fuchikami
- Jyo Kairi
- Takayuki Yamada
- Wataru Ichinose
- Riho Yoshioka
- Kazunari Ninomiya
- Hiroshi Tamaki
- Hideaki Ito
Key Details: Last Samurai Standing
- Release Date: November 13, 2025
- Format: Live-action series
- Based On: Ikusagami novels by Shogo Imamura
- Lead Actor / Producer / Action Choreographer: Junichi Okada
- Directors: Michihito Fujii, Kento Yamaguchi, Toru Yamamoto
- Production Company: Office Shirous
- Country of Origin: Japan
The Poster
