Netflix has announced the release window for one of their most exciting projects, Last Samurai Standing. Based on Shogo Imamura and Katsumi Tatsuzawa's manga Ikusagami, the period epic series will begin streaming in November 2025.
The plot is mouth-watering for any fan of the jidaigeki genre: 292 samurai warriors competing in a deadly competition for an irresistibly enticing prize money of 100 billion yen.
Last Samurai Standing is headlined by Junichi Okada, who plays a father faced with the difficult choice of participating in the game for the survival of his family which comprises himself, his wife and his child. Okada is also one of the co-producers and the action choreographer.
In a statement, the actor said he is excited about being part of a series that carries appeal for not just Japanese film and series buffs but also global audiences. "When Netflix executive producer Mr. Takahashi reached out to me, I was still acting in historical dramas. Back then, I was already thinking of ways to make this genre a hit, not just in Japan, but all over the world. I saw their potential for action, drama, social commentary, and entertainment, but I knew they could be taken further. That’s when I came across Imamura’s manga. It was written in a way that modern audiences could enjoy, and I was excited about the idea of adapting it.”
As per the official synopsis, Last Samurai Standing is “set in the late 19th century during the Meiji period" and takes place at Kyoto's Tenryuji Temple. "Come nightfall, 292 skilled warriors gather, lured by the promise of a grand prize of 100 billion yen. Among them is our protagonist, Shujiro Saga (Junichi Okada), who enters this dangerous game with one goal: to save his ailing wife and child.”
Directed by Michihito Fujii, Kento Yamaguchi, and Toru Yamamoto, Last Samurai Standing is co-produced by Kosuke Oshida.
Aside from Junichi Okada, the cast also features 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, and Hideaki Ito.
