Netflix Drops Trailer for ‘Last Samurai Standing’ — A Deadly New Survival Game Begins
Netflix has unveiled the trailer for its upcoming Japanese live-action series Last Samurai Standing, a new survival drama that combines historical storytelling with high-stakes action.
The show is inspired by a novel and manga by Shogo Imamura and illustrated by Katsumi Tatsuzawa, and it stars Junichi Okada, Yumia Fujisaki, and Kaya Kiyohara.
Set in the late 19th century during Japan’s Meiji period, the story follows 292 fighters who gather at Tenryū-ji Temple in Kyoto to take part in a brutal contest.
The rules are simple but deadly: each warrior must take wooden tags from their rivals and reach Tokyo to claim a ¥100 billion prize. Among them is Shujiro Saga, played by Junichi Okada, a man driven by the need to save his sick wife and child.
An epic battle royale.
— Netflix (@netflix) October 26, 2025
292 samurais.
One point per life.
Last Samurai Standing premieres November 13. pic.twitter.com/T5SOppzf3m
The new trailer teases intense battles, emotional stakes, and a gritty atmosphere that mixes traditional samurai honor with a survival-game edge. Fans have already started comparing it to Squid Game, though this one trades modern games for swords, loyalty, and blood.
Last Samurai Standing had its world premiere on September 18 at the Busan International Film Festival, where the first two episodes were screened in the “On Screen” section. The full six-episode series is set to stream worldwide on Netflix starting November 13.
Junichi Okada not only stars in the show but also serves as producer and action choreographer.
Talking about his involvement, he shared, “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 novel. It was written in a way that modern audiences could enjoy, and I was excited about the idea of adapting it.”
The project was directed by Michihito Fujii and Kento Yamaguchi, produced by Office Shirous. According to Netflix, the scale of production was huge, involving nearly 300 actors, each requiring detailed costumes and fight choreography.
The creators wanted to stay true to the spirit of Imamura’s original story while making it visually exciting and emotionally engaging for a global audience.
From what the trailer shows, Last Samurai Standing looks like an ambitious mix of historical drama and survival thriller, packed with sword fights, intense rivalries, and moral dilemmas.
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