[Trailer] Netflix Unleashes Epic Battle Royale ‘Last Samurai Standing’ This November
Netflix is bringing a new Japanese live-action series called Last Samurai Standing later this year. The show is based on a manga and novel by Shogo Imamura, with illustrations by Katsumi Tatsuzawa. It stars Junichi Okada, Yumia Fujisaki, and Kaya Kiyohara, and takes place in Kyoto during the late 19th century Meiji period.
The story centers on a dangerous contest at Tenryūji Temple. After sunset, 292 fighters gather for a chance to win ¥100 billion.
Each participant must take the others’ wooden tags and make it to Tokyo. Shujiro Saga, played by Okada, joins the competition with a personal goal: to save his sick wife and child.
Prepare to witness a battle royale like no other. Last Samurai Standing premieres November 13.
— Netflix (@netflix) September 7, 2025
In post-samurai era Japan, 292 fallen samurais are lured into a survival game where the last competitor standing claims 100 billion yen. pic.twitter.com/FM4vWL7z9e
The cast includes Masahiro Higashide as Kyojin Tsuge, Shota Sometani as Kocha Kamuy, Taichi Saotome as Shikura Adashino, and many others such as Yuya Endo, Taiiku Okazaki, and Yasushi Fuchikami. Riho Yoshioka plays Shujiro’s wife Shino, while Arata Iura appears as historical figure Ōkubo Toshimichi.
Okada not only stars in the series but also serves as producer and action choreographer. Michihito Fujii and Kento Yamaguchi handle the writing and directing, with production by Office Shirous.
Okada said, “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 production was challenging, involving nearly 300 actors, each with their own costume. The directors described it as producing the equivalent of three feature-length films, carefully balancing the story’s core themes with high-quality visuals and action sequences.
The first two episodes will be screened at the 30th Busan International Film Festival in the ‘On Screen’ section on September 18, 2025. After the festival, the full six-episode series will be available worldwide on Netflix starting November 13, 2025. Netflix has also released the first trailer, giving fans a look at the intense battles and period drama that the series promises.
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