Netflix has announced the global premiere of its new Japanese series, Last Samurai Standing, which will debut on Thursday, November 13, 2025. This isn’t the first Netflix Original Japanese series, but it does have the unique honor of its lead actor also serving as the action coordinator on set with Junichi Okada.
The announcement was accompanied by the release of a new teaser trailer and a list of additional cast members, generating significant international buzz. Last Samurai Standing, which will celebrate its world premiere at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, is being hailed as a potential game-changer for the Japanese serial drama industry, thanks to its blend of historical authenticity and modern action.
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What is Last Samurai Standing about?
Last Samurai Standing is based on the “Ikusagami” series by historical novelist Shogo Imamura, a recipient of the 166th Naoki Prize, which has also been adapted into a manga. Praised as a highly entertaining historical novel, the story is set in the late 19th century, as the age of the samurai was coming to an end.
In the Meiji period, at Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto, 292 skilled warriors gathered at nightfall, lured by the promise of a huge cash prize. The rules are simple: whoever can steal the wooden tags distributed to each of them and reach Tokyo will win the prize money. Among them is Shujiro Saga, who enters the deadly game with one goal: to save his ailing wife and child.
Watch the Trailer
The six-episode series promises to be a brutal fight for survival, where only one can emerge victorious. The newly released teaser offers a glimpse into the intense atmosphere and the diverse personalities of the combatants. The production’s commitment to historical accuracy is apparent in the detailed costumes, weaponry, and rigorous physical training undertaken by the cast.
Netflix’s announcement also highlighted that the series will feature a large-scale melee scene at Tenryuji Temple, which was filmed over multiple days with more than 1,000 cast and crew members, blending modern CG with practical effects to create a visceral and realistic spectacle.
Last Samurai Standing Cast
- Junichi Okada as Shujiro Saga
- Yumia Fujisaka
- Kaya Kiyohara
- Masahiro Higashide
- Shota Sometani
- Taichi Saotome
- Yuya Endo
- Yasushi Fuchikami
- Kairi Jo
- Takayuki Yamada
- Wataru Ichinose
- Riho Yoshioka
- Kazunari Ninomiya
- Hiroshi Tamaki
- Hideaki Ito
- Gaku Hamada as Superintendent General Toshiyoshi Kawaji
- Taiiku Okazaki as Jinroku Keage
- Arata Iura as Home Minister Toshimichi Okubo
- Tetsushi Tanaka as Bureau of Communications chief Hisoka Maejima
- Ayumu Nakajima as Okubo’s secretary Shinpei Nagase
Production Details
Based on the “Ikusagami” novel series by Shogo Imamura
- Planned and Produced: Netflix
- Production Office: Shirous
- Directors: Michihito Fujii, Kento Yamaguchi, Toru Yamamoto
- Screenplay: Michihito Fujii, Kento Yamaguchi, Risa Yashiro
- Music: Takashi Ohmama
- Cinematography: Keisuke Imamura, Hiroki Yamada
- Executive Producer: Shinichi Takahashi
- Producer: Kosuke Oshida, Junichi Okada
- Lead Actor/Action Planner: Junichi Okada
What is the Last Samurai Standing release date?
Last Samurai Standing will celebrate its world premiere at the 30th Annual Busan International Film Festival in Busan, South Korea. The series will be a part of Netflix’s 9-title slate at the festival. For everyone else, the global release date for Last Samurai Standing is set for November 13, 2025, when all six episodes drop exclusively on Netflix.
