Netflix’s Last Samurai Standing Blends Samurai Epic with Deadly Competition

Netflix has released its new Japanese action series, Last Samurai Standing. The show premieres globally on Thursday, November 13. It features a large ensemble cast led by Junichi Okada.

The series is set in 19th century Japan following the Satsuma Rebellion. Desperate individuals are drawn into a lethal tournament for a massive cash prize. This high-concept premise has drawn immediate comparisons to other global hits.

A Fusion of Hit Formulas

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series follows a disenfranchised samurai named Shujiro. His family is struck by a cholera epidemic, leaving him desperate for money. He joins a mysterious martial arts tournament with a life-changing reward.

The game involves 292 contestants fighting to collect numbered tags from rivals. They must travel a dangerous road to Tokyo while being hunted. The narrative is a clear blend of the death game structure from Squid Game and the feudal Japan setting of Shōgun.

Ambitious Action and Character Arcs

The production delivers extensive, bloody samurai combat from the first episode. Junichi Okada also served as the show’s action choreographer, ensuring dynamic fight sequences. The choreography focuses on practical stunt work with minimal digital enhancement.

While the action is a major draw, character development is more gradual. The female characters, played by Yumia Fujisaki and Kaya Kiyohara, provide some of the most compelling emotional arcs. Their roles as underestimated fighters allow for dynamic growth throughout the tournament.

The series builds to a climactic sixth episode that sets up a potential second season. The finale features a major sword fight amid fireworks, solidifying the show’s high stakes. This non-resolution ensures the story has more ground to cover.

The success of Last Samurai Standing demonstrates the global appetite for genre-blending international content. This new series effectively merges historical drama with survival thriller tension.

Info at your fingertips

What is the plot of Last Samurai Standing?

The show follows a desperate samurai who enters a deadly tournament. Contestants must fight to collect tags from each other on a road to Tokyo. The winner receives a massive financial prize to change their life.

How does it compare to Squid Game?

Both series feature desperate people in a lethal competition for money. However, *Last Samurai Standing* is set in 19th century Japan and lacks the childhood game element. Its tone is more of a historical action drama.

Is the show based on a true story?

It is adapted from a novel by Shogo Imamura. The series uses the real historical backdrop of the Meiji era and the end of the samurai class. The specific tournament and characters are fictional.

How much action is in the series?

The show is action-heavy, featuring extensive samurai combat from the start. The first episode includes a large, chaotic melee at a Kyoto temple. Later episodes balance character journeys with significant violent set pieces.

Who is the main character?

Junichi Okada plays Shujiro Saga, a once-legendary swordsman. He joins the tournament after his family is devastated by a cholera epidemic. His journey forms the central narrative of the season.