“Last Samurai Standing” premiered on Netflix on Nov. 13.
Set in the late 19th century during the Meiji period, the six-episode series thrusts viewers into a relentless life-and-death game. At nightfall, 292 warriors — including lead character Shujiro Saga (Junichi Okada) — gather at Kyoto’s Tenryuji Temple, each lured by the promise of a massive cash prize.
Each donning a single wooden tag, participants must steal the tags of their rivals and race to Tokyo to claim victory. As the signal sounds, the temple erupts into chaos, launching a brutal fight for survival where only one can stand victorious.
The action is epic, with the large-scale melee at Tenryuji Temple filmed over multiple days and involving more than 1,000 cast and crew members. Producer and star Okada, together with director Michihito Fujii, pushed the boundaries of visual storytelling, blending modern CG advancements with practical effects to deliver some of the most realistic and visceral action scenes ever seen in Japanese television.
Also directed by Kento Yamaguchi and Toru Yamamoto. Based on the Naoki Prize-winning ”Ikusagami” series of novels by Shogo Imamura (published by Kodansha Bunko). Produced by Kosuke Oshida. Executive produced by Shinichi Takahashi.
The cast also includes: Yumia Fujisaki, Kaya Kiyohara, Masahiro Higashide, Shota Sometani, Taichi Saotome, Yuya Endo, Taiiku Okazaki, Kairi Jo, Yasushi Fuchikami, Takaaki Enoki, Yoshi Sakou, Satoru Matsuo, Toshihiro Yashiba, Daisuke Kuroda, Mitsuo Yoshihara, Wataru Ichinose, Takashi Sasano, Yuya Matsuura, Ryudo Uzaki, Arata Iura, Tetsushi Tanaka, Ayumu Nakajima, Takayuki Yamada, Riho Yoshioka, Kazunari Ninomiya, Hiroshi Tamaki, Hideaki Ito, Gaku Hamada.
A special screening was held on Nov. 7 at Japan House Los Angeles. A Q&A with Okada was moderated by Japan House Los Angeles President Yuko Kaifu.