Last Samurai Standing OTT release, cast, what to expect, trailer breakdown, and more about Junichi Okada's Japanese live-action series

After Blue Eye Samurai's success, Netflix is gearing up for another original series, Last Samurai Standing, which is a live-action drama, instead of an animated one. The Japanese series has been adapted from Shogo Imamura's manga, Last Samurai Standing, which was serialised in Kodansha's Morning magazine in December 2022. Netflix recently dropped the official trailer of the series, which also revealed the release date. Catch more details about Junichi Okada's Last Samurai Standing series.

When to watch Last Samurai Standing

The Japanese live-action series is releasing on Netflix on November 13, 2025. Last Samurai Standing consists of six episodes, and all will be dropped on the same date.

Last Samurai Standing cast members

Junichi Okada plays warrior Shujiro Saga, while Yumia Fujisaki is seen as Futaba Katsuki. Kaya Kiyohara plays Iroha Kinugasa, and Riho Yoshioka as Shino (Shujiro's wife), along with Hiroshi Abe as Gentosai Okabe.

Other supporting cast includes Masahiro Higashide, Shota Sometani, Taichi Saotome, Yuya Endo, Taiiku Okazaki, Kairi Jo, Takayuki Yamada, Wataru Ichinose, Kazunari Ninomiya, Hiroshi Tamaki, Hideaki Itō, Yasushi Fuchikami, Gaku Hamada, Arata Iura, Tetsushi Tanaka, and Ayumu Nakajima.

What to expect from Last Samurai Standing

The series is set against the backdrop of the historical Meiji period in the 19th century, and takes place at Kyoto's Tenryūji Temple in Japan. Last Samurai Standing promises a gripping action drama with high-stakes battles between the royals. The story reimagines the plight of the fading samurai class in a brutal survival game.

The incident began in 1878, a decade after the samurai class was dissolved. With numerous warriors left struggling with poverty, displaced and with no purpose in life, a mysterious invitation offers them a way out from this devastation. Two hundred and ninety-two skilled samurai are lured into Kyoto's Tenryūji Temple with the promise of a massive prize of 100 billion yen. The samurai are forced to participate in a deadly 'Kodoku' game, where the last one standing will win the prize.

Manga fans can expect intense and breathtaking sword fights in a large-scale battle. Even female warriors took part in the fights with sheer determination. You can expect Last Samurai Standing to go beyond pure violence to explore deeper themes relevant to the Meiji era.

Last Samurai Standing trailer

The 1-minute-58-second video opens with the introduction of samurai Shujiro Saga who has been lured to enter a dangerous contest. He is seen desperately in need of money to take care of his sick wife and child. Once the game starts, the warriors begin to use their special tactics to fight back. Some are even seen using arrows, daggers and swords.

A mysterious person named Gentosai Okabe has also been introduced in the trailer, who is tall with long white hair. Some warriors are even seen being scared of Okabe and calling him a 'monster'. However, his past is not revealed.

FAQs:

Q. When to watch Last Samurai Standing?

A. Last Samurai Standing is releasing on Netflix on November 13, 2025, with six episodes dropping on the same date.

Q. Who are the Last Samurai Standing cast members?

A. Last Samurai Standing features Junichi Okada as warrior Shujiro Saga, while Yumia Fujisaki is seen as Futaba Katsuki. Kaya Kiyohara plays Iroha Kinugasa, and Riho Yoshioka as Shino (Shujiro's wife), along with Hiroshi Abe as Gentosai Okabe.

Q. What's the story of Last Samurai Standing?

A. Last Samurai Standing is a live-action series adapted from Shogo Imamura's namesake manga that focuses on 292 fallen samurai, facing poverty, a pandemic, and a new regime that has rendered them relics, who are lured into a violent game called Kodoku, in which the last competitor left alive will claim a life-changing prize.