Netflix Unveils Last Samurai Standing Ahead of November Premiere

Netflix has released the first teaser for its upcoming Japanese series Last Samurai Standing and confirmed new cast members before the show’s global launch on November 13. The series will also be featured at the 30th Busan International Film Festival.

A Battle Royale in the Meiji Era

Set in the late 19th century, the story follows 292 warriors who gather at Kyoto’s Tenryuji Temple to compete in a deadly contest. Each carries a wooden tag and must collect others’ tags to reach Tokyo and claim a cash prize. When the starting signal sounds, the temple descends into chaos as the warriors fight to survive.

The large-scale battle sequence at Tenryuji was filmed over several days with hundreds of crew members. Director Michihito Fujii and lead actor Junichi Okada combined practical effects with computer-generated imagery to create a grounded, realistic style of action.

Expanding Ensemble Cast

Okada plays the main character, Shujiro Saga, and also serves as a producer and action planner. He is joined by 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, and Hideaki Ito.

Newly announced cast members include Gaku Hamada as Superintendent General Toshiyoshi Kawaji, Taiiku Okazaki as swordsman Jinroku Keage, Arata Iura as Home Minister Toshimichi Okubo, Tetsushi Tanaka as Bureau of Communications chief Hisoka Maejima, and Ayumu Nakajima as Okubo’s secretary Shinpei Nagase.

A Story of Survival

The teaser hints at the personal struggles awaiting Shujiro and Futaba as they fight to outlast their rivals. Beyond its action scenes, the series explores what survival means in times of upheaval.

Last Samurai Standing will stream worldwide on November 13, exclusively on Netflix.