Last Samurai Standing (2025)

In the early Meiji era, Shujiro, once known as an undefeated samurai, decides to participate in a deadly survival game to save his family and villagers.

Junichi Okada, who plays the lead role of Shujiro Saga, also served as the creative director and action choreographer for the series. He is a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu and wanted to update the samurai drama genre, ensuring the fighting scenes were realistic and intense.
The large nighttime battle scene at Tenryū-ji Temple involved over 1,000 crew members and nearly 300 costumed actors, taking several days to film. The directors balanced practical choreography with cutting-edge CG to ensure every strike felt authentic.
Last Samurai Standing draws inspiration from Shogo Imamura's novel Ikusagami and blends historical realism with a "battle royale" setup. Imamura said he imagined Junichi Okada as Shujiro while writing the novel.
The series is set in 1878 during the Meiji era, a time of significant social and political change in Japan when the samurai class was losing power. The "Kodoku" tournament, where samurai fight for a grand prize, is fictional but uses this historical backdrop to add authenticity.
The filming primarily took place in Kyoto, Japan, with the Tenryū-ji Temple serving as a central location where the samurai gather for the deadly competition. The crew recreated travel scenes within Kyoto, using local spots to represent various locations on the road to Tokyo.

Released Nov. 13, 2025 312 min Episode 52 min 16+

Genres: Action, Drama, History

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