Last Samurai Standing

Japanese drama

Last Samurai Standing (2025)

イクサガミ

  • Action & Adventure
  • Drama

Airing Ep 6/6 · next episode: date not announced

7.8/10 Drama4U Score · from 268 TMDB votes · How the score works

Last Samurai Standing (2025): plot summary, cast led by Junichi Okada, premiere date, episodes and where to watch the samurai thriller on Netflix in the US.

Last Samurai Standing plot summary

Last Samurai Standing (original Japanese title: イクサガミ) is set in 19th-century Japan, in the early years of the Meiji period. The country is rapidly modernising, and the world of the sword is giving way to a new order.

At the centre of the story is Shujiro Saga, a swordsman whose reputation once rested on never having lost a fight. That reputation belongs to the past, but he still has people who depend on him. To protect his family and the villagers he cares about, Shujiro agrees to enter a lethal survival contest. The competitors are fighters like him, and only the strongest can hope to come out alive.

The series combines the traditions of the jidaigeki, Japan’s classic period drama, with the brutal tension of a battle royale. It is a death game played out with blades rather than modern weapons. It is also a historical thriller about a man forced to take up a role he may have hoped to leave behind. The drama is adapted from a book. It focuses on survival, duty and the cost of fighting for others in a nation in transition.

Last Samurai Standing — Mood illustration, not a still from the series
Mood illustration, not a still from the series

Last Samurai Standing review: what makes it notable

  • Cast: Junichi Okada leads as Shujiro Saga. He is joined by Yumia Fujisaki (Futaba Katsuki), Kaya Kiyohara (Iroha Kinugasa), Masahiro Higashide (Kyojin Tsuge), Taichi Saotome (Shikura Adashino) and Yuya Endo (Sansuke Gion). The ensemble also includes Hideaki Ito (Bukotsu Kanjiya), Hiroshi Abe (Okabe Gentosai), Gaku Hamada (Kawaji Toshiyoshi) and Arata Iura (Okubo Toshimichi).
  • Network: a Japanese Netflix series.
  • Directors: Toru Yamamoto, Michihito Fujii and Kento Yamaguchi.
  • Writers: Michihito Fujii, Kento Yamaguchi, Risa Yashiro and Josephine Landals.
  • Source material: an adaptation of a novel or book.
  • Format: Season 1 has 6 episodes, each running around 54 minutes. A second season is listed, but its episodes and premiere date are not yet listed.
  • Genre: action and adventure, drama, period piece and thriller.
  • Rating in the US: TV-MA.

Who will enjoy Last Samurai Standing

  • Fans of samurai stories and Japanese jidaigeki period dramas
  • Viewers drawn to death game and battle royale thrillers
  • Anyone curious about the Meiji period and late 19th-century Japan
  • Admirers of Junichi Okada, Masahiro Higashide or Hideaki Ito
  • Adult audiences comfortable with mature, action-heavy content

Where to watch Last Samurai Standing in the US

In the United States, Last Samurai Standing is listed on Netflix, which requires a subscription. It is also listed on Netflix Standard with Ads, a lower-priced subscription tier that includes advertising. The series is available in its original Japanese, and the show carries a TV-MA rating.

Trailer

Cast

  • Junichi OkadaJunichi Okadaas Shujiro Saga6 episodes
  • Yumia FujisakiYumia Fujisakias Futaba Katsuki6 episodes
  • Kaya KiyoharaKaya Kiyoharaas Iroha Kinugasa6 episodes
  • Masahiro HigashideMasahiro Higashideas Kyojin Tsuge6 episodes
  • Taichi SaotomeTaichi Saotomeas Shikura Adashino6 episodes
  • Yuya EndoYuya Endoas Sansuke Gion6 episodes
  • Hideaki ItoHideaki Itoas Bukotsu Kanjiya6 episodes
  • Hiroshi AbeHiroshi Abeas Okabe Gentosai6 episodesSee credits →

Photo: TMDB

Episode guide

SeasonEpisodeOriginal air date
11Aired
12Aired
13Aired
14Aired
15Aired
16Aired

Dates are original broadcast dates in the country of origin (Korea/China). Official streaming platforms in your country may add episodes the same day or later.

FAQ

How many episodes does Last Samurai Standing have?
Season 1 of Last Samurai Standing has 6 episodes, each running around 54 minutes. A second season is listed, but its episode count has not yet been listed.
When did Last Samurai Standing premiere?
Season 1 premiered on November 13, 2025, on Netflix.
Where can I watch Last Samurai Standing legally in the US?
In the US, the series is listed on Netflix through a subscription, including the Netflix Standard with Ads plan.
Who is in the cast of Last Samurai Standing?
Junichi Okada stars as Shujiro Saga. The cast also includes Yumia Fujisaki, Kaya Kiyohara, Masahiro Higashide, Taichi Saotome, Yuya Endo, Hideaki Ito, Hiroshi Abe, Gaku Hamada and Arata Iura.
What genre is Last Samurai Standing?
It is a Japanese action and adventure drama. It blends a samurai period piece set in the Meiji era with a battle royale-style survival thriller, and it is adapted from a book.

Sources

  1. TMDB
  2. IMDb

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