Netflix has unveiled the official teaser trailer for Last Samurai Standing, a Meiji-era, all-or-nothing samurai saga hitting the streaming giant in November. Watch the teaser above and read on for the info.
The plot
Late-19th-century Kyoto, night falling over Tenryuji Temple. Two hundred and ninety-two warriors, one wooden tag apiece, zero margin for error. Steal your rivals’ tags and race to Tokyo — only one walks away with the prize. Junichi Okada (actor, fight choreographer, and former member of Japanese boy band V6) plays Shujiro Saga, dropped into a scrum of steel and split-second choices.
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“From this moment forward, you will all take part in a game,” an overseer tells the many combatants crowded into a small area. A vase breaks, coins pour out. “Use any means necessary to seize the other players’ tags.” Cue action galore as this brutal competition unfolds.
The series is already on the programme for the 30th Busan International Film Festival, with Netflix framing it as a potential shake-up for Japanese serial drama.
Who’s swinging blades
Okada isn’t just the lead — he’s also producer and action planner. Among the large ensemble: Kaya Kiyohara, Masahiro Higashide, Shota Sometani, Taichi Saotome, Yuya Endo, Yasushi Fuchikami, Kairi Jo, Takayuki Yamada, Wataru Ichinose, Riho Yoshioka, Kazunari Ninomiya, Hiroshi Tamaki, Hideaki Ito, Gaku Hamada, Taiiku Okazaki, and Arata Iura.
Behind the scenes & release date
Director Michihito Fujii (with Kento Yamaguchi and Toru Yamamoto) blends modern CG with practical mayhem — and plenty of stunt people and extras filling out the chaos. The temple melee glimpsed in the teaser, for example, was shot over multiple days with more than 1,000 cast and crew.
Based on Shogo Imamura’s Ikusagami novels (Kodansha Bunko), the six-episode series is written by Fujii, Yamaguchi, and Risa Yashiro; music by Takashi Ohmama; cinematography by Keisuke Imamura and Hiroki Yamada. Planned and produced by Netflix with Office Shirous.
Last Samurai Standing will be streaming on Netflix worldwide from November 13.
