Netflix's 'Last Samurai Standing' Is the Perfect 'Shogun' Replacement Actorsvaultpro

Netflix seems to like getting its tendrils into almost every marketable form of entertainment, casting a global net across multiple genres. Nordic noir, Filipino horror, Bollywood comedies, Korean crime thrillers, and anime — all these genres have appeared under the Netflix Original banner. Even if you haven’t explored these genres yourself, the streaming giant aims to capture a wide variety of niches and audiences.

Yet, one of Japan’s most beloved subgenres, samurai, has not been one they have capitalized on. While Netflix has offered titles like Blade of the 47 Ronin and several anime series, these works are either not live-action or, in the case of Blade of the 47 Ronin, depart from traditional Japanese storytelling to present a highly Westernized vision of the samurai. Netflix does not have its own Twilight Samurai or 13 Assassins, and it has never come close to tapping into samurai classics like Seven Samurai or The Lone Wolf and Cub saga.

Modern streaming platforms have a shortage of pristine samurai content, with one of the few series to really impress in the modern era coming from FX’s series Shōgun. For Netflix, they are looking to finally capitalize on the grand-scale conflict and deep storytelling of the genre with their upcoming series, Last Samurai Standing, which has abundant potential.

What You Need to Know About Netflix’s ‘Last Samurai Standing’

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Set in 1878 during Japan’s Meiji period, Last Samurai Standing presents a battle royale format where 292 samurai are gathered at Tenryū-ji Temple in Kyoto and given the chance to compete in a tournament, called a Kodoku, with the opportunity to win a life-changing and substantial amount of money if they are the last one alive. The story focuses on retired samurai Shujiro Saga (Junichi Okada), who seeks funds to treat his wife and daughter, both of whom have fallen ill. Shujiro, an honorable protagonist, must clash with others driven by their own desires — some noble, some selfish.

Junichi Okada, who also acts as producer and action choreographer, has already cut his teeth in the modern samurai genre with films like Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai and Samurai’s Promise, alongside plenty of acclaimed action films like Fable and Hell Dogs. In each of these projects, Junichi Okada not only starred but also acted as fight choreographer. Bringing the same skill to Last Samurai Standing is a welcome prospect for those who have been following his career. The work is also based on the hit novel Ikusagami by Shogo Imamura, an award-winning author known for his mastery of historical fiction. The book has also been adapted into a manga for those interested in checking it out before the show’s release.

If the proven skill of Junichi Okada or the acclaim of the source is not enough to lure viewers who may not often stray from streaming titles (for the normies), the production’s scale is utterly impressive. The opening scene of the series alone reportedly employs over 1,000 cast and crew members to convey the chaos of an epic-scale bloody tournament. While no budget has been released for the self-described “samurai battle-royale drama,” its scope in the trailer and discussions looks to rival that of Shōgun, which itself claimed to want to take a “Game of Thrones-scale” approach to the samurai story, and may be comparable, if not more, in budget. Essentially, fans can expect a grand, visually sweeping epic first season of six action-packed episodes.

‘Last Samurai Standing’ Looks To Appeal to a Modern Audience

But Like ‘Shōgun,’ It Also Stays True to Its Roots

While Shōgun and Last Samurai Standing vary thematically — the Netflix Original is more action-focused, albeit grounded in a story of protecting family, while the FX show focuses more on the political landscape — both series seem to have the modern audience in mind. Shōgun understood the need for visual appeal and brought the legacy TV format. For a show to succeed culturally, it needs to be immersive, exciting, and authentic; Jason Momoa’s Chief of War is a prime and recent example.

Last Samurai Standing is based on an acclaimed novel, and Junichi Okada and his team also understand the importance of adapting the material effectively for a modern audience. As much as fans of classic samurai films adore the genre, even they will realize its limited viability in its more “pure” iterations.

In an interview with Variety, Okada would address the direction of the show to straddle the line of traditional period drama and a modern iteration thereof, stating, “Our generation wanted to reinterpret the legacy of period drama with respect, but also with the energy to say, this is cool.” Okada would later add, “I’ve always wondered why period dramas ended up as something only older generations watch. Over time, they became more about tradition than entertainment. Finding a human story that connects past and present was the real challenge.”

These elements, if they come together, could easily position Last Samurai Standing and Netflix to tap into a new audience that they have not really captured before. The Netflix Original series is an exciting prospect for fans of the genre and for those anxiously awaiting more seasons of Shōgun.

How To Watch ‘Last Samurai Standing’

Those who love anything samurai action/drama will want to tune in for the debut of Last Samurai Standing. The samurai action epic Last Samurai Standing will premiere on November 13, 2025, with all six episodes available. There is no news yet on whether the show is planned beyond its inaugural season, with such a large-scale offering likely dependent on viewership before any decision is made. Still, the series looks like the perfect complement to Shōgun, while potentially allowing Netflix to capitalize on another genre with their own defining series.