Netflix has finally dropped the first trailer for “Last Samurai Standing,” and I’ve been waiting for this moment ever since I wrote about the first look back in February. From the very first images, it seems like this action-drama could be an intense but visually stunning ride through Japan’s Meiji period, and the trailer certainly looks promising.
The premise gives me major “Squid Game” meets “Shogun” vibes. You get the relentless, every-man-for-themselves energy of a battle royale, but wrapped in the rich costumes, sword fights, and power struggles of feudal Japan. It’s a mashup that feels both modern in its suspense and classic in its epic period drama scale.
The series will make its debut at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, where the first two episodes will be screened on September 18, 2025, before launching worldwide on Netflix on November 13, 2025.
In this first trailer, you’re instantly thrown straight into a brutal Meiji-era survival game. As night falls, 292 warriors gather at Kyoto’s Tenryūji Temple, each hoping to win a massive cash prize. By massive, I mean 100 billion yen, which is equivalent to roughly $675 million. Already that makes this one of the most intense survival games ever imagined.
Armed with just a single wooden tag, they must steal others’ tags and make it to Tokyo to claim victory. When the starting signal sounds, the temple turns into a fierce, sword‑wielding battlefield where only one can survive.
At the center of the story is Shujiro Saga (Junichi Okada), who steps into this deadly contest with a single purpose: to protect his sick wife and child.
The official synopsis reads: “In post-samurai era Japan, 1878, 292 fallen samurais are lured into a survival game where the last competitor standing claims 100 billion yen. The battleground begins at Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto, a historical hub and spiritual sanctuary, and ends in Tokyo. Only one survivor will come out of this mysterious and deadly game.”
‘Last Samurai Standing’ looks like it has real potential
Directed by Michihito Fujii and adapted from Shogo Imamura’s manga, “Last Samurai Standing” looks set to explore the challenges samurai face as Japan changes rapidly. Set in the late 19th century, after the Meiji Restoration, the country is moving fast, and the samurai class is slowly fading.
With their traditions and way of life disappearing, these warriors have to navigate a new reality where adaptation is key. You can’t deny it has a certain intrigue to it, and the trailer’s impressive visuals only make me more curious to see it.
In fact, the action already looks absolutely epic, with the massive melee at Tenryūji Temple reportedly filmed over several days and involving more than 1,000 cast and crew members. The attention to historical detail is clear in the costumes, weaponry, and the intense physical training the cast went through.
Netflix describes “Last Samurai Standing” by saying, “The action is epic,” with Fujii and Okada “pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling, blending modern CG advancements with practical effects to deliver some of the most realistic and visceral action scenes ever seen in Japanese television.”
Watching the trailer, it’s easy to see why Netflix emphasizes the epic scale. The large battle scenes and close-quarters combat make the risks feel immediate. Plus, who doesn't love a visually stunning action fare...
The only small concern I have is the series format. This story might actually lend itself better to a single, intense movie. That said, we will have to see how it unfolds over six episodes, and knowing how strong Japanese dramas usually are, I am hopeful it will still deliver a gripping experience.
With shows like “Squid Game” and “Shogun” setting the bar so high, I’m hoping “Last Samurai Standing” can hit that same sweet spot while offering its own unique twist. No doubt it’s going straight onto my watchlist when it lands on Netflix on November 13.
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