Last Samurai Standing

[Drunk Monk]

Last Samurai Standing

This show had me at hello with a spectacular battlefield one-er. It’s like Squid Games except it’s set in the ronin era and all the games are just sword fights. The lead - Junichi Okawa - even has an expression that echoes Lee Jung-Jae from SG, a desperate trapped gonna-fight-my-way-out look. Okawa is a BJJ guy and moves well. 
The plot is an excuse for sword fights. And the sword fights so far are good. Some swirling mass brawls so far and one sweet decapitation. 
6 50 min eps. I’m all in.
D00M recommended out of the gates, assuming you’re pro-sanguineous. 

Gonna go do some inspired iai now and then binge some more of this.

[Drunk Monk]

3 eps in (halfway point). The plot thickens with back stories. And the choreo continues to impress. Some very imaginative sequences & cinematography. One of the best decapitations ever when our hero finally gets past his ptsd and cuts up a crew. The kills are surprising - never sure who’s gonna die next, except the main characters - haven't lost one of those yet. There’s a really good archery fight. And the sword fights are lit. Very satisfying. 

I’ll probably binge the rest tomorrow night.

[Greg]

Will wait until the Queen goes out of town for this one.

[Drunk Monk]

Good call because she doesn’t like subtitles or beheadings.

Seen. Spoiler Alert: This is just chapter 1.

Very satisfying ultravi - some excellent choreo throughout. There’s another strong one-er in ep4 that does some very tricky camera work going through shelves and under legs. And I went back for that opening one-er and caught the 3 stitches - still technically impressive. Saw another reviewer call it Squid Games meets Shogun which isn’t quite fair. This has a lot more going for it regarding intrigues and political commentary on the shizoku era. 

I’m down for season 2. Still highly D00M recommended.

[Greg]

I got the squid game vibe, as well, from watching the first episode. I also got a "TV" feel rather than a "Movie" feel. It doesn't feel overly epic, so far. I do like our leader of the game. He is quite nasty. The behind the scenes villains are a little too cartoonish. I kept wondering during Swordfest why some of the people just didn't take a step back and wait for the others to kill each other and pick up their tags?

Will watch more next week.

[Greg]

I liked the fight in the vault. Extra primo good.

[Greg]

And done. Yep. Lots of good fights. Perfectly serviceable. The story doesn't really blow me away. It did catch me off guard that it was done after six episodes and now we are waiting for next season, despite DM's warning.

My favorite fighter was the guy with the big sword. Back in the day it seems like he would have been played by Mifune.

[Drunk Monk]

I was thinking that dude could be played by our very own yeti. And DM could take on Okay's role.

Ya know, that'd make a good documentary, the kinda doc someone would watch more than just a minute of...

‘Last Samurai Standing’ Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix
Star and action choreographer Junichi Okada is promising an even "more energetic and action-packed” batch of episodes, after Season 1 topped Netflix’s global non-English chart and spent four weeks at No. 1 in Japan.

BY PATRICK BRZESKI, ABID RAHMAN
DECEMBER 18, 2025 7:00PM


'Last Samurai Standing' NETFLIX

Steel yourself for more blades, blood and battle — Netflix’s Japanese period-action series Last Samurai Standing has been renewed for a second season.
The streamer confirmed the pickup Friday in Japan after the series became a breakout hit and globally. Since its debut, the Meiji-era battle royale drama has topped Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English Series) chart and ranked in the platform’s Top 10 in 88 countries. In Japan, the series held the No. 1 position for four consecutive weeks, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about domestic releases of the year.
Last Samurai Standing also became the first all-Japanese production to receive a Critics’ Choice Awards nomination in the best foreign language series category. As of this week, it still carries a 100 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Directed by Michihito Fujii, the series is co-led by Junichi Okada, who serves as lead actor, producer and action choreographer. Based on Shogo Imamura’s Ikusagami best-selling period novel — which won Japan’s Naoki Prize in 2021 — the show features an expansive ensemble cast in an epic period production centered on highly stylized combat driven by a gripping survival game.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter before the season one dropped, Okada heavily hinted a second season was in the offing, and how it could, perhaps, include more supernatural elements found in Ikusagami. “We would have to see how this will go, [but at the moment] I’m more focused on the survival game element. Ikusagami… has this connection with God. In the first season, we introduced the kagura dance, which is like a spiritual ritual, so there is this element of the superhuman power, so we may be able to introduce this divine power.” 

In a statement regarding the renewal of Last Samurai Standing, Okada said, “I’m pleased to see that Last Samurai Standing has reached global audiences and has been confirmed for a second season. I’m excited to get back into this wild world and once again charge into battle with the production team. We hope to make the next season even more energetic and action-packed. We’d love to have you along for the ride, and please stay tuned for Season 2.”
Fujii said the series’ overseas reception played a key role in the decision to move forward. “I’m very pleased and relieved that Last Samurai Standing has been such a big hit outside Japan. Thank you so much. I’m also honored to say that the series has officially been greenlit for a second season,” the director said. “It gives me chills just thinking about all the exciting days that lie ahead with this amazing production team led by Junichi Okada. There’s no doubt that Season 2 will be even bigger and better than the first, so I’m going to hold on to my seat and give it my best. I hope everyone will keep their eyes peeled for what we have in store!”
Set in the late 19th century during the Meiji period, Last Samurai Standing kicks off at Kyoto’s Tenryuji Temple, where 292 samurai are drawn into a lethal contest by the promise of a 100 billion yen prize. Okada stars as Shujiro Saga, a warrior driven by the need to support his ailing wife and child.
The cast includes Yumia Fujisaki, Kaya Kiyohara, Masahiro Higashide, Shota Sometani, Taichi Saotome, Yuya Endo, Takayuki Yamada, Riho Yoshioka, Kazunari Ninomiya, Hiroshi Tamaki and Hideaki Ito. Kento Yamaguchi and Toru Yamamoto also directed episodes of the first season, with Kosuke Oshida producing.

Netflix has not yet revealed a production start date or release window for the second season.

[Greg]

One minute documentaries are all the rage. Just ask TikTok.