Netflix is set to transport viewers to 19th century Japan with its newest original series, Last Samurai Standing. The historical action drama, which presents a samurai battle royale, will be available to stream worldwide in November 2025. For fans eager to dive into the epic, here is a complete guide to its release schedule and streaming details.
The six-episode series will be released all at once on November 13, 2025. Following Netflix’s standard release pattern for new shows, the episodes will go live at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT). For viewers in other U.S. time zones, this means the show will be available at 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). Subscribers in different parts of the world should check their local Netflix landing page for the precise release time in their region.
The series will be available in its original Japanese language track with English subtitles. Netflix will also offer dubbed versions for international audiences.
The Story Behind the Battle Royale
Last Samurai Standing is set in 1878 Japan, a decade after the Meiji Restoration ended the samurai’s privileged status. The story follows 292 former samurai who are lured into a deadly survival game called Kodoku. They gather at Kyoto’s Tenryuji Temple, drawn by the promise of a 100 billion yen prize that could save them from poverty.
The protagonist, Shujiro Saga, is a once-feared warrior who joins the tournament not for glory, but to get money for his wife and son, who are sick with cholera. The rules are brutal: participants must collect wooden tags from each other by any means necessary and travel from Kyoto to Tokyo. Only the last competitor alive can claim the life-changing cash reward.
A Production Designed for a Global Audience
The series is based on the best-selling historical fiction novel Ikusagami by award-winning author Shogo Imamura. The project is led by Junichi Okada, one of Japan’s most acclaimed actors, who takes on multiple roles as the star, producer, and action choreographer.
Okada, along with writer-director Michihito Fujii, aimed to create a period drama that would resonate with modern viewers everywhere. In an interview, Okada explained his vision for the series:
“My hidden goal was to create a new kind of period drama, one that’s also an action drama… Something made entirely in Japan, but made for the world. It’s grounded in serious themes, but the characters are sharply drawn, and the story is truly entertaining.”
Director Michihito Fujii noted that the story’s themes feel surprisingly current. Reading the source novel reminded him of modern struggles, making the historical setting feel close to a contemporary audience.
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An All-Star Japanese Cast
Junichi Okada leads the cast as the determined Shujiro Saga. He is joined by a renowned ensemble of Japanese actors, including Hideaki Itô (Umizaru, Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan) and Kazunari Ninomiya, a member of the popular J-Pop band Arashi.
The supporting cast features Riho Yoshioka as Shino Saga, Shujiro’s ill wife, as well as Masahiro Higashide, Shota Sometani, and Takayuki Yamada. With nearly 300 samurai characters, the series boasts one of the largest casts for a Japanese production, promising a complex web of alliances and betrayals.
The production scale is massive, with reports indicating that the opening scene alone involved over 1,000 cast and crew members to recreate the chaotic battle.
How to Watch on Netflix
Last Samurai Standing will be available exclusively on Netflix. To watch, viewers need an active Netflix subscription. The platform offers several plans, including a standard plan with ads and ad-free premium plans. All six episodes will be released simultaneously, allowing for an immersive binge-watching experience.
The first two episodes premiered earlier at the 30th Busan International Film Festival in September 2025, generating positive early buzz. A special preview screening was also held at JAPAN HOUSE in Los Angeles on November 7, 2025, featuring a virtual Q&A with Junichi Okada.
For action fans and followers of samurai tales, Last Samurai Standing offers a fresh, high-stakes story of honor and survival. Mark your calendars for its global debut on November 13, 2025.
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