Netflix’s newest samurai drama, Last Samurai Standing, throws hundreds of warriors into a deadly fight for survival. The show, which arrived on November 13, 2025, paints a vivid picture of a fading world, but its story doesn’t come from the history books alone. It draws its core from a popular Japanese novel.
The series is a direct adaptation of the hit historical fiction novel Ikusagami by Shogo Imamura, a Naoki Prize-winning author. The novel was first serialized in the Japanese manga magazine Morning in 2022 and was later compiled into four volumes. Netflix moved quickly to develop a live-action version, with the author himself endorsing the project.
Imamura said he liked how the adaptation elevated the suspense and brought a new kind of cinematic thrill you donโt get from the book.
The adaptation stays true to the main plot and themes of Imamura’s work while taking some creative detours to enhance the drama for a visual medium.
From Page to Screen: A Faithful Yet Creative Adaptation
The creative team behind the series worked to balance respect for the original material with the needs of a global television production. The project was led by star Junichi Okada, who also served as a producer and action choreographer, and director Michihito Fujii.
Shinichi Takahashi, Netflix Japan’s director of live action creative, was a fan of the source material and approached Okada with the offer to adapt it. Okada then brought on Fujii, with whom he had previously collaborated. For Fujii, the story felt unexpectedly modern.
โIt felt unexpectedly close to our own experience with Covid-19,โ Fujii said. โItโs a story about ideology and oneโs destiny, yet it was entertaining and had a gamelike quality.”
The series maintains the novel’s central premise but introduces changes to certain storylines to heighten suspense and visual excitement, aiming to please both existing fans and new audiences.
The Story of ‘Ikusagami’ and the Kodoku
At the heart of both the novel and the series is a brutal contest called the Kodoku. The story, set in 1878, follows a disgraced former samurai named Shujiro Saga. When his family falls ill during a cholera outbreak and his daughter dies, Shujiro is driven by desperation to save his wife and son.
He enters the Kodoku, a deadly game where 292 fighters compete for a massive cash prize of 100 billion yen. The rules are simple but grim: participants must travel from Kyoto to Tokyo, collecting wooden tags from their slain opponents to pass through seven checkpoints. The name “Kodoku” is taken from a dark Japanese folklore ritual involving insects sealed in a jar fighting to the death.
While the Kodoku contest is a work of fiction, the world it is set in is grounded in real history. The story takes place during the Meiji Restoration, a time when Japan was rapidly modernizing and the samurai class was being stripped of its status and privilege. The creators wove in historical figures like General Toshiyoshi Kawaji and statesman ลkubo Toshimichi to anchor the drama in a believable historical context.
More Than Just a ‘Squid Game’ with Swords
With its large-scale death game, Last Samurai Standing has drawn comparisons to other global hits. However, the creators emphasize that their show is a distinct project with its own focus.
Director Michihito Fujii acknowledged the comparisons but clarified the show’s intent, stating that it is first and foremost a “character drama” that is “full of action.” The goal was to update the traditional Japanese period piece for a modern audience, creating a new kind of samurai story that is made in Japan but intended for the world.
Junichi Okada stressed the importance of respecting the original work, ensuring that fans of the Last Samurai Standing manga and novel would be pleased with the adaptation. The production minimized the use of CGI and stunt doubles, aiming for practical, visceral action sequences that feel authentic and immediate.
The first season, which consists of six episodes, ends on a note that suggests the story is far from over, closing with an “End of Chapter One” title card.
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