‘Last Samurai Standing’ Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix

Netflix has greenlit a second season of “Last Samurai Standing,” the Japanese period-action series that has become a global streaming hit since its debut.

Set during Japan’s Meiji period in the late 19th century, “Last Samurai Standing” follows 292 samurai warriors who gather at Kyoto’s Tenryuji Temple for a deadly competition with a grand prize of 100 billion yen. The story centers on protagonist Shujiro Saga, played by Okada Junichi, who enters the dangerous contest to save his ailing wife and child.

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The battle royale epic climbed to No. 1 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English Series) chart and ranked in the Top 10 across 88 countries. In Japan, the series held the No. 1 position for four consecutive weeks, establishing itself as one of the country’s most popular recent releases.

The show achieved a significant milestone as the first all-Japanese production nominated in the best foreign language series category at the Critics’ Choice Awards.

Okada serves triple duty on the series as lead actor, producer and action choreographer, working alongside director Fujii Michihito. The production brings together an ensemble cast featuring some of Japan’s most prominent talent, including Yumia Fujisaki, Kaya Kiyohara, Masahiro Higashide, Shota Sometani, Taichi Saotome, Yuya Endo, Yasushi Fuchikami, Jyo Kairi, Takayuki Yamada, Wataru Ichinose, Riho Yoshioka, Kazunari Ninomiya, Hiroshi Tamaki and Hideaki Ito.

“I’m pleased to see that ‘Last Samurai Standing’ has reached global audiences and has been confirmed for a second season,” Okada said. “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.”

Fujii added: “I’m very pleased and relieved that ‘Last Samurai Standing’ has been such a big hit outside Japan. I’m also honored to say that the series has officially been greenlit for a second season. There’s no doubt that Season 2 will be even bigger and better than the first.”

The series is based on Imamura Shogo’s “Ikusagami” novel series, which won the 166th Naoki Prize in 2021. Directors Yamaguchi Kento and Yamamoto Toru join Fujii on the project, with Oshida Kosuke serving as producer.