Last Samurai Standing Renewed for a Second Season
Netflix has announced that Last Samurai Standing has been renewed for a second season. The Japanese series follows a once-unbeaten samurai as he participates in a deadly game called Kodoku in hopes of saving his family.
Since its debut, the series has reached No. 1 on the Netflix Weekly Global Top 10 for Non-English Series, charted in the Top 10 in 88 countries, and has held the No. 1 position in Japan for four consecutive weeks. Last Samurai Standing was recently nominated in the Best Foreign Language Series category at the Critics’ Choice Awards.
Led by Junichi Okada — who serves as lead actor, producer, and action choreographer — and director Michihito Fujii, the series unites an all-star ensemble of Japan’s most respected creative talent. Their vision proved that a genre-defining period action epic made in Japan can resonate on a global scale, setting the stage for the next ambitious challenge: Season 2.
“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,” said actor, producer, and action choreographer Junichi Okada.
Okada added, “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.”
“First and foremost, I would like to say that 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,” said director Michihito Fujii.
“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 thrusts viewers into a relentless life-and-death game. At nightfall, 292 warriors — including lead character Shujiro Saga (Junichi Okada) — gather at Kyoto’s Tenryuji Temple, each lured by the promise of a massive cash prize.
Each donning a single wooden tag, participants must steal their rivals’ tags and race to Tokyo to claim victory. As the signal sounds, the temple erupts into chaos, launching a brutal fight for survival where only one can stand victorious.
The action is epic, with the large-scale melee at Tenryuji Temple filmed over multiple days and involving more than 1,000 cast and crew members. Producer and star Junichi Okada, together with director Michihito Fujii, pushed 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.
The cast also includes 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.
The series is based on the “Ikusagami” series of novels by Shogo Imamura (published by Kodansha Bunko). The directors include Michihito Fujii, Kento Yamaguchi, and Toru Yamamoto. Kosuke Oshida is the producer.
