Netflix has announced the world premiere of the Japanese series The Last Samurai Standing .
This period production, full of action and survival, promises to combine the legacy of the samurai with the tension of a deadly game.
When and where will it premiere in Spain and the world?
The series will premiere globally on Netflix on November 13, 2025, this includes, of course, Spain.
No regional date differences have been announced, suggesting a simultaneous worldwide release.
Plot
Set in Japan's Meiji era, the series brings together 292 expert samurai who gather at the Tenryū-ji temple in Kyoto, summoned by a mysterious invitation that promises a reward of 100 billion yen to the victor.
One of them, Shujiro Saga (played by Junichi Okada), an undefeated ex-samurai, agrees to participate in order to save his sick wife and son.
The challenge is simple in words, but brutal in practice: survive, snatch the wooden tag from another participant, and make it to Tokyo.
The series blends historical elements from 19th-century Japan, traditional combat, and a dynamic modern "battle-royale" style.
As Netflix Japan's Chief Content Officer, Kaata Sakamoto, states, "When most people think of samurai, they imagine a glamorous era... but, by the end of the Edo period, the samurai had lost much of their power."
Expectations ahead of the premiere
Expectations are very high. The Last Samurai Standing has been promoted as Netflix's big Asian bet for 2025, within the action, historical epic, and survival genres.
The trailer already presents it as a mix between Shōgun and The Squid Game , with hundreds of warriors thrown into a ruthless fight.
Netflix is confident that this story will become an international phenomenon, especially among European and Latin American audiences.
According to Junichi Okada, who is also a producer and choreographer, his goal was "to take traditional elements of martial arts and encapsulate them in a story for the new generation."
In Spain, it is expected to attract not only fans of the samurai genre, but also those who enjoy action and survival thrillers.
Ultimately, it faces the challenge of standing out in a saturated catalog and offering a fresh story within a classic framework.
Information and curiosities from the filming
The project adapts Shōgo Imamura's novel Ikusagami, as well as its subsequent manga.
Junichi Okada not only stars in the series, but also serves as executive producer and action choreographer.
The production featured nearly 300 actors and an impressive logistical operation involving costumes, historical locations, and feudal-themed battles.
Furthermore, it was presented at the Busan International Film Festival in September 2025, within the On Screen section, where the first two episodes were screened.
At every point, the level of ambition of the project is revealed, conceived as a Japanese super production intended for a global audience.
Comments from actors and executives
Okada stated that, after receiving the offer from Netflix, he felt motivated to "turn the Japanese historical genre into a global success."
For his part, Kaata Sakamoto, head of content at Netflix Japan, explained that the series “explores the decline of the traditional samurai when the rules of the game change radically.”
Both statements show that The Last Samurai Standing seeks not only to entertain, but also to reflect on identity, honor, and cultural transformation.
A promising production
In summary, The Last Samurai Standing arrives as one of Netflix's most ambitious bets for 2025.
The blend of samurai tradition, survival action, and emotional tension makes it a must-see series.
If it manages to balance history, combat, and emotion, it could mark a milestone in period action series.
For fans of feudal Japan, it will be both a spectacle and a cultural immersion into the late 19th century.
