The History Behind Last Samurai Standing

The film Last Samurai Standing opens with a stunning, unbroken shot of the samurai Shujiro Saga (played by Junichi Okada, who also produced and choreographed the action) battling his way across a muddy battlefield. He fights through dozens of enemies, scaling a hill and cutting down their leader. But his triumph is brief, as the sword fighting is quickly overshadowed by the devastating power of cannons.

“Stop!” Shujiro yells, but his cry is lost amidst the chaotic battle where soldiers on both sides are being killed. He desperately tries to end the fighting, as if he could single-handedly change the course of history. The series primarily takes place ten years after the pivotal Battle of Toba–Fushimi, a key moment in the Boshin War. That opening battle, filmed with 300 actors over three weeks, will have lasting consequences throughout the entire show.

When does Last Samurai Standing take place?

Michihito Fujii, the writer and director, explains that he and Okada-san aimed to create a unique and fresh take on the traditional Japanese period drama. While some might compare it to the battle royale genre, Fujii emphasizes that the story is fundamentally a character-driven drama. He wanted to showcase strong, compelling characters alongside realistic and beautiful action sequences, all while honoring the traditions and aesthetics of Japanese culture. That was the central goal and challenge for him.

The film Last Samurai Standing begins at the close of the Edo period, a time when samurai warriors were powerful figures in Japan. It marks the start of the Meiji era in 1868, which brought the emperor back to power and quickly modernized Japan by embracing Western ideas. The movie shows that this change didn’t happen instantly. Even ten years later, when the character Shujiro has a family, the samurai are a fading force. Though many still exist, they’re no longer allowed to carry swords, leading to widespread unemployment and poverty among them.

In 1878, a cholera epidemic is spreading across the country, and Shujiro is facing a personal tragedy. When his family falls ill, he can’t afford the necessary medicine, and his daughter tragically dies. Driven by grief and the need to save his wife and son, he enters a high-stakes competition with a massive billion-yen prize – about $650 million – for the winner.

The film Last Samurai Standing is inspired by a historical novel by Shogo Imamura, with illustrations by Katsumi Tatsuzawa. (The story has also been made into a manga.) Director Fujii discovered modern-day relevance in the samurai tale, despite its historical roots. He explained to TIME that the film explores the struggles of those who have lost their status and livelihood, much like the samurai of the past. “These people who have lost their profession, how do they get by? How do they live?” Fujii asks. He sees parallels between this struggle and the changes happening in Japan and around the world today.

What is the Kodoku?

In the game show Last Samurai Standing, the elimination challenge is called kodoku. The name comes from a Japanese legend about a deadly ritual where bugs were placed in a jar and forced to fight until only one remained. In the show, 292 contestants begin in Kyoto, each wearing a tag around their neck. Players earn a new tag by defeating another competitor.

I’ve heard about this insane competition, and it’s terrifying. Basically, players have a month to reach Tokyo, but they need to collect specific tags at seven checkpoints along the way. If they don’t have enough tags – or even lose the ones they’ve gotten – armed guards will eliminate them. No one knows for sure what happens in Tokyo, but the rumor is the more tags you have, the better your chances. One of the guards at a checkpoint accidentally mentioned that maybe as many as nine people could actually make it through the whole thing and survive.

Okada explains that Shijuro isn’t eager to fight, but is forced into a deadly situation. Having suffered trauma from a past battle ten years ago, Shijuro’s journey of survival will reveal his true character as a samurai, according to Okada. He encourages viewers to watch how Shijuro copes with this experience from beginning to end.

Who is the Organizer?

Okay, so the whole twisted Kodoku game? It wasn’t just some random rich guys getting their kicks – though they were funding it. The real mastermind was Kawaji, a high-ranking police official! And his motives weren’t about money, but a deep-seated hatred for the samurai. He genuinely believed they were holding Japan back from modernizing, so he deliberately engineered this death game knowing they’d be drawn in, essentially trying to wipe out the warrior class. It’s shocking to learn he even betrayed his own colleagues, like the Home Minister, to make it happen. But it gets worse – the film reveals he was also responsible for a brutal act at the Battle of Toba–Fushimi, ordering a pointless cannon fire that killed samurai after the battle was already decided. It paints him as a truly ruthless and calculating villain.

Who wins the Kodoku competition?

The outcome remains to be seen, as the first six episodes of Last Samurai Standing leave the story unfinished. The contestants still in the running are: Shujiro, Futaba (also known as Yumia Fujisaki), the teenage girl Shujiro is determined to safeguard; Iroha (Kaya Kiyohara), a skilled female warrior who trained with Shujiro; Kyojin (Masahiro Higashide), a strategic and cheerful fighter who briefly teams up with Shujiro; Sayama (Jyo Kairi), a young man Futaba wouldn’t abandon; and Kocha Kamuy (Shota Sometani), an archer from the Ainu people.

Shujiro kills Bukotsu

I’m still on the edge of my seat about who will ultimately win the Kodoku, but I was so relieved to see Shujiro eliminate one of the most terrifying fighters! It’s clear that most of the competitors in Last Samurai Standing are fighting for someone they care about, but Bukotsu… he’s just different. Hideaki Ito plays him perfectly as someone who genuinely loves killing. It’s not just about winning for him; he’s shown throughout the first season casually killing innocent people, either for fun or to try and goad others into fighting. It’s chilling!

The last episode reveals Bukotsu also fought in the Battle of Toba–Fushimi, where Shujiro defeated him. Bukotsu swore revenge if Shujiro spared his life, but Shujiro simply left him be. Years later, after spending ten years in prison, Bukotsu is recruited into the Kodoku by Sakura, a former samurai and Kawaji’s top lieutenant.

The quick and impactful fight leading to Buktosu’s death is typical of the carefully planned action throughout Last Samurai Standing. Okada explains that while this particular scene wasn’t in the original story, he designed the fights to showcase each character’s strength. He focused on creating movements that the actors could realistically perform, allowing them to fully embody their roles.

Okada aimed for realistic action despite using computer-generated imagery. He prioritized practical effects, fight choreography that responded to the environment, and the energy of the scene. He explains, ‘We wanted to feature real people performing the stunts.’ Okada himself trained in martial arts to avoid using stunt doubles, believing this approach allowed him to capture everything in a single, seamless shot.

Who is Gentosai?

About halfway through Last Samurai Standing, we discover Shujiro’s upbringing involved rigorous combat training. He and his adopted siblings, including Iroha, studied at a hidden samurai school. But when they became adults, their master shockingly commanded them to fight to the death, with only one survivor allowed. They escaped, and are now being relentlessly pursued by Gentosai (Abe Hiroshi), a highly skilled samurai sent by their former master.

As a huge fan of this series, I’m completely fascinated by Gentosai. He’s one of the main contenders in the Kodoku, alongside characters like Shujiro and Iroha, and their ‘brothers’ in arms. But what sets him apart is that he doesn’t seem interested in the prize money at all. He’s on a single-minded quest to hunt down and kill the students of the school. And the biggest twist at the end of Season 1? It looks like Kyojin has turned against Shujiro, Futaba, and Iroha, actively feeding Gentosai information to help him find his targets. It’s a shocking betrayal that’s left me desperate for Season 2!

Last Samurai Standing ending explained

The first season of Last Samurai Standing concludes with Kawaji riding past Shujiro, who we learn has connections within the imperial government. The ending leaves viewers wondering if these two central characters – hero Shujiro and villain Kawaji – will ever confront each other directly. The season closes with a title card reading “End of Chapter One,” suggesting that the story will continue in future installments.

Netflix hasn’t officially confirmed a second season yet, and its future depends on how well the first season performs. However, it seems probable that the story will continue, and the conflict known as the Kodoku will eventually be resolved – likely after a few more unexpected betrayals.

Episode 6 leaves us wondering about several things: Whose side is Kyojin really on? Is Iroha still determined to kill Shujiro because she feels he abandoned their family? Will Shujiro be able to keep Futaba safe, and will he fulfill his promise to return to his wife?

Fujii hopes the story of Last Samurai Standing will capture people’s imaginations and get them talking about it with loved ones. He adds that while viewers can delve deeper into the history and techniques if they’re interested, his primary goal is to create a captivating story that keeps people watching until the very end.

2025-11-14 02:07