Last Samurai Standing: Netflix's first original samurai drama

Netflix is making a big push into Japanese content with its first-ever historical drama, "Last Samurai Standing." This move highlights the platform's growing importance in shows and movies beyond English. At a recent Hollywood event showcasing international productions, Netflix's content chief, Bela Bajaria, emphasized creating shows that resonate with local audiences. Bajaria stated that generic content fails to connect with viewers.

"Last Samurai Standing" stars and is co-produced by Japanese actor Okada Junichi. The series takes place during the Meiji era (1868-1912) when Japan transitioned from a samurai-led society to a modern nation. The story explores the struggles of these skilled warriors as they lose their way of life and must fight for survival in a new world. Netflix describes the show as a blend of classic samurai epics like "Shogun" and the high-stakes tension of "Squid Game."

"It is about what would happen if these warriors -- the toughest and best in Japan -- all of a sudden became common people and had to fight for their lives. Think 'Shogun' meets 'Squid Game,'" said Kaata Sakamoto, vice president of Japanese content at Netflix. In 2023, non-English-language titles accounted for 13% of Netflix's U.S. viewing hours, a threefold increase from 2015. This trend is particularly prominent in Korean-, Spanish- and Japanese-language productions. "Shogun," a drama created by FX under Walt Disney, stars Hiroyuki Sanada in the lead role. The series won 18 Emmy Awards in September, fueling renewed interest in Japanese period dramas. The success of "Shogun," with 70% of its dialogue in Japanese, highlights the impact of Netflix in offering subtitles for U.S. viewers. "American audiences are now used to subtitles because when we watch TV, movies and videos on our phones and tablets, we often keep the subtitles running to make it easier to follow even if there are noises around us," said Morgan Pitelka, a professor at the University of North Carolina.

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Synopsis:
In 1878, 292 highly skilled samurais gather at the Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto late at night to participate in a dangerous battle royale. They are lured there by the offer of 100 billion yen for the grand prize. Each of the participants is given a wooden tag. The one who makes it to Tokyo will win the prize. Shujiro Saga takes part in this dangerous game to save his sick wife and child.