Last Samurai Standing
Created by: John Lee Hancock
Based on: Last Samurai Standing by Shogo Imamura
Stars: Junichi Okada, Yumia Fujisaki, Kaya Kiyohara, Hiroshi Tamaki, Hideaki Itō, Gaku Hamada, Hiroshi Abe
Original release date: November 13, 2025 (Netflix)
Premise: During the Meiji era (late 19th century), 292 fighters came together at Tenryū-ji Temple in Kyoto after sunset, drawn by the chance to win a grand prize of ¥100,000. The challenge was clear: take each other’s wooden tags and make it all the way to Tokyo. The winner would get the prize. One of the warriors, Shujiro Saga, joined the dangerous contest with a personal mission: to help his sick wife and child.
Season 1 – Episode 2
Episode title: Awakening
Episode plot: Bukotsu provokes Shujiro into drawing his sword but Shujiro does not complete a killing blow, enraging Bukotsu. Futaba helps Shujiro escape and they are approached by Kyojin Tsuge, the participant who helped them. According to Kyojin’s points calculation, a maximum of 9 players can win the game, so he suggests they form an alliance and investigate the organizer’s intentions. Futaba tells Shujiro she is a shrine maiden who joined the game to provide for her sick mother and the children in her shrine, and asks to join him. In Tokyo, Superintendent General Kawaji reports to Home Minister Lord Okubo about a “tournament” of outlawed samurai. Bukotsu harasses villagers while trying to find Shujiro, and is confronted by Ukyo Kikuomi, a game participant and former samurai who was abandoned by his master; Bukotsu kills Ukyo. Shujiro and Futaba stumble on a group of participants who are killed by Kodoku officers when they quit the game. Enraged, Shujiro kills the entire squad of officers.
* * *
Last Samurai Standing – S01E02 – Awakening | Transcript
[drums beating]
[monk chanting]
[people sobbing, praying indistinctly]
[vomiting]
[groaning, coughing]
Oh. Kotaro. Are you okay?
Here. Water.
Futaba…
Hm?
[breathing heavily] Am I…
Do you think I’m gonna die?
Don’t you worry.
It’s fine. My mother is praying to the gods, all right?
[breath trembling]
[monk continues chanting]
[mystical music playing]
[woman] One, two, three, four.
One, two, three, four.
One, two, three, four.
Futaba?
What’s the matter?
Do you think…
[sighs] Will cholera really go away?
Father is gone.
People in town are dying one after another.
And yet, we’re still here, praying to the gods.
Futaba.
In this world, everything that happens is part of the gods’ design.
And for that reason, the best thing we can do in the end is pray.
Whether it’s war, or disease, whatever comes our way, if we keep praying, the gods will protect us.
We have to believe.
All right then. Shall we go make supper?
Yes.
[footsteps receding]
[bells clattering]
[breathing shakily]
What’s wrong? [gasps, shrieks] Mother! Mother!
Mother!
Mother!
[dramatic music playing]
[suspenseful music playing]
[breathing shakily]
[Saga and Kanjiya groaning]
What’s wrong, Kokushu?
[men yelling]
[grunting]
[yelps, groans]
[shrieking] You’re not the ones I want!
Let’s go! [panting]
[thunder rumbling]
[dramatic sting]
[chuckles]
[both panting]
Hurry!
[clattering]
[Kanjiya yells]
[grunting] [struggling] Run, Futaba! Go!
[cries out] [groaning] Run!
[shrieking]
[groaning]
[breathing heavily]
[laughs]
[grunts]
[Saga groaning] Draw your sword.
That brat is off your hands now.
[tense music playing]
[straining]
Do it already.
Are you bullshitting me?
[grunting]
[Saga groans]
Gone soft, have you, Kokushu the Manslayer?!
[groans]
[grunting]
[straining]
How’s your life been since then?
[Kanjiya laughs]
Those bastards in power do what they want.
They told us to fight and kill when they needed us.
But once they didn’t, they told us to throw our swords away.
That’s why I’m grateful to the person who came up with this whole little race.
[breathing heavily]
[Kanjiya] Because it takes me back to the good old days.
So let us return to the way we were.
Shall we?
Draw it!
[moans]
[unsettling music playing]
[straining]
[exhaling deeply]
[frenetic music playing]
That’s it.
This is what I expect from Kokushu the Manslayer.
[grunts] [panting]
[neighing]
[dramatic music playing]
[grunting]
[yells]
[panting]
What’s wrong, Kokushu?
[grunting]
That’s more like it.
[dramatic music intensifies]
What the hell are you doing?!
[Futaba] Mister Shujiro!
[groaning]
[panting]
[horse neighs]
Kokushu, we’re not done yet!
Hyah!
[dramatic music fades]
[breathing heavily]
[whinnies]
[knocking]
Saga, what happened?
Is everything all right?
Here, get inside. Come on. Quickly.
[rain continues falling]
[winces]
Well, I hope you can get some rest.
[Saga] Thanks for everything.
It’s nothing.
Just let me know if you need anything.
Though it’s impossible to ever repay you for all that you’ve done.
It was ages ago.
Well, I’ll leave you to it.
[sighs]
[Saga] So it wasn’t rusted after all.
[sighs]
You saved me out there.
Thank you.
And you too.
Thank you for saving my life, sir.
I’ll take you to the edge of the Tokaido Road in the morning.
After that, take off your tag and run.
It’s against the rules.
[scoffs] Your life is more important than rules, isn’t it?
I’m not giving up, sir.
I don’t think you understand!
A child cannot survive this.
I can’t afford to run away either!
If I give up, countless lives will be lost.
Cholera?
[footsteps approaching]
Who is it?
[man] Calm down. It’s just me.
You know I’ve got no intention of fighting you.
[tense music playing]
What are you doing here?
[man] Hold on now.
Why don’t we talk face-to-face?
I’ll even enter with my hands up.
Just don’t stab me, all right?
It’s good to see you.
What do you want?
[man] Put your sword down first, will ya?
[sighs]
If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t come through the front door.
Go on. You too, little miss.
[inhales]
[clicks tongue] You’re all edge and no ease, Kokushu the Manslayer.
How do you know that name anyway?
[chuckles] That’s not what matters right now, is it?
I think what you really want to know is what I’m doing in front of you.
Well, the thing is I’ve come bearing a fine deal for you today.
What is it?
[man sighs]
How would you two like to form an alliance?
What do you mean?
What are you planning?
Well, I just think this Kodoku game is a little too mysterious for my taste.
What do they gain by making trained swordsmen kill each other?
Why would they make us travel to Tokyo?
Are they even serious about paying us the 100,000 yen?
And who’s organizing this?
You’ve been wondering as well, right?
[inhales deeply]
I heard someone mention that a group of high-ranking officials might be planning a hunt for swords.
If that was the case, they should’ve killed us at the temple, right?
Why would they bother making us do something like this?
That’s true.
Rumor has it some are out for revenge.
Survivors of the old shogunate forces are seeking allies.
Right. I’ve also heard that foreigners are trying to spark a civil war to destroy Japan.
Anyway, the truth is still unknown, right?
We have no idea what the organizers are planning, nor what they may throw at us going forward.
What we do know is that whoever’s behind this is seriously powerful.
It would be wiser to work together.
We have better chances of gathering information as a group.
The sooner we learn who they are, the closer we become to the 100,000 yen.
Well, then.
Is that enough to satisfy your curiosity?
How will everything be taken care of?
There won’t be any issues, right?
It’ll be as it was by morning.
No one will suspect it.
So, how many are left then?
The current count of those who have survived now stands at 128.
[chuckles] That’s more than I anticipated.
As expected, the samurai are as tenacious as ever.
The stench of blood, though…
Quite remarkable, don’t you think?
[laughs]
The organizer will be joining you in just a few minutes.
In the meantime, please relax.
Enjoy your stay, and make yourselves at home.
[spits]
[mysterious music playing]
We just left Tenryuji Temple, and now we’re going through Seki, Chiryu, Hamamatsu, Shimada, Hakone and Shinagawa.
I tallied the number of participants against the number of tags required to proceed.
So currently, there are 292 participants.
And in order to pass through the final checkpoint in Shinagawa, you must have 30 tags.
So, what does that say?
It’s possible that several people can make it to Tokyo.
That is correct.
The figures show that no more than nine could reach Tokyo.
However, we don’t know if those nine people will be splitting the reward, or if the organizers might have something else in store.
It all depends on their goal here.
In any case, if the limit is nine, then the three of us heading to Tokyo together should be fine, right?
How’s that? Not the worst idea ever.
Why form an alliance with us?
You are not cut from the same cloth as the others, wouldn’t you agree?
Also, I know for a fact that you won’t turn on me as long as she’s with you.
What do you mean by that?
Do you mean you’ll kill her if I do?
You know that I would.
Think of her as a hostage, if you will.
Well, we’ll see if you end up drawing your sword against our very own little miss after all.
You don’t have to decide right now.
There’s an inn over in Yokkaichi called Uzuya.
Three nights from now, meet me there if you do decide you’ll join forces.
Oh.
I have one more thing I’d like to say.
It’s not that you’re unable to kill.
You’re just choosing not to.
Once a manslayer, always a manslayer.
You’re nothing but a killer, Saga Kokushu.
I look forward to your answer.
Wait.
Just tell me one thing.
What was your reason for joining this Kodoku?
Well, I don’t know, really.
Maybe I just wanted to witness it, see how it unfolds.
The final days of the samurai, that is.
Well, I’ll be waiting for the good news.
[footsteps receding]
[sighs]
Try to get some sleep.
[breath trembling]
[Futaba] Mother.
Have some water.
[birds chirping]
[melancholy music playing]
[woman breathing shakily]
Futaba, I’m so sorry.
It’s all right. Let me handle things here.
Please, ma’am.
Please, sir.
Please. Even a little will do.
It’s for the children. Save the children.
No one has money to spare in this town.
[breathing shakily]
Please. Who in their right mind would believe this nonsense?
Smells like a lie.
What? Is it money you’re after?
Yes.
Here.
[sighs]
HOKOKU NEWSPAPER PARTICIPANTS WANTED
[blows whistle]
Hey! No beggars allowed.
[gasps]
[official] Hey! [blows whistle]
[moaning]
[child vomits]
[Kotaro] Futaba, I feel sick.
[breathing heavily]
Don’t worry.
You’re being protected by the gods, all right?
Keep fighting.
[Futaba breathes shakily]
Kotaro?
Kotaro?
Kotaro!
[sobbing]
[melancholy music fades]
[breathing shakily]
[sniffs]
[door sliding]
[footsteps receding]
[inhales, exhales deeply]
[gasps softly]
[water gurgling]
[birds chirping]
[breathing shakily]
[mystical music playing]
[bell chiming softly]
[exhales]
[Saga] The ritual dance?
[Futaba] Yes.
What were you praying for?
That everyone might fulfill their lives and find solace beyond in heaven.
I learned the dance from my mother.
She took care of children who had lost their parents.
But now she’s bedridden with cholera.
[breath trembling]
Some people still remain in our village, but they endure both disease and dire poverty.
Shujirosan.
Don’t you see how desperate I am to win?
But I know that I’m weak.
I can’t survive this by myself.
So I’m begging you, sir.
Will you please take me with you to the end?
I’ll do whatever I can.
Even if, eventually… you find yourself forced to draw your blade against me.
[tender music playing]
Until then, I have to keep trying.
Shujiro.
It’s all I ask, please!
[inhales sharply]
I have a family I want to save too.
We’ll get through this, Futaba.
Thank you.
I appreciate your help.
Now here. Take these with you.
It’s all thanks to that sword of yours.
It carved the path to a new era, one where people like us finally have the chance to be safe.
Nothing I have to offer you will ever be enough.
Yahei, the times have changed.
Take it.
[exhales]
[Saga] Thank you for everything.
I wish you both the best of luck.
[footsteps receding]
[distant, indistinct chatter]
[foreboding music playing]
HOME MINISTRY, TOKYO
[knocking]
[man] Come in.
If you’ll excuse me.
Apologies for the wait.
[man] Kawaji. Take a seat.
Home Minister. What is your concern?
Here you are, sir.
HOKOKU NEWSPAPER PARTICIPANTS WANTED
[man] We seized a few of these in Tokyo City the other day.
Yes, I’ve been informed of this.
I wanted to investigate further before reporting it to you, sir.
In any case, 100,000 is quite an extraordinary amount.
Indeed.
Last night at Kyoto’s Tenryuji Temple, a considerable number of shizoku were observed assembling.
We have not heard any news from Ando Jinbe, who was sent to infiltrate their meeting.
Do you think the shizoku are trying to start a rebellion?
[Kawaji] We still do not know what their goal is.
However, they are remnants of the samurai, so they’re definitely stirring up some scheme in Kyoto.
And behind them, there’s someone with enough financial power to circulate forged newspapers across the entire country.
As of now, those are the facts.
Should money fall into the hands of shizoku resentful of the new government, the consequences could be dire.
We have to investigate immediately.
Mr. Maejima, I don’t think we need to be so afraid of them, sir.
The shizoku are toothless tigers now.
Shouldn’t underestimate their strength.
Have you forgotten how badly we suffered during last year’s uprising?
Our nation has only just risen from the ashes.
If civil war breaks out once more, our nation will surely be shaken, leaving us at the mercy of the West.
Kawaji.
Let us launch an investigation.
As for the person who’s behind this, the mastermind and their intentions?
The Police Bureau will find them.
Sir.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[Kanjiya laughs]
[groaning]
[Kanjiya] Did you not hear me?
Did you see a samurai passing through here with a kid or not?
[boy whimpering]
It’s no use, huh?
[gasping] Please have mercy! I beg you!
[Kanjiya sighs] Have mercy!
[Kikuomi] You beast.
Stop attacking nonparticipants.
Never seen you before. Who are you?
Kikuomi Ukyo.
[Kanjiya] Oh.
I see. You’re the famous Guardian of the Nobility.
Seek shelter while you can.
[villagers breathing shakily] I’ve heard rumors. What a shame!
To be tossed aside like that after all those years of loyal service to your master. [laughs]
[tense music playing]
So it seems we’re in the same boat at the end of the day, are we not?
Shut your mouth.
You and I are nothing alike, you vile scum.
[Kanjiya laughs]
Let’s have some fun.
[villagers whispering indistinctly]
[wind howling]
[grunting] [clamoring]
[groaning]
[villagers gasping]
Prancing around like a damn snake in the grass.
Enough of that!
What’s wrong? Can’t keep up with it?
[grunting]
[breathing heavily]
[Kikuomi] Shall we end this?
Because frankly, my time is far too valuable to waste on battling you.
[dramatic music playing]
[dramatic music fades]
Mr. Ukyo!
You cannot see Lord Kazanin! [panting] [laughing]
[man] Mr. Ukyo!
[sighs]
[Kikuomi] Lord Kazanin.
Are you truly abandoning the Kikuomi household?
I’m eating now.
Our house, the Kikuomi, have repeatedly risked life and limb to protect your noble lives.
And this is how you repay us?
[sniffs] Without their swords, the samurai are not worth much to the world anymore.
The government took your wealth too, I suppose.
So if you bow your head and beg, I just might consider hiring you as my servant.
[inhales sharply]
[men laugh]
[tense music playing]
Miserable cur!
[officer 1] Don’t move!
[officer 2] Take your hand off your sword!
[somber music playing]
Get him out of here!
Hands off!
I’ll walk out on my own.
Lowborn fool with highborn airs.
[men laugh]
My Lord, we can go no further.
We sold everything we could.
The only thing left is this.
They’ve taken our purpose from us.
Now we’re being driven into selling our pride to survive.
That is too much to bear.
[breath trembling]
Committing seppuku and ending our lives is the only path to protect our pride.
[Kikuomi] I have heard your thoughts.
I understand your feelings.
The Kikuomi family will have its glory restored, I give you my word.
We’re with you, Lord Ukyo.
[dramatic sting]
[dramatic music playing]
[grunting]
[groaning]
[yells]
[villagers gasping, muttering indistinctly]
[crow cawing]
[suspenseful music playing]
[villagers gasp]
[laughs]
[suspenseful music intensifies]
[grunts] [music fades]
[people whimpering]
[gasps]
Oh.
You survived too, huh?
[tense music playing]
[breathing shakily]
I have a favor to ask you.
Don’t come any closer.
[Tachikawa] What?
No, wait, wait, wait! No, no, don’t!
We don’t want to fight. We’ve had enough!
Uh, we’re going to quit this game!
Stand with us, please. Join our cause!
What are you saying?
We were tricked into this thing! Right?
Yeah!
That’s right!
This game is absurd!
They tricked us into this!
[groans] We don’t stand a chance.
Everyone else is too strong.
And then they took all our tags we won, the tags we risked our necks for!
I’m sure the prize money is a lie too!
[man] He’s right.
[Tachikawa whimpers] So please. Join us.
I’m begging you.
We need more people in our cause.
You can’t leave now. It’s too late.
They’ll kill you if you break the rules, you know that.
No.
They won’t. Look!
Even they wouldn’t dare.
Not with all these people.
Right?
It’s nonsense.
Why should we be killing each other?
Over something as trivial as this?
I… only wanted the chance to earn some money, that’s all!
[Tachikawa sobbing]
I only wanted my kids to eat what they want and have their fill for once, that’s all!
[Saga] Don’t.
Don’t do it. Stop it!
They’re watching.
[breathing shakily] I wanna go home.
[sobbing]
Don’t. Don’t take it off!
Don’t! Stop it! Stop it!
[screaming, clamoring]
[dramatic music playing]
[grunting]
[groans]
It’s over.
[villagers gasping, murmuring]
[chuckles] Shall we end this already?
[grunts] [squelching]
[groans]
[villagers gasping]
[laughing]
[grunting]
[dramatic music intensifies]
[roars]
[Saga] Stop! Don’t take it off.
[Tachikawa] Please.
I just want to go home.
[Saga] Stop.
Don’t take it off. No, wait!
[groaning] [Saga] Stop!
Don’t do it! Wait!
[Tachikawa breathing shakily]
I’m fine.
[man gasps] Everything’s all right!
It’s fine. Take it off!
[cheering]
[Tachikawa] We’re okay!
Hey! Wait! Hey!
[Tachikawa] The two of you can end this.
Just take them off!
[gun fires]
[gasps]
[screaming]
[sobbing]
[bodies thudding]
[moaning, gurgling]
[sobbing] Why?
How cruel.
[unsettling music playing]
[gurgling]
Those who remove their wooden tags will be duly punished.
Do you understand the penalty?
[breath trembling]
Sick cowards.
You act like you’re some kind of gods, right?
You think you can treat samurai like trash just because you no longer have use for us?
[dramatic music playing]
What was that?
[music ends abruptly]
[yells]
[dramatic music resumes]
[screaming, groaning]
[grunting]
[panting]
[yelps, groans]
[body thuds]
[panting]
[breath trembling]
Sakura, sir, how shall we proceed?
Let the organizer know.
As you command.
Kokushu the Manslayer.
He has reawakened.
[somber music playing]
This is… who I once was.
What?
[sighs]
All I knew was how to kill and nothing else.
[birds chirping]
[Kanjiya sighs]
Ugh.
[exhales]
[woman] Ugh.
[sighs] That’s it? [clicks tongue]
No fun.
There you go.
[screaming]
[Kanjiya laughing]
[dramatic music playing]
117 REMAINING
[ambient music playing]
[music fades]
