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 4
Episode title: The Mastermind
Episode plot: Iroha joined the game after being invited by Kyohachi-ryu sibling Sansuke, who wants to use the game to flush out and kill Gentosai. Kyojin explains his plan to his group of allies. At Kuwana-juku, the group are ambushed at a teahouse but fight off the attackers and arrange for the responsible participant to be arrested by the police. Another participant, Shinnosuke Sayama, joins the group. Kyojin sees Kodoku officers execute the participant in order to hide the secret of the game, and is caught by them. Following Kyojin’s plan, Shujiro pretends to be dead and is taken by Kodoku officers to a zaibatsu bank, where he is confronted by Hanjiro Nakamura, his samurai friend from the past who has become a Kodoku officer. In Yokkaichi-juku, Bukotsu encounters Kamuykocha and provokes him into a fight, which is broken up by Kodoku officers. Kawaji promises Okubo to find and arrest the four zaibatsu, but he is secretly the game organizer in league with them.
* * *
Last Samurai Standing – S01E04 – The Mastermind | Transcript
[folk music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
ACROBATIC SHOW FEMALE KNIFE THROWER
[man 1] Whoa!
[man 1 laughs]
That’s not what we wanna see!
MANRAKU TROUPE
[man 1] That’s some skill.
[man 2 whoops] Come on, no one cares for knife-throwing at this day and age.
[man 2] With a pretty face like that, why don’t you just lose that kimono and sing us a song?
[man 3] Damn right!
[man 1] Show us your beautiful fair skin!
[man 2] Yeah!
[man 1] Pretty please!
[crowd laughing]
[grunts]
[brooding music playing]
[breathing heavily] Oh wow.
[gasping]
CIVILIZATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT
[man 1] Look at that!
[crowd laughing]
[man 2] Lose the kimono and do it again.
[man 3] Impressive. A lot of talent.
[boy 1] I want one!
[boy 2] Me too.
Come on then.
I can’t keep doing this forever.
I agree.
He was here.
[woman] Can’t we rest just this once?
I don’t want to hear you complaining.
I’m so stressed.
[sighs] Creep.
Iroha.
Why not part with those blades and start selling your body instead?
I certainly wouldn’t mind paying for it.
[indistinct background chatter]
What?
What are you glaring at me for? Huh?
You didn’t forget who took you in, did you?
Hey.
[man scoffs]
[insects chirping]
You’re alive, huh?
I’m glad.
[chuckles softly] I never thought you’d be a traveling performer.
I could hardly recognize you.
I’m surprised you didn’t lose your temper.
I bet the old Iroha would’ve put them all in their graves. [laughs] I’m already used to it.
How have you been?
Good.
I’ve been out pulling a rickshaw every day to feed my wife and daughter.
I see. You have a family now, then.
[Sansuke] Yeah. What about you?
What’ve you been doing since you left the mountain?
What I could.
I traveled a lot, always trying to hide from Gentosai.
Hm.
How’s everybody?
Fugoro and Shichiya were killed by Gentosai.
[unsettling music playing]
He’s been searching for the surviving disciples of our school.
[breathing shakily]
[Sansuke] Iroha.
If it goes on like this, we’ll definitely be killed too.
I found Shikura and Jinroku and talked them into it.
They are joining me very soon.
Joining you? What do you mean by that?
We’ll lure Gentosai into this and finish him off ourselves.
We’ll never kill him unless we strike together as siblings.
Iroha.
You know this is our fate as a family.
[breath trembling]
[unsettling music fades]
[birds chirping]
[footsteps approaching]
[door opens]
Sorry for the wait. [chuckles] And now…
[claps] …to uncover the true purpose of this Kodoku, enters Kyojin, the great strategist–
Can you just get to the point already?
The plan has two parts.
For the first experiment, we’ll hand someone over to the authorities with their tag still around their neck.
[drum beating]
They won’t be able to make it to Tokyo if they’re incarcerated.
It should count as a withdrawal.
As of now, I still have no idea what they would do to a contestant who’s in jail.
So you plan to find out if the rules still count even in jail, right?
[Kyojin] Correct.
Are they willing to go against the police to silence a defeated contestant, or is that taking it a step too far, even for those lunatics?
This will show us how far the mastermind is willing to take this Kodoku.
For the second experiment, we’ll figure out where all of the dead bodies disappear to.
Disappear?
[Kyojin] Mmhmm.
With all these folks traveling on the Tokaido Road, murdering each other left and right, it wouldn’t be strange to see a dead body or two along the way, and yet we don’t.
What does that tell you?
That the bodies are taken and hidden out of sight.
Correct once again.
By the way, they’re always watching us.
I’m sure you’ve all realized that by now, haven’t you?
Well, they wouldn’t follow us inside this room, at least.
But rest assured, they are watching us.
So they’re even cleaning up the corpses?
That’s quite the undertaking, isn’t it?
Indeed. They’re likely hauling them off somewhere, hm?
The conclusion here?
They have concealed locations and the means to secretly haul hundreds of dead bodies from all the towns.
Splendid answer.
If we find out where the dead bodies are being hidden, we might figure out a little more about the people behind this.
What do you think?
It seems like a nice plan, right?
Right. So where do we begin?
First off, we go out there and find our lucky volunteer.
[dramatic music playing]
Why would the zaibatsu purchase over 100 rifles and make the shizoku kill one another?
Since the Meiji era began, they’ve likely been profiting off government contracts.
[hits desk]
What on earth do they gain from doing a thing like this?
[brooding music playing]
They’re all betting, huh?
Just so all those fools will kill one another?
Isn’t there a chance this is their actual purpose?
[Okubo] Hatred for the former samurai?
I’m sure it’s no small burden, bearing the shizoku’s relentless plundering.
There’s one more thing I’ve learned.
I checked with the zaibatsu, and we’ve confirmed that these four individuals have been on an extended leave since a week ago.
No one knows where they went.
None of them were home.
Find them as soon as you can.
[Kawaji] Yes, sir.
[man] Lord Okubo.
I mean no disrespect, but meddling with the zaibatsu could bring repercussions to our economy.
[Kawaji] Mr. Nagase.
If they are truly behind this, then this is treason against the state.
We must deal with this as soon as possible.
[Okubo] Kawaji.
Sir.
Bring the four of them here at once.
Our efforts to find them are already underway, sir.
I’ll resume my work on the telegrams.
[Okubo] Good.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[exhales]
[seagulls calling]
KUWANAJUKU
[woman] Have a look, have a taste!
Kuwana’s famous grilled clams!
Get yours while they’re hot!
We’ve got horse mackerel, squid, clams and fine sake to wash it down!
Been on the road a while, haven’t you?
How about a short break before you carry on?
Okay, right this way!
Customers coming in!
[customers speaking indistinctly]
[woman] Welcome!
A group of four coming in!
[man 1] Oh no!
Argh, I can’t get it right.
[man 2] Shut up. You’re distracting me.
[man 3 laughs]
[man 4 sighs] Come on in!
We have a table available in the back.
We’ll take some tea and hotchpotch, please.
Of course.
Tea and four bowls of hotchpotch!
[man 5] All right!
[woman] All right. One bowl of mixed rice and grilled squid, people.
Look at that one.
Didn’t even bother to hide his tag.
That’s quite some confidence.
They’re participants too.
Hey. Can’t you see it’s empty?
[Iroha] I saw them at Tenryuji.
Hmm?
I’m sorry. Let me do this.
Who’s our lucky volunteer?
[man 6] What the hell is wrong with you?
[man 7] I’m sorry!
You’re a deadweight.
What the hell is your problem?
I’m really sorry! I’m sorry!
[man 6] Shut up!
I’m sorry, sir.
Let’s go with whoever leaves this teahouse first.
[man 8 laughs]
[footsteps approaching] That won’t be necessary.
[customers fall silent]
[foreboding music playing]
[Kyojin] Who the hell are you?
More than one of you I guess, huh?
[man 8] “More than one?”
Hmm… Yes, indeed. I would say we are.
Hm?
[Kyojin] Oh.
I figured most of the participants would pass right by this teahouse, so I took the liberty of arranging a delightful little trap here.
I thought talking to outsiders was a violation of the rules, right?
But hiring them, without revealing the details, is not.
Aren’t you the strategist?
[whispers] It’s not too bad.
As for the girls…
Oh, you might as well enjoy yourselves, boys.
[laughing]
[foreboding music intensifies]
All right. I’ll leave you to it.
[indistinct chatter]
YOKKAICHISHUKU
[exhales]
[Kanjiya] Lower-intermediate.
Beginner.
Hmm?
Pre-intermediate.
[chuckles softly]
Hey.
You’re a contestant, aren’t you?
I’m looking for a swordsman traveling with a girl.
Have you seen anyone like that?
[ominous music playing]
No.
[scoffs]
How could I have let them slip through my fingers the other night?
A bow, huh?
You’re so far away.
Where’s the fun in killing someone if you can’t look ’em in the eye?
No different from guns, is it?
This is an instrument for tributes and offerings to the gods.
Nothing like a gun.
[grunts] [yelps]
[dramatic music playing]
[man 1 screaming, whimpering]
[Kanjiya laughs]
To hell with all your gods.
What nonsense.
[woman] Darling!
[sobbing] No! Stay with me, darling.
Don’t leave me like this, darling! No!
[groans]
[villagers gasping]
If gods truly existed, do you think this would be the state of the world?
Huh. Nice.
[villagers screaming]
Let’s have fun.
[man 2] He’s coming! He’s coming!
Die, you rats!
[groaning] Oh.
Go get the girls!
Get them first!
Get me their tags, and I’ll pay thrice the price!
[yelling]
[grunting]
[dramatic music continues]
[grunting]
[groaning]
[straining]
Outta the way!
[grunting]
This trap isn’t working out for you.
[screams]
[gasping] Who are these people?
You told us this would be easy!
[indistinct shouting]
[yells]
[straining]
[yells] [shrieks]
[breathing shakily]
[groaning]
[invigorating music playing]
[yells]
[shrieking]
[Iroha grunting]
[thumping]
Go! Hurry up! Go get them!
[yelling] [groaning] [grunting] [screams]
[glass smashing]
[grunting]
[yelling]
[groaning]
[grunting]
[screaming]
[man shrieks]
[yells, groans]
[screams]
[woman shrieks]
[screaming]
Let go! Let go!
[yells] [grunts] [coughing]
[whimpering]
[villagers screaming] [dramatic music playing]
[grunting]
Help! Someone warn the police!
[screams]
[Kanjiya grunting]
[shrieks]
[body thuds]
[groaning, breathing heavily]
[exhales]
[grunting]
[screaming]
[yelps]
[dramatic music intensifies]
[groaning]
It’s an offering for the gods, am I right?
[Kanjiya grunting]
[shrieking]
[Sakura] That’s enough!
[dramatic music fades]
[footsteps approaching]
Do I know you from somewhere?
The police have been notified.
They’re coming this way.
[Kanjiya laughs] Yeah, so what?
The hosts have high expectations of the two of you.
Your failure would dull the thrill.
You think I’ll get caught?
I could kill you right here and now.
Do you realize that?
Suit yourself.
If you think you can win against this many rifles.
[dramatic sting]
[Kanjiya] This is no fun.
[guns withdrawing] [exhales]
[Sakura] The times have changed.
The samurai have no place in this world.
You suffered through the war, and yet what came after was worse,
[somber music playing]
Wasn’t it, Kanjiya Bukotsu?
Oh, my business is not your concern.
[seagulls calling]
[customers whimpering, breathing shakily]
All right. Which one of you, huh?
Wait.
What sort of scheme are you forcing on us?
We’ll hand one of you over to the police, tag still round your neck.
What?
Uh, wait. I mean, if you do that–
Either the Kodoku squad will kill you, or the police will protect you.
There’s no telling which.
What?
What about the other one of us?
We’ll be taking their tag.
That’s it, game over.
[gasps]
[struggling] Hand me over to the police!
Please pick me to go!
Huh?
I’m doing it, not you.
Shut up and let me do it!
[laughing nervously]
Well, this is the end of the line for you, I’m afraid.
[man 1 cackles]
Please. I’ll do anything.
Anything, please, I beg you!
[Kyojin] Just accept it.
You’ve killed your share of contestants yourself, haven’t you?
[man 2] I’ve never killed anyone. I swear!
Even at Tenryuji, I just stole the tags from the men who died.
[Kyojin] I’m not interested in your lies.
[man 2] I’m not lying!
I was… threatened into it.
He said I’d stay alive if I did this.
Don’t you lie!
[man 2 groans]
[man 1 chuckles]
[sobbing] Our family’s poor.
I joined to help my father with his business failures.
I never imagined… we’d have to kill each other.
[sniffs]
But I simply cannot do it.
[somber music playing]
I beg you not to kill me.
Don’t do it.
Don’t let it end like this, please!
[Kyojin] You think he’s telling the truth?
All right. You win.
[breathing shakily]
But in return, you’ll be at my side lending a hand.
Thank you. Oh, thank you.
Thank you very much!
Huh?
Hey, wait a minute.
Can I be at your side lending a haAll right, Shujiro.
You find out where they’re taking the bodies.
[Saga] All right.
[Kyojin] Oh, by the way, Iroha.
[curious music playing] Here you go.
[Iroha] What’s this?
[Kyojin] It’s a smoke ball.
What am I going to do with this?
Just keep it at hand.
I’ll have the police sent here.
Take advantage of the ruckus to get past the Kodoku guards keeping watch.
Well… Ah!
All right, let’s go. The plan is launched.
[man 1 breathing shakily]
[curious music fades]
[knocking]
Come in.
The analysis is complete.
It’s exactly as you suspected, sir.
They rely on telegrams for their communication.
DOMESTIC TELEGRAM RECORD
Since May 5th, when we received reports from Tenryuji, there’s been a sudden increase in correspondence.
NUMBER OF TELEGRAMS MAY 5TH: 156
[Okubo] Hmm.
What else?
We couldn’t decipher the messages.
They’re using some sort of code.
However, we managed to find out where these telegrams originated.
Go on.
Show him.
Yes, sir.
[ominous music playing]
It’s near the southern side of Mount Fuji.
As you can see, the map suggests there’s nothing there.
MOUNT FUJI SHIZUOKA TELEGRAPH OFFICE
That means their headquarters are there.
Kawaji, head there now.
Let us proceed.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[man 1] “Clash Between Shizoku in Yokkaichi City on the Tokaido Road.”
[mechanical clicking]
[laughing]
[ominous music continues]
[man 2] Gentlemen.
What is it?
Looks like the state is taking action.
What?
Nothing to be worried about.
They can’t reach us here.
They couldn’t possibly find us.
Even if they did, we’re protected by a guardian god.
[Morosawa chuckles]
Oh. [chuckles] That’s right.
That’s a fair point, my friend.
[laughing] Well said.
[indistinct chatter]
Irohasan.
Thank you for saving me earlier.
I was wondering, at what age did you start your training?
All of us at Kyohachiryu were abandoned as kids.
We don’t know our real ages.
Were there other girls there?
Other than yourself?
No.
I was so young and the weakest of all.
You were the weakest?
It was a long time ago.
I want to be as strong as you are.
Can you share some advice?
[mellow music playing]
I wouldn’t worry yourself with it.
Strength won’t help you win.
No matter how skilled you become, happiness remains out of reach.
[footsteps above]
He’s here.
[breathing heavily]
[foreboding music playing]
[man groaning] Ow!
Hey, that hurts. Hey.
Hey, a little gentleness, please! Argh!
Oh, sir.
There was a murder at the teahouse.
He’s the main suspect.
[man] No, no, no!
We’ll be holding him in jail.
Yes, sir.
Let’s go!
[whimpering] [grunting] Ah, I can’t wait to see what happens next.
[man] Please, don’t!
Shut up!
POLICE BRANCH STATION
[eerie music playing]
[shrieking]
[straining] You stay quiet in here.
We’ll interrogate you later.
[man] Hey! Wait.
Listen. Listen!
[breathing shakily] Where’s the guard?
Shouldn’t there be a guard here?
What’s wrong, huh?
Scared of spirits, are you?
[laughing] Oh, no way. Of course not.
Oh hey! Wait! Wait! Hey! Don’t!
Hey! Don’t leave me alone!
[suspenseful music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
[Futaba breathing shakily]
[Iroha] Let’s go.
Police Bureau.
The chief knows we’re coming.
Oh.
Looks like our bait worked, huh?
Huh?
What’s your name, kiddo?
Uh, Sayama Shinnosuke, sir.
Shinnosuke, hold these for me.
Huh?
Uh, wait.
[wheels rolling]
Seventeen past two, 108, Saga Shujiro.
[thudding]
We’re here to interrogate the suspect who was just detained.
Yes, sir. Uh, he’s in the basement.
I’ll show you the way. Ah.
Hello, sir.
Hello.
I’ll join them for the interrogation.
[guard] Yes, sir.
[suspenseful music intensifies]
[indistinct chatter]
[ominous music playing]
Wait a second, this is…
108, Saga Shujiro was eliminated at 2:17 p.m. in Kuwana.
[suspenseful music playing]
[doors close]
[suspenseful music fades]
[papers rustling]
[screams]
[choking]
[grunting]
[breathing heavily]
[gurgles]
MITSUI BANK RECORD OF ALL TRANSACTIONS MITSUI BANK OPENING LOAN DEPOSIT MITSUI BANK GUIDELINES FOR ESTIMATING WRITEOFFS MITSUI BANK INTERNAL RULES
[ominous music playing]
[gasps]
Wait, is this…
MITSUI BANK
[Iroha] A bank.
[ominous music continues]
I know that man.
[ominous music fades]
[water dripping]
[sighs]
[door opens]
[footsteps approaching]
[breath trembling]
Here to question me?
Listen to me.
I didn’t kill anyone, all right?
It’s complex, but I can explain.
Some unknown devils are making us slaughter each other.
They’re killing whoever tries to escape.
I need someone to guard me down here.
Please! Keep those madmen away from me.
[tense music playing] Wait.
Wait, no! Wait, wait!
[body thuds]
[tense music fades]
[sighs]
[tense music resumes]
[door closes]
[tense music fades]
[breathing heavily]
[Sakura] So 108’s body is here?
[man] Yes, sir.
[doors closing]
[exhales]
[suspenseful music playing]
It seems like a mouse has made its way inside.
[sighs]
[man] And who might you be?
Fourth Division. The name’s Takayama.
I don’t remember any of my subordinates going by that name.
Oh, so you’re Fourth Division too.
Mm.
Best answer you could find…
[chuckles softly]
…Tsuge Kyojin?
[suspenseful music continues]
You forgot to plan an escape route, huh?
Come out.
No use dragging this out any longer…
Saga Kokushu.
[suspenseful music fades]
[breathing heavily]
Nakamura Hanjiro.
I go by the name of Sakura now.
When I saw you kill Ando at Tenryuji Temple, I had my suspicions.
I have been secretly rooting for you.
Back then, I was sure you were dead.
[men shouting]
Strange how that works.
Life is surprising.
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be just like you, you know.
Just tell me one thing.
What are you all hoping to achieve?
I cannot answer that, I’m afraid.
But when old comrades reunite, they either drink together… or they fight.
[foreboding music playing]
[sword unsheathing]
It’s one or the other.
[sheath clatters]
[exhales]
[foreboding music intensifies]
[foreboding music ends]
[exhales]
[footsteps approaching]
Our analysis, sir.
All of the coded telegrams were sent to or from this location, the Nihonbashi Telegraph Office.
From there, we managed to track down the recipient of the telegrams and pinpoint their location.
It’s not what we expected.
What is it?
The final destination of these telegrams was… the Police Bureau, our own.
[dramatic music playing]
Gentlemen. Sorry to keep you waiting.
We’re glad you’re here, sir.
I’m sure you were very busy from overseeing all this, right?
Mmm.
[laughing]
[dramatic music intensifies]
[foreboding music playing]
[sighs]
Lord Okubo, I don’t mean to speak out of turn, but I must ask…
[Okubo sighs]
Go ahead.
Are you certain that we can trust Kawaji?
Once again, thank you all for being here and for your continued support.
It’s all for the good of this country.
Whatever you need, don’t hesitate to ask.
[Kawaji] Thank you very much.
[dramatic music playing]
This is a critical endeavor.
The samurai are like ghosts, and we must eradicate them at all costs.
So, gentlemen, let’s see this mission through together…
[dramatic music continues]
…for the sake of our country’s tomorrow.
[clapping]
[grunts]
70 REMAINING
[ambient music playing]
[music fades]
