Last Samurai Standing

Story: Shujiro Saga (Junichi Okada) was once a samurai, but the Meiji era has dawned in Japan, and there is no longer a place for swordsmen. Instead, firearms from the West have found their way into the army, and the government has also been modernized. Shujiro lives a simple but happy life with his family until a cholera outbreak hits his village. First, his daughter dies, then his wife and son also fall ill. He has no money for medicine but learns that former samurai from all over the country are being summoned to participate in a competition with a prize pool of 100 billion yen. Shujiro sees no other option but to take part. When he arrives at the designated location, the rules are explained. Everyone has a small wooden tag that must be worn around their neck at all times; otherwise, they will be shot. The 292 players must travel from Kyoto to Tokyo, passing through several gates along the way. At each gate, they are required to show an increasing number of wooden tags. These can be obtained by eliminating fellow players and taking them from them. As the game begins, the first major bloodbath occurs, during which Shujiro rescues the young girl Futaba Katsuki (Yumia Fujisaki), who is also participating in the game. From then on, he travels with her in order to protect her. On the journey, he meets a few other potential allies, but if the participants truly want to survive the game, they must uncover the powerful masterminds behind it. For now, even the investigating police are in the dark about them, though.

Review: One thought kept running through my head as I watched this lavishly produced action series with a historical foundation: Isn't this actually "Rurouni Kenshin"? Instead of the Manslayer Himura, we have a Manslayer in the form of Shujiro, who also suffers from PTSD and can therefore barely touch his sword without trembling, let alone draw it. And indeed, the series is based on a novel by Shogo Imamura, which was also released as a manga illustrated by Katsumi Tatsuzawa. This should explain why, despite the focus on realistic action and serious drama, characters keep appearing who seem to have stepped directly out of a manga. Furthermore, because of the competition as a plot device there is also a bit of "Squid Game" incorporated – it's practically unavoidable these days – although it would probably be more fitting to cite Kinji Fukasaku's "Battle Royale" as its inspiration. So, even though it draws on many good original works, there's no denying that "Last Samurai Standing" offers outstanding action and compelling drama, making it easy to stay engaged until the very end.

The opening is an epic battle that also reveals why our protagonist is called the Manslayer. The depicted Battle of Boshin heralded the Meiji Restoration, as the last Tokugawa shogun was deposed. The series incorporates many historical events, such as the assassination of a person who will remain unnamed to avoid spoilers, and references to real-life figures. However, this is merely a bonus for history buffs, as the political events and upheavals can be followed even without prior knowledge, especially since these developments are kept to a minimum and are frequently repeated throughout the story. It immediately becomes clear to everyone that there is no future for the samurai in the country, and some of them simply see the competition as their chance to go out with a final, gigantic bang. These characters include, for example, the merciless Bukotsu, brilliantly portrayed by Hideaki Ito ("Memoirs of a Murderer"), who demonstrates in his role what is almost universally true for the entire series: Despite his manga-like airs - his gigantic sword alone ensures this - a real personality hides behind the face of this obvious villain.

The series certainly doesn't skimp on villains. Shujiro and his classmates once fled from their master, who wanted to hand over his school, but only to the last one standing in a death duel among his students. None of the friends were keen on that, so they ran away, and now he's hunting them down. Naturally, they all participate in the competition. With the master (played by Hiroshi Abe from "After the Storm"), the series shows a surprisingly good eye for horror, as the sets, the heavy breathing of the aging master, and the ringing of a bell attached to him give him the air of an unstoppable spirit that will claim his souls sooner or later. It's also great that each fighter has their own unique fighting style, adding a lot of variety to the action. Beyond that, of course, there are the real villains, who are part of a conspiracy that reaches all the way to the top. The police investigations constantly uncover new surprises, as does the group around Kyojin Tsuge, the self-proclaimed strategist, portrayed by Mashahiro Higashide ("Demon City"). While he helps our hero and his growing number of companions, you're never quite sure if he isn't also playing a double game.

The heart of the series, however, is the young Futaba, who repeatedly emphasizes that despite the cruelty prevalent in this changing world, one should help others in the here and now, even if they likely won't survive until the end of the game. Shujiro also sees in her the person his recently deceased daughter could have become, and paternal feelings ground him enough to prevent him from reverting to his cruel manslayer ways. The only problem is that the young girl has a knack for constantly getting herself into trouble. She is weak and unable to defend herself in combat, a fact she is well aware of and would like to change. Nevertheless, she repeatedly puts herself in danger, making life a true ordeal for Shujiro. Of course, the plot requires such a character, but the girl's portrayal is somewhat overdone; at a certain point, she simply infuriates the audience. Fortunately, this doesn't detract from the successful depiction of Shujiro's paternal feelings for her. There are also countless other characters, all of whom are interesting. Some receive more screen time, while others, like the indigenous Ainu archer played by Shota Sometani ("Parasyte"), unfortunately receive less.

This could still change, though, as the series only comprises six episodes, and by the fifth, we realize that it's impossible to cover dozens of outstanding sword fights in the final episode, especially since the grand conspiracy hasn't yet been crushed and we're instead treated to flashbacks. No, we're not getting a finished story, but rather the first chapter. So there are still plenty of opportunities to gain more insight into the other characters. The drama and interpersonal relationships are so well-crafted that you'll genuinely want more from that in the future. Action fans can also look forward to intense and well-choreographed sword fights. Special praise goes to lead actor Junichi Okada (who also serves as producer and creative director), who appears to perform some of the breakneck action scenes himself, giving them his all. I was never a big fan of his, but that changed with "Hell Dogs", and this time he seems to have found a role that fits him perfectly. Alongside all the fascinating characters portrayed by well-known actors, it ultimately falls to him to remain the center of the story and not be overshadowed by others – and he succeeds. "Last Samurai Standing" is somewhat lacking in innovation, as I hope has become clear, but anyone looking for a series with hard-hitting samurai action, anime influences, and surprisingly poignant drama will find it here.

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