Netflix has announced fourteen more cast members of Last Samurai Standing, its highly-anticipated new samurai warrior drama series from Japan.
Set in 1878 during Japan’s Meiji period, when the age of the samurai was coming to an end, Last Samurai Standing sees 292 fallen samurais gather at nightfall at Tenryuji Temple, a historical hub and spiritual sanctuary in Kyoto. They have been lured here by the promise of a huge cash prize. Only one of them can claim it, and only if they survive the intense life-and-death game they must play for a shot at the money.
The battle begins at Tenryuji Temple and ends in Tokyo, and the rules are simple: The person who steals the wooden tags distributed to each of the skilled warriors and reaches Tokyo will win the prize money: 100 billion yen. (Roughly US$660 million in today’s value.)
Amongst the competitors is Shujiro Saga, who enters the deadly game with one goal: to save his ailing wife and child.
Starring as Shujiro Saga is Junichi Okada (Hard Days, Hell Dogs), who was previously announced as the series’ lead actor and action choreographer, as well as being a first-time producer.
Playing Shujiro’s wife, Shino, is Riho Yoshioka (House of Ninjas), with Yumia Fujisaki (The Parades) playing Futaba Katsuki, a young girl caught in the desperate battle. Shujiro’s sworn allies — Iroha Kinugasa, Shikura Adashino, and Sansuke Gion — are portrayed by Kaya Kiyohara (Switched), Taichi Saotome (Fermat’s Cuisine), and Yuya Endo (Million yen Women), respectively.
The cast also includes: Masahiro Higashide (The Confidence Man JP) as former Iga clan ninja Kyojin Tsuge; Shota Sometani (Tokyo Swindlers) as Ainu archer Kocha Kamuy; Hiroshi Tamaki (Golden Kamuy) as the longsword-wielding noble guardian, Ukyo Kikuomi; Takayuki Yamada (The Naked Director) as Kyoto police officer Jinbe Ando; Jyo Kairi (Shoplifters) as Shinjiro Sayama, a young man burdened by debt; Wataru Ichinose (Sanctuary) as the imposing Raizo Tachibana; Hideaki Ito (Tokyo Vice) as the notoriously vicious Bukotsu Kanjiya, who has a history with Shujiro; and Yasushi Fuchikami (The Days) and Kazunari Ninomiya (Vivant) as Sakura and Enju, respectively, the organizers of the battle royale.
Based on the “Ikusagami” (“Last Samurai Standing”) book series by historical novelist and Naoki Prize winner Shogo Imamura, the series is directed by Michihito Fujii (The Journalist), Kento Yamaguchi (Avalanche), and Toru Yamamoto (Tokyo Love Story), and produced by Kosuke Oshida (City Hunter).
Last Samurai Standing is set to premiere globally this November (date tba).
Stay tuned for updates.
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