Last Samurai Standing

Last Samurai Standing (Japanese: イクサガミ, Hepburn: Ikusagami, "God of War") is a Japanese manga series adapted from the novel of the same name written by Shogo Imamura and illustrated by Katsumi Tatsuzawa [ja]. It has been serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Morning since December 2022, with its chapters collected in four tankōbon volumes as of May 2024. A Live-action TV series is expected to release on Netflix from November 2025.

Last Samurai Standing
First tankōbon volume cover
イクサガミ (Ikusagami)
Genre	Action[1] Historical[2][3]
Manga
Written by	Shogo Imamura
Illustrated by	Katsumi Tatsuzawa [ja]
Published by	Kodansha
English publisher	NA: Kodansha USA
Imprint	Morning KC
Magazine	Morning
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	December 8, 2022 – present
Volumes	4

Media

Manga

Originally written by Shogo Imamura based on his Ikusagami novel and illustrated by Katsumi Tatsuzawa [ja], Last Samurai Standing started in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Morning on December 8, 2022.^[2][3][4] Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on April 21, 2023.^[5] As of May 22, 2024, four volumes have been released.^[6]

In North America, the manga has been licensed for English release by Kodansha USA.^[7]

Volumes

No.	Release date	ISBN
1	April 21, 2023[8]	978-4-06-531334-3
2	July 21, 2023[9]	978-4-06-532393-9
3	December 21, 2023[10]	978-4-06-534013-4
4	May 22, 2024[6]	978-4-06-535583-1

Live-action drama

Netflix has announced the production of a Last Samurai Standing series. Its starred Junichi Okada, who also serves as co-executive producer and action choreographer. Michihito Fujii and Kento Yamaguchi are served as writer and director, with Office Shouroku served as production company. About his multi-role in the drama, Okada said “When Netflix executive producer Mr. Takahashi reached out to me, I was still acting in historical dramas. Back then, I was already thinking of ways to make this genre a hit, not just in Japan, but all over the world. I saw their potential for action, drama, social commentary, and entertainment, but I knew they could be taken further. That’s when I came across Imamura’s novel. It was written in a way that modern audiences could enjoy, and I was excited about the idea of adapting it”.^[11] The series is scheduled to start streaming in November 2025.^[12] with an ensemble cast are announced: Junichi Okada as protagonist Shujiro Saga; Riho Yoshioka as Shujiro's wife, Shino; Yumia Fujisaki [ja] as Futaba Katsuki; Kaya Kiyohara as Iroha Kinugasa; Taichi Saotome as Shikura Adashino; Yuya Endo as Sansuke Gion; Masahiro Higashide as Kyojin Tsuge; Shota Sometani as Kocha Kamuy; Hiroshi Tamaki as Ukyo Kikuomi; Takayuki Yamada as Jinbe Ando; Kairi Jo as Shinjiro Sayama; Wataru Ichinose [ja] as Raizo Tachibana; Hideaki Itō as Bukotsu Kanjiya; Yasushi Fuchikami [ja] as Sakura; and Enju, played by Kazunari Ninomiya.^[13]

Reception

Aki Nakano of Kodansha Comic Plus finds the Last Samurai Standing manga adaptation of Shōgo Imamura's novel a gruesome, vividly rendered death game set in the chaotic early Meiji period, with a great sense of pacing and mesmerizing characters.^[14] Zen Narita, in a review for Da Vinci News, praised Katsumi Tatsuzawa's manga art, describing them as "moment-to-moment", facial expressions and physical movements of the characters in battle as "dynamic and enjoyable."^[15]