Netflix’s Last Samurai Standing Origins Lie in Popular Japanese Novels, Not Manga
Los Angeles, CA – The new action-drama Last samurai Standing, currently streaming on Netflix, is drawing viewers in with its intense fight choreography and historical setting. However, the series isn’t based on a manga as some may assume; it’s a live-action adaptation of the novels Ikusagami (“the god of war”) by acclaimed Japanese author Shogo Imamura.
The adaptation was spearheaded by actor Junichi Okada, who stars as the lead and also served as a producer and action director on the six-episode series. Okada envisioned a way to popularize the historical action genre globally and found the source material in Imamura’s work, believing it possessed the potential for compelling action, drama, and social commentary that would resonate with modern audiences. “I was thinking about ways to make this genre popular, not only in Japan, but around the world,” Okada stated on Netflix’s promotional website. ”I saw a lot of potential in terms of action, drama, social commentary and entertainment, but I knew we could go even further.”
Imamura himself was enthusiastic about the project, revealing he had Okada in mind while writing the Ikusagami novels. “I wrote Ikusagami with the goal of creating a historical novel that could be enjoyed worldwide,” Imamura shared on the platform. “When Netflix approached me, I was delighted.” Last Samurai Standing is now available for exclusive streaming on Netflix, alongside a wide range of other series.