Last Samurai Standing parents' guide: What you should know before letting your kids watch the Netflix historical drama

Last Samurai Standing came to Netflix on November 13, 2025.

The show takes you to old Japan in the late 1800s, during the Meiji era. Shujiro Saga is the main character, played by Junichi Okada. Shujiro was once a strong samurai. Now he is poor and trying to care for his sick wife and child.

One day, 292 fighters are forced into a deadly game at Tenryū-ji Temple in Kyoto. Each fighter gets a small wooden tag. To win, they must take tags from others and reach Tokyo. The prize is ¥100 billion.

The show mixes history, significant fights, strong emotions, and backstabbing between individuals. It is based on a book called Ikusagami by Shōgo Imamura.

But the show has lots of violence and some heavy topics, so it is not suitable for kids. We will look at these parts next.

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Is Last Samurai Standing suitable for kids?

Last Samurai Standing is rated TV-MA, which means only adults should watch it. Cine Parenting advises that kids under 12 should not watch it at all. Most younger teens (ages 13–15) may also find it too scary and too much. Older teens (16–17) can watch it, but it is better if a parent/ guardian is with them.

Parents/ guardians should try to watch the show, or even just the trailer, before their kids do. That way, they can talk about things like the Meiji Restoration, why the samurai are disappearing, and the big ideas of survival, honor, and violence.

What parents should know about Last Samurai Standing

Violence & gore: The show has many sword fights, cut-off heads, and lots of blood. Nearly 300 fighters are in a battle where almost everyone dies. The danger never stops.

Mature themes: The show is not just about fighting. It talks about despair, honor, and family love. Japan is changing fast, and samurai are losing their place. Meanwhile, Shujiro has PTSD. Many fighters join the game because they are very poor or need money for their families.

Language, smoking & drinking: There is some foul language in tense moments. Some characters even smoke or drink alcohol.

Sexual content: There are no major explicit scenes, but there are a few moments of sexual harassment, rude comments, and mentions of sexual violence.

Death & scary moments: People die often, sometimes in very brutal ways. Many scenes can be scary or intense.

History & social ideas: The unfolding of the storyline is set in the time of Japan's Meiji period. It portrays the transition of the country into the modern world and, at the same time, the extinction of the samurai lifestyle. However, among the negatives, the themes of loyalty, family, and honor are still displayed positively.

Last Samurai Standing is a visual treat, a captivating story, and full of action and history. But it also contains very violent scenes and deals with difficult themes. Therefore, it is suitable for no less than older teenagers or adults.

In case of difficulty deciding if your child will be able to see all that, you could either see it together or discuss the difficult parts afterwards. This would support them in making sense of the plot, and they will be able to ask questions if any.

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What is Last Samurai Standing about?

The story of Last Samurai Standing takes place in Japan in the late 1800s. This time is called the Meiji era, when the samurai were losing their power. The show has a deadly game, and the prize for the last winner is ¥100 billion. This is a huge amount of money for the samurai class, and hence, many people are willing to risk their lives.

The main hero is Shujiro Saga. He was once a samurai who joined the game to help his sick wife and child. During the game, he meets new people. One is Futaba Katsuki, a young fighter. One is Iroha Kinugasa, his sister-in-law. There is also Kyojin Tsuge, a ninja. And Kocha Kamui, an archer.

Last Samurai Standing is not only about fights. There is a big secret plan behind the game. There are also political problems and social changes in Japan.

The story comes from a book called Ikusagami by Shogo Imamura. Some parts feel real, but the game and many people in it are made up. At the end, Shujiro fights Bukotsu. They fight hard, and Shujiro wins. Bukotsu dies and says he finally feels happy.

Then Shujiro learns the truth. Kawaji, a strong leader, made the deadly game. He wants to destroy the samurai class and wants more power in the government.

Kyojin betrays Shujiro. He sends Gentosai, an old master, to fight Shujiro’s siblings. The siblings live, and they decide to work together to stop Gentosai.

Shujiro then gets a message. It asks him to come to Tokyo. This means someone there wants to help him fight Kawaji. Last Samurai Standing ends with a note saying this is only “Chapter One.” This means more battles and more story will come in the future, in a potential Season 2.