Netflix launched Last Samurai Standing on November 13, 2025, and it immediately drew a great amount of attention due to its historical drama and survival thriller features. Written by Shogo Imamura, Ikusagami (Last Samurai Standing) tells the story of 292 samurai competing in a high-stakes, government-sanctioned "Kodoku" survival game for 100 billion yen (~$650 million).The series starred Junichi Okada as Shujiro Saga, and one of the directors was Michihito Fujii. The show provided a very confined storyline spread over six episodes, accompanied by a feeling of tension and suspense. While Netflix hasn't officially announced the sequel season of the series to date, fans are eager for it to happen comes many questions from Season 1 remain unanswered.The show opened up a intriguing world for viewers: a life-taking struggle for power, a picturesque historical setting, and martial arts experts whose lives are tied to one enormous treasure. The series has left several thematic and structural questions wide open on purpose, from the reason for the tournament to wider consequences due to the deaths of hundreds of samurai.All those gaps were not errors but rather conscious openings for more stories.Last Samurai Standing Season 2 needs to happen to address these 5 burning questions from the first chapter1. Why was the Kodoku Tournament sanctioned at this moment in history in Last Samurai Standing?One of the most interesting aspects of Season 1 is how and when the Kodoku death match takes place. The series places the competition in a historical environment, but why this time period is chosen is never explained. Audiences are left to ponder several things that go unanswered:Was this tournament part of a recurring historical tradition or a one-off event?What are the political, social, or cultural motives that led the organizers to hold such a mega contest?How did society, the authority figures, or regional powers perceive this event?Because Season 1 focuses on the participants and the deadly game itself, these broader world-building questions remain open. A second season would have the opportunity to add context and make it much clearer what societal and historical factors led to the Kodoku competition.2. What is the long-term purpose of choosing a single "Last Samurai" in Last Samurai Standing?The first season of the program lays out the basic rules: a total of 292 samurai are admitted into the contest, and eventually only one is left who wins, thus receiving the huge prize of 100 billion yen. However, the series merely hints at the philosophical or practical reasons for such a decision without going into details.Netflix Tudum confirms the setup of the game but does not describe why a single winner is picked out or what meaning this survivor possesses. Several questions consequently arise:Why is only one participant bound to survive, and why such an enormous prize?Is it expected that the winner will have political, social, or symbolic influence after the tournament?Does this selection process tie into broader historical or cultural traditions?These are foundational questions that leave the narrative partially open-ended. Season 2 of Last Samurai Standing could provide clarity on the long-term purpose of the design of the tournament and explain what happens to the survivors beyond winning the prize.3. Are the tournament organizers really neutral in Last Samurai Standing?Season 1 clearly presents the rules of the competition, methods of elimination, and extreme dangers that participants face. However, nothing is explained with regard to the role or transparency of the tournament organizers. The series never states:Who exactly funds and manages this Kodoku tournament?Whether rules can be bent or manipulated for particular outcomes.How impartiality is maintained throughout the competition.The organizers are, for the most part, invisible, making this one of the biggest questions left unanswered by the first season. A second season might delve into the perspective of those running the tournament, whether the game is completely fair, and how the outcome of survival could be influenced externally.4. What happens to society after eliminating hundreds of samurai in Last Samurai Standing?One angle that Season 1 introduces, but doesn't really develop, is the broader societal implications of the Kodoku tournament. Almost 300 samurai taken out in one event. These are individuals who were trained to be fighters, but could also have some political, economic, and cultural influence.This loss opens up so many more questions:How do the clans, regions, or governing bodies respond to such huge losses?What are the economic or power shifts caused by the elimination of so many established warriors?How, if at all, do ordinary citizens perceive the tournament?By expanding on these repercussions, Season 2 of Last Samurai Standing could go even further in detailing a sense of the world its cast exists within, beyond the isolated survival game and into the greater social and historical context.5. Does Shujiro Saga's story conclude with the tournament, or is it meant to expand in Last Samurai Standing?The first season centers on Shujiro Saga, who is portrayed by Junichi Okada, and it is through his perspective that a great portion of the narrative of this season is developed. While the series provides a reliable insight into his survival tactics and his ability to overcome competition, it does not make it clear what happens to his character.The official synopses and critiques do not give any hints about the closure of his trip in the six episodes or whether it is meant to be a prolonged one. This raises some key considerations for a second season:Does Shujiro's character grow beyond the arena and into the world outside the tournament?Are there unresolved personal or thematic arcs that Season 1 intentionally left open?Is it possible that his experiences within the Kodoku game will have wider implications for society or culture shown throughout this series?By exploring these elements, a second season would bring closure or continuation for the central character and, by extension, afford the audience a more profound connection to the story.Although Netflix has not renewed the series for Season 2, the plot holes of Season 1 are just too big to remain ignored. The need for Season 2 for Last Samurai Standing is not about creating new plots but merely continuing from where the first season has left off: a massive survival competition, ambiguous historical context, its singular winner with an unknown significance, and a central character whose journey could span far beyond the tournament arena.The five questions outlined here, the timing of the Kodoku tournament, the purpose of a single winner, impartiality of organizers, societal impact, and Shujiro Saga's future, are all directly rooted in what Season 1 presented. Until Netflix makes an official announcement about a follow-up season, these questions define the reason why audiences feel that a second season is not just likely but necessary.Also read: 5 reasons why Last Samurai Standing reminds us of Squid Game