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.

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 protagonist is Junichi Okada, who also serves as producer and action choreographer. Michihito Fujii is its director. 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] Cast is as follows: Junichi Okada as 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]

References

1. 今村翔吾氏、「イクサガミ」のコミカライズ連載開始　週刊漫画誌「モーニング」で. sanspo.com (in Japanese). December 8, 2022. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
2. 【新連載】 デスゲーム╳明治時代╳サムライ！　直木賞作家・今村翔吾の歴史大作『イクサガミ』、衝撃のコミカライズが本日始動. Morning (in Japanese). Kodansha. December 8, 2022. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
3. デスゲーム×明治時代、今村翔吾の歴史大作「イクサガミ」コミカライズがモーニングで. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 8, 2022. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
4. デスゲーム×明治時代、今村翔吾の歴史大作「イクサガミ」コミカライズがモーニングで. news.mynavi.jp (in Japanese). December 8, 2022. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
5. 【4月21日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 21, 2023. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
6. イクサガミ（４） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
7. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (August 25, 2024). "Kodansha USA Licenses Attack on Titan FLY, Last Samurai Standing, Manchuria Opium Squad, More". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
8. イクサガミ（１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
9. イクサガミ（２） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
10. イクサガミ（３） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
11. "Netflix Announces Production of 'Last Samurai Standing': An Epic Battle Royale for Survival in Historic Japan". Netflix (About) official page. April 18, 2024. Archived from the original on February 4, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
12. "Netflix『イクサガミ』岡田准一を囲む豪華俳優陣14名を発表！ ファーストルックも公開". Pia (in Japanese). February 4, 2025. Archived from the original on February 4, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
13. "'Last Samurai Standing' Unveils 14 New Cast Members Ahead of November Debut". Netflix (About) official site. February 3, 2025. Archived from the original on February 4, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
14. Nakano, Aki (May 26, 2023). 東海道中で繰り広げられるデスゲーム！　明治初期にあがく侍の生きざま死にざま. Kodansha Comic Plus (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
15. 直木賞作家・今村翔吾が描く“明治時代のデスゲーム”がマンガ化！ 292人の猛者が死闘を繰り広げながら東京を目指す歴史大作『イクサガミ』. Da Vinci News (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. December 25, 2023. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.

External links

• Ikusagami official website at Morning (in Japanese)
• Ikusagami official website at Comic Days (in Japanese)
• Last Samurai Standing (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia