The 950-year legacy of the samurai is shattered in a single monumental battle, as the events of the Boshin War usher in a era where a breed of warriors vanishes into history. Episode 1 of Last Samurai Standing opens at the cusp of this momentous shift, where Shujiro, a proud samurai, slices through enemy soldiers with the ease of a hot knife through butter. His side's victory is signaled by the raising of the white smoke, but it is short-lived. Cannon fire suddenly echoes across the battlefield, catching the samurai completely unaware. Shujiro hides in a trench, screaming for the violence to stop as the battlefield is engulfed in smoke.
The cannon fire mercifully ceases, and Shujiro staggers out, standing tall and alone. He witnesses the true extent of the carnage firsthand, as bodies litter the floor like a macabre mosaic. This fear drives Shujiro from his slumber and into a new reality where he is no longer a samurai but is haunted by the memories of his tainted past.
The story picks up a decade later, with Shujiro living in Fuchu, Kanagawa. The government's new modernization policies have caused hardship for many across the nation, and samurai have been reclassified as Shizoku, stripped of their privileges and employment. Shujiro is one of those who has suffered greatly, and to make matters worse, his wife Shino is gravely ill. A cholera outbreak has devastated the community, and among those affected, Shujiro's youngest daughter Rin is not doing well either. Shujiro's youngest son Toya seems to be doing okay for now, but it is brutal and tough to watch him navigate this new world without his father's guidance.
For two years, swords have been banished from the land, and Shujiro finds himself on his knees, imploring a local merchant for any means to alleviate his family's dire straits. But an opportunity presents itself when Shujiro catches sight of a flyer advertising a gathering at Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto with a 100,000 yen prize—a sum that could feed his family for years to come. He senses an opportunity in his own skillset, and with Rin's passing, he is driven to improve their situation.
As Shujiro arrives in Kyoto, he is reunited with his old friend Yahei, who provides insights into the contest's undercurrents. The rumors swirling around the mysterious contest make it difficult to discern what is real from what is not.
That night, Shujiro arrives at the temple to find a motley crew of individuals awaiting instructions. He is greeted by Tachikawa, a kind-hearted former samurai with a look of concern etched on his face. It seems that people from all corners of Japan have been lured by the big cash prize.
An official named Enju then appears, exuding wealth and promise as he introduces the games about to commence. The catch is that once they hear the rules, there is no backing out, so they must make their choice swiftly.
A man at the back steps forward, a non-samurai named Ando from the Fourth Division of the Kyoto PD, known as "Swift Wind." He is there to arrest anyone breaking the sword ban. But before Ando can make his move, one of Enju's subordinates, Sakara, steps forward with a massive scar over his face and swiftly beheads Ando with a single slice of his sword. It's clear that Sakara means business.
With this settled, the countdown resumes, and the crowd remains engaged. As Enju unveils the Map of Tokaido Road leading to Tenryuji Temple, the game of Kodoku commences. Tokyo serves as their ultimate destination, and they must traverse seven key areas from the main gates of the Temple to reach the finish line. Each participant needs to accumulate enough points to advance to the next checkpoint, with 2 points required to pass and 30 points needed to reach Tokyo. The catch? They cannot divulge any information about the game outside the Temple, and they have a month to complete their journey.
These participants cannot abandon the game at any point; however, if their wooden tag is removed and ten counts pass without them having accumulated enough points, it counts as a withdrawal. Anyone who breaks the rules and tries to flee will face a gruesome fate. To underscore this point, a few contestants who attempt to leave are shot dead, leaving a chilling reminder of the game's severity.
With 292 participants and each tag worth 1 point, the pressure is palpable. As they rush towards their goals, chaos ensues as swords clash, crossbows fire, and gunshots ring out, creating a nightmarish cacophony that echoes Shujiro's war experiences.
As Shujiro spots Katsuki Futaba, a child in the crowd fighting for survival, he intervenes to save her. Together, they navigate the battlefield, their path made all the more perilous by flaming arrows hitting combatants left and right.
Futaba almost loses her tag, but Shujiro saves her by hiding in the large torch inside the Temple. Unfortunately, a rabble of contestants tips it over, and they find themselves in a pool of water. Luckily, they escape unharmed, but not without encountering some dangerous soldiers who are not playing around. We're sure to see more of these in the series!
Shujiro manages to acquire a few tags to help him and Futaba out, courtesy of a charismatic warrior named Kyojin. Despite having no intention of killing Shujiro, Kyojin warns him that he must get comfortable with killing if he intends to survive in this game, where there is no choice but to press on.
Sakura and Enju watch the carnage unfold outside the Temple. The first to pass through is a man named Kikuomi Ukyo. Last Samurai Standing also seems to have its own VIPs who watch the action unfold from afar, joking that the real fun is yet to begin.
Shujiro and Futaba manage to escape the temple with their tags, but this momentous feat marks merely the dawn of their perilous journey. As the rain relentlessly pelted down, a letter from the mastermind arrives for the VIPs, confirming that this game is a ruse to uncover the samurai and allow them a final lapse into their folly before their story is forever sealed. However, this battle is but a prelude to the hurdles yet to come.
At the bridge that leads into the heart of town, Shujiro is met by an ominous face from his past – Kanjiya Bukotsu. Ten years have passed since they last crossed paths, and their encounter is fraught with animosity.
Bukotsu addresses Shujiro by his moniker, "Kokushu the Manslayer," and as their swords clash, it is revealed that only 128 individuals remain in this deadly game. The tension and the stakes are palpable in every clash of steel, as if each blow carries the weight of a thousand years of unfinished business.
