Netflix is producing its first samurai drama next year as it doubles down on non-English shows
Colin Bentley/FX and Youngkyu Park
- Netflix's first original Japanese drama, "Last Samurai Standing," is set to be released next year.
- The historical drama is set in Japan's Meiji period and features Junichi Okada as the lead actor.
- The popularity of non-English shows has led Netflix to double down on them.
FX's "Shōgun" was one of the year's most successful shows. In 2025, Netflix plans to release its own original Japanese historical drama.
The series, "Last Samurai Standing," was announced in April and showcased during Netflix's first International Showcase on Monday. The historical drama is set in the late 19th century during Japan's Meiji period and is based on Shogo Imamura's novel, "Ikusagami." An exact release has not been announced.
"It is about what would happen if these warriors — the toughest and best in Japan — all of a sudden became common people and had to fight for their lives. Think 'Shōgun' meets 'Squid Game,'" said Kaata Sakamoto, vice president of Japanese content at Netflix, per Nikkei Asia.
Apart from the Japanese show, other non-English series were featured as part of the International Showcase. They included "One Hundred Years of Solitude," a Colombian magical realism drama, and season three of "Alice in Borderland," a Japanese thriller,
"People like the authenticity of local stories," said Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief content officer, per Netflix. "When you try to make something that appeals to everyone, you just end up making something that appeals to no one."
Series like "Last Samurai Standing" highlight the streaming service's efforts to double down on non-English shows — especially as they gain popularity worldwide.
"Shōgun," a historical Japanese series by FX, won a record-breaking 18 Emmys for its first season this year. The series featured Hiroyuki Sanada as producer and lead actor, and around 70% of the dialogue was in Japanese. The series is now streamed on Disney+ and Hulu.
In recent years, Netflix has also produced a stream of non-English shows. These shows are popular among the streaming giant's 282 million subscribers; in their latest engagement report, non-English shows comprised nearly a third of all viewing.
"Today more than 70% of all viewing on Netflix is either with subs or dubs," Bajaria said. "That's not just great for audiences — it's great for creators, too. Because it means their stories can have an even bigger impact in the world."
"Squid Game," in particular, made waves when it was released in 2021. The first season of the South Korean death-game thriller took the top spot on Netflix's Global Top 10 list for nine consecutive weeks. It made history as the first non-English TV series to receive nominations and win Emmy Awards.
Season two of "Squid Game" is set to be released this December.
A representative from Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.