Song of the Samurai poster

Song of the Samurai (2026)

Action · Drama

A live-action adaptation that translates this deep legacy to the screen. Set in Kyoto at the end of the Edo period, the story depicts the intense and passionate lives of the Shinsengumi - the iconic samurai force that defended Kyoto in the final years of Japan's shogunate - through spectacular action and a bold interpretation based on historical facts. The story follows street brawler Toshizo Hijikata (Yuki Yamada), who finds a new kind of family in Isami Kondo and Soji Okita. Hijikata and his comrades in the Shinsengumi forge a bond of loyalty - tested by betrayal, illness, and war - as they fight not only their enemies but their own ideals.

IMDb rating
8.1 (519 votes)
Seasons
1
Streaming (US)
HBO Max
Language
JA
Type
TV series

Ratings refreshed Jul 3, 2026 · 1 season indexed

Cast

Seasons

Season 1 (2026)

8.79 avg 8 episodes 8.6 → 8.8 63 min avg

Ep 1: 8.6 · 126 votesEp 2: 8.6 · 108 votesEp 3: 8.7 · 86 votesEp 4: 9.2 · 69 votesEp 5: 9.2 · 68 votesEp 6: 8.4 · 37 votesEp 7: 8.8 · 30 votesEp 8: 8.8 · 28 votes
Season 1 episodes — IMDb ratings
#TitleRatingVotes
1The Soul of Baragaki, Burning with Friends8.6126
2Farewell Youth, Meet the Demon8.6108
3Blood Between Brothers8.786
4The Broken Code9.269
5The Death Pillar9.268
6Light and Shadow8.437
7Path of Sacrifice8.830
8Demons End, Rising Thunder8.828