How many episodes are in Song of the Samurai?

Song of the Samurai has 6 episodes in this listed season.

When does Song of the Samurai premiere?

Song of the Samurai premieres on 2026-05-09.

Is Song of the Samurai a new series?

Song of the Samurai is a new series (Season 1).

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Song of the Samurai(2026)

Also known as Chiruran: Shinsengumi Chinkon-ka • ちるらん新撰組鎮魂歌江戸青春篇 • ちるらん新撰組鎮魂歌～京都決戦篇～

Archived · TBS

15+6 eps

S01

Action & AdventureActionDrama

ON AIR: MAY 9Season 1Archived listing

What to Expect

PremiereLens read

Fast, bloody sword fights give Song of the Samurai its force, with clashes in narrow streets and at night turning the historical setting into a place of immediate physical danger. The action moves at a high-energy pace, while fiery speeches and honorable last stands give the battles a heroic, tragic charge. Graphic violence makes the cost of those convictions visible.

Hijikata’s bonds with his fellow swordsmen are tested by rivalry, loyalty, and the loss of comrades one by one. These men accept the prospect of short lives, but that resolve does not erase the sorrow of surviving each other. A single sweeping story arc carries their brotherhood through the fighting, with grief accumulating alongside the adrenaline.

Best for

bloody sword fights, tragic samurai drama and Action & Adventure

Story lane

Action & Adventure and Action

Commitment

Season 1 · 6 episodes

Where

TBS

Official Premise

The Japanese drama series "Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem," internationally titled "Song of the Samurai," follows Toshizo Hijikata and the warriors of the Shinsengumi as they fight through the violent final years of the Edo period. Blending historical drama with intense "Japanese Sword Action," the series depicts the bonds, rivalries, and fiery lives of men who chose to burn brightly and fall with honor.

Watch Next If This Is Your Lane

Start with the closest match, then check out two more shows with a similar feel, pace, mood, or theme.

Last Samurai Standing

Netflix • Nov 13, 2025

DramaAction

In 1878, 292 samurai gather for a battle royale lured by a 100 thousand yen prize. Wooden tags are given; the last survivor reaching Tokyo wins. Shujiro Saga participates to save his sick family. A dangerous game of survival unfolds.

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Strongest Match

Song of the Samurai makes sword fighting feel fierce and personal, with comradeship tested in bloody clashes and every victory shadowed by loss. Last Samurai Standing brings that same hard-edged period action, as desperate fighters face brutal duels and uneasy alliances; its survival contest is more relentless and sprawling.

The Murky Stream

Disney+ • Sep 26, 2025

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Takryu tells the story of a man who was a gangster who would become a legend in Joseon. He was known as a gangster at Han River's Mapo Port and eventually became a Joseon legend because of his body and skills.

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Why this pick

Song of the Samurai pairs forceful historical action with loyalty among fighters, making each clash feel tied to the people at risk. The Murky Stream offers the same bruising swordplay and crew loyalty, moving from rough river docks toward palace halls with more swagger and a faster rise-to-power story.

The Witcher

Netflix • Oct 30, 2025

DramaAction

Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.

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Why this pick

Song of the Samurai makes danger immediate through fast, bloody sword fights and a hero surrounded by comrades he may lose. The Witcher offers similarly rough combat and a grim world where survival comes at a cost, but trades historical rivalries for monster hunts, dark humor, and fantasy creatures.

Want the bigger picture?

Get recommendations from a show you love See 3 more shows like Song of the Samurai

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