Shiga: Giant Model of Junichi Okada from ‘Ikusagami’ Displayed at Temple in Otsu

The Yomiuri Shimbun

12:30 JST, March 28, 2026

OTSU — A giant model of the protagonist played by actor Junichi Okada in a period drama series has been installed at Saikyoji temple in Otsu.

The drama “Ikusagami” (“Last Samurai Standing”) is available on streaming platform Netflix. Part of the series’ filming took place at Saikyoji.

“Ikusagami” depicts samurai following the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate, who are banned from carrying swords and battling for a large cash prize. The drama is an adaptation of a novel written by Otsu-based author Shogo Imamura.

Okada serves as lead actor, producer and action choreographer. The drama features swordfights and intense action sequences.

The giant model designed to resemble protagonist Shujiro Saga is about 2.8 meters tall. At the time of the series releasing on Netflix, it was placed on a promotional vehicle that traveled from Kyoto to Tokyo before being installed in the temple’s parking lot on Feb. 25.

Some visitors to the temple, seemingly stunned by the size of the model, were seen taking photos with their smartphone.

The temple will open its kyakuden guest hall, an Important Cultural Property, which was used for filming, to the public from April 25 to May 10 during the Golden Week holidays.