Kaiji Ultimate Survivor - The ultimate survival and psychological warfare

Gyakkyo Burai Kaiji Ultimate Survivor

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

October 3, 2007 - April 2, 2008 Nippon Television October 2, 2007 - April 1, 2008 (Episodes 1-26) Every Tuesday 24:59-25:29

■Broadcasting station

NTV

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 26

■Original Story

Nobuyuki Fukumoto (serialized in Kodansha's "Young Magazine")

■ Director

Yuzo Sato

■ Production

Animation production: Madhouse Production copyright: Nippon Television Network, DN Dream Partners, VAP, Madhouse

■Works

©Nobuyuki Fukumoto/Kodansha, VAP, Madhouse, NTV, DN Dream Partners

■ Story

A dense and profound entertainment that surpasses the masterpiece "Akagi"!

Kaiji Ito (Kaiji) is a young man living a self-indulgent life. One day, a friend for whom Kaiji acted as guarantor runs away, and a man calling himself Endo comes to collect the debt. The amount is 3.85 million yen. Endo tempts Kaiji by saying, "Here's your chance to win a lot of money." Kaiji boards a ship that hosts a gambling cruise for "losers" who are in debt...!

*Quoted from Bandai Channel

■Explanation

A dense and profound entertainment that surpasses the masterpiece "Akagi"!

The original work is by Nobuyuki Fukumoto, who also wrote the popular comic "Akagi," which features a genius mahjong substitute player as the main character.

Kaiji, which began serialization in Young Magazine in 1996, quickly became a popular work representing the magazine and won the Kodansha Manga Award in 1998!

This is a rare award-winning work that has not yet been adapted for television.

Like "Akagi," this work unfolds a drama permeated with passionate themes such as "What do people think when they are cornered?", "The portrayal of humans in desperate situations", "The exhilaration of a sudden reversal", and "Thinking and psychological warfare that go beyond human limits in order to attract luck".

■Cast

・Ito Kaiji/Hagiwara Masato/Tonegawa Yukio/Hakuryu/Endo/Uchida Naoya/Furuhata/Matsumoto Yasunori/Ando/Sakurai Toshiharu/Ishida/Ienaka Hiroshi/Funai/Ishikawa Hideo/Kitami/Yao Kazuki/Sahara/Komoto Masahiro/Narration/Tachiki Fumihiko/Hyodo Kazutaka/Tsukayama Masatane

■ Main staff

・Original story by Nobuyuki Fukumoto (serialized in Kodansha's Young Magazine)
・Planning: Seiji Okuda, Hiroshi Hirayama, Masao Maruyama ・Producer: Toshio Nakatani, Manabu Tamura ・Director: Yuzo Sato ・Series Composition: Hideo Takayashiki ・Character Design: Haruhito Takada ・Art Director: Norihiko Yokomatsu ・Directors of Photography: OH SEONG HA, LEE SUK BUM
Color design: Harue Ohno Editing: Satoshi Terauchi Music: Hideki Taniuchi Sound director: Yasunori Honda Sound recording: Chika Abe Sound effects: Takuya Hasegawa (Soundbox)
・Recording studio: Tabac ・Sound production: Arts Pro, Akira Shoji ・Planning cooperation: Kodansha "Young Magazine" editorial department ・Animation production: Madhouse ・Production copyright: Nippon Television, DN Dream Partners, VAP, Madhouse

■ Main Characters

・Ito Kaiji After graduating from high school and moving to Tokyo, he spent his days in a self-indulgent manner without working, but when he became a guarantor for the debts of his part-time coworker Furuhata, he ended up having to pay them off. In order to repay the debt, he accepted Endo's invitation and entered the dangerous world of gambling. In a peaceful environment, he is just a good-for-nothing, but when placed in an extreme situation where his life is at stake, he displays extraordinary courage and a talent for gambling. No matter what the situation, he would never betray those he trusted. He also has a very kind personality that cannot be completely ruthless, but this often backfires and he is betrayed by others.
Tonegawa Yukio is an executive at Teiai, Japan's largest financial group. He is the hall master of the gambling ship Espoir. Later, he faces Kaiji directly at the command of Chairman Hyoudou. Although he is a cunning man with a keen sense of life, he also understands the microcosm of society, uttering famous lines such as "Money is more important than life" and "Adults don't answer questions. This is the basic principle."
・Endo is the president of the financial company and a yakuza. He appears before Kaiji to collect a debt and invites him to the gambling ship "Espoir". He tells Kaiji to get a second chance at life, but deep down he is a sinister and untrustworthy man.
Hyoudou Kazutaka is the head of the Teiai Group. He is a money-grubber with huge assets. He is the organizer of numerous gambling events, including the Limited Rock-Paper-Scissors event on the Espoir, and is Kaiji's most detestable opponent. He calls himself the "King" and is a "man of great luck," with powers that surpass those of ordinary people in every aspect.

■Subtitle

・bet.1／Departure (2007/10/02)
・bet.2／Knockout(2007/10/09)
・bet.3／Game(2007/10/16)
・bet.4/Bankruptcy (2007/10/23)
・bet.5／Death (2007/10/30)
・bet.6/Rise and Fall (2007/11/06)
・bet.7／Kappa(2007/11/13)
・bet.8/Hammer(2007/11/20)
・bet.9/Rebirth (2007/11/27)
・bet.10／Messenger(2007/12/04)
・bet.11／Kyoen (2007/12/11)
・bet.12/Fall (2007/12/18)
・bet.13／Monster(2007/12/25)
・bet.14/Ghost (2008/01/08)
・bet.15/Tenku (2008/01/15)
・bet.16/Anger(2008/01/22)
・bet.17/Conversation (2008/01/29)
・bet.18／Toyed with(2008/02/05)
・bet.19/Limit(2008/02/12)
・bet.20/Kijin (2008/02/19)
・bet.21/Kokoro(2008/02/26)
・bet.22／Execution(2008/03/04)
・bet.23/Evil Way (2008/03/11)
・bet.24/Conditions(2008/03/18)
・bet.25／Pale(2008/03/25)
・bet.26/Afterglow (2008/04/01)

■ Related works

・Kaiji: The Unfaithful

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・The future is in our hands・Lyrics by Masatoshi Mashima・Music by Masatoshi Mashima・Singer by Kaiji with Red Bon Chilies

・ED1
・Requiem for Losers ・Lyrics by Hakuryu ・Music by Hakuryu ・Singer by Hakuryu

Gyakkyo Burai Kaiji Ultimate Survivor - Review and Recommendation of Gyakkyo Burai Kaiji Ultimate Survivor

"Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor" is an anime series based on the manga of the same name by Nobuyuki Fukumoto, and was broadcast on Nippon Television from 2007 to 2008. The series captivated viewers with its story that delved deeply into gambling and human psychology, and its suspenseful plot. Below, we will provide a detailed review and recommendation of the series.

Story and Themes

The story of "Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji Ultimate Survivor" is about the protagonist Kaiji Ito (Kaiji), who enters the world of gambling to repay his debts and overcomes various challenges. While faithfully recreating the dense storyline of the original manga, the unique expressiveness of anime adds even more depth to the story.

The theme of this work begins with the question, "What do people think about when they are cornered?" The way Kaiji faces himself and grows through gambling deeply moves the audience. The work also succeeds in drawing viewers in by depicting the thrill and excitement of gambling, such as the "exhilaration of a sudden reversal" and the "psychological battle to attract luck."

character

The main character, Kaiji, is often seen as a loser in a peaceful environment, but when placed in an extreme situation, he displays incredible courage and a talent for gambling. His humanity and growth are depicted, making viewers empathize with him and want to root for him. The characters surrounding Kaiji are also unique, and the antagonists, such as Tonegawa Yukio, Endo, and Hyoudou Kazutaka, have a particularly strong presence. The drama woven by these characters leaves a strong impression on viewers.

Production and Music

Director Yuzo Sato has paid particular attention to detail in his direction to recreate the tension of the original work in the anime. The gambling scenes in particular are well-executed, with skillful camerawork and use of color that draws the viewer in. Hideki Taniuchi's music is also an important element in heightening the tension of the story. The opening theme, "The Future is in Our Hands," and the ending theme, "Requiem for Losers," further enhance the atmosphere of the work.

Viewers' reactions

"Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor" has been highly praised since it was first broadcast, and many viewers have praised the scenes depicting gambling and psychological warfare in particular. In addition, fans of the original work have praised it, saying that the anime adaptation has allowed them to enjoy the work from a new perspective. Furthermore, because it deals with social themes, it has gained support from a wide range of age groups.

Recommendation

"Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor" is highly recommended not only for those who like gambling and psychological warfare, but also for those who are interested in human drama and social themes. In particular, those who have never read the original manga will find new discoveries by starting with the anime. Also, by watching the sequel "Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Hakairoku-hen", you can enjoy the world of Kaiji even more deeply.

This work will not only deeply move and excite the viewer, but also provide an opportunity to reexamine your own life and values.