Back in 2007 there was an underdog amongst the anime midst. Kaiji. An anime about gambling and manly tears and guts. At the end of the first season, titular character Kaiji sunk into more debt. But he’s back for some more gambling. Laying low for a while, he sees his loanshark by accident and begs him to get him into more gambling games, he accepts his request. Kaiji gets chloroformed and is put into some kind of workcamp where he has to work underground digging tunnels paying off his debt. By working hard enough, the people get their pay in perica, some kind of other valuta than yen. They can save up their money and buy a 1 day free pass, which you get back to the world of the normal living people. This is his ticket, Kaiji strifes for this. But there are temptations scattered about. I mean, I couldn’t pass off a beer like any other man. Still, he tries to save up enough cash but he can’t surpress his urges.

This is where the gambling comes into play. Twice a month, the personnel are allowed to play a dice gambling game called Chichinrorin. Obviously Kaiji participates and shows them what he’s made off.  Halfway through the third episode he makes a big comeback, but immediately loses his winnings. Of course, as a viewer, you would always know when to stop. I like this about Kaiji a lot. He’s addicted to gambling, it’s the drive of this series, but also what makes Kaiji sink more and more into the deep abyss of despair.

The pace is phenominal, they’re racing through the first gamble. With a tempo like this, and the ending theme showing a character first appearing the third part of the manga, I really really hope they’re putting the third part of the manga in the anime as well. It’s okay if they don’t, there are always scanlations of the manga to be found. But still, the anime of Kaiji is so unique that they just have to pump more out of this stuff.

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