Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji

Itou Kaiji is a down-on-his-luck individual who frequently engages in petty crimes like stealing car emblems and slashing tires. One day, his routine changes when a man in a trench coat visits him. This visitor, introducing himself as Endou, reveals he's a debt collector. The purpose of his visit is to address an unpaid loan that Kaiji had co-signed for a former coworker named Furuhata Takeshi. Initially, the loan was 30,000 yen, but after Takeshi vanished, the debt fell on Kaiji. Endou informs Kaiji that his current debt, with compounded interest, stands at 3,850,000 yen. However, there's a way to clear this debt: by joining others in a similar predicament on a boat where they would gamble with loaned money. Some participants would win, while others would end up deeper in debt and have to work off their obligations. After some persuasion, Kaiji agrees to board the boat, hoping to clear his debt and potentially make some money. "Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji" won the 22nd Kodansha Manga Award in the General category in 1998, alongside "Souten Kouro." The series has been published digitally in English as "Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji" by Fukumoto Production/Highstone Inc. since May 29, 2015, and in print by Denpa as omnibus volumes starting from December 10, 2019. The manga has inspired multiple Japanese live-action films, a stage play, and video games. Manga author Homura Kawamoto mentioned in an interview that "Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji" influenced the writing of "Kakegurui."