

A poor teenager who gets his kicks out of small-time gambling and petty vandalism. Seems like an unassuming loser but is surprisingly adept at gambling when his life’s on the line.

The loan shark who Kaiji’s former coworker owes money. Convinces Kaiji to board the Espoir.

The sponsor of the Espoir’s underground gambling tournament.
After getting roped into a former coworker’s debt as his cosigner, Kaiji Ito finds himself stuck with an astronomical amount of debt. The loan shark Endo gives him one last chance – get onboard the gambling boat Espoir and win his freedom back by facing aimless young people in the same situation as him. There’s just one problem – a fate worse than death awaits those who lose on the Espoir.



© NOBUYUKI FUKUMOTO / Fukumoto Production/highstone, Inc.