Synopsis
Kaiji Itou is a drifter who routinely steals car emblems and slashes tires. One day, his usual habits are interrupted by a visit from a man in a trench coat. During their conversation, the visitor—who introduces himself as Endou—reveals himself to be a debt collector. He has come about an unpaid loan that Kaiji once co-signed for a coworker, Furuhata Takeshi. The original loan was 300,000 yen, but after Takeshi vanished, the debt fell onto Kaiji. Endou then explains a way to clear the compounded interest, which has ballooned to 3,850,000 yen: Kaiji must board a ship along with others in similar situations. On the ship, the debtors will gamble with borrowed money, with a few winning and the rest sinking deeper into debt, eventually forced into labor to repay what they owe. After some pressure, Kaiji agrees to join the voyage, hoping to wipe out his debt and even earn some extra cash.
Background
In a February 2015 poll conducted by Japanese website Goo Ranking, Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor placed second for "Best Cerebral Anime." The series was released on Blu-ray by Sentai Filmworks on April 20, 2021.
