Squid Game has become this year's breakout hit, quickly becoming one of Netflix's most-watched shows of all time. However, there is currently no news of a second season, so those who want more death game action will need to find something else to fill the gap. However, worry not -- Kaiji is the perfect anime for death game fans.
First appearing in the pages of Weekly Young Magazine in February 1996, Kaiji was written and illustrated by Nobuyuki Fukumoto. The series was initially only meant to be a short story. However, after Fukumoto had issues getting the tale down to the required size, he decided to make it a serialized manga. This decision turned out to be an excellent one, as Kaiji was immensely popular. It has since spawned several sequels and spin-offs, as well as being turned into an anime and a live-action movie. In fact, as of 2019, there are 21.5 million volumes of Kaiji in circulation.
Kaiji follows Kaiji Itō, a man who struggles to find steady work even after moving to Tokyo. Kaiji's poverty frequently upsets him, and he becomes a bit of a delinquent to make quick cash and pass the time. However, Kaiji's depressing existence becomes even worse when a loan shark named Yūji Endō turns up at Kaiji's home. Endō says he is there to collect money, as Kaiji co-signed a loan for a co-worker; as the co-worker defaulted, Kaiji now has to cover the debt.
Endō offers Kaiji a choice: spend ten years paying off the debt or take part in an illegal underground gambling contest hosted on a ship. Not seeing a better solution, Kaiji picks the latter option -- and quickly discovers that while the ship's rock-paper-scissors tournament might seem innocent, those who lose suffer a horrible fate. Kaiji soon learns that this isn't the only high-stakes gambling ring in the world, throwing him into a rollercoaster of risk and pain as he tries to clear himself of his debt while winning the strange games he is forced to participate in.
In 2007, the series was turned into an anime called Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor. This series was animated by Madhouse and produced by VAP and Nippon Television Network. The 26-episode series retold the first arc of the manga and proved to be extremely popular with both manga fans and new viewers, earning it critical praise. A sequel covering the next story arc, titled Kaiji: Against All Rules, was released in 2011. Madhouse once again returned to animate the show, along with most of the first season's cast.
The show was released in America, although it has a slightly complicated release history. It was initially streamed on the now-defunct Joost platform before being picked up by Crunchyroll. However, in 2020, Sentai Filmworks announced they had acquired the license to both seasons of the anime, and in 2021, they released both seasons on Blu-ray, making it easy to dive into.
Kaiji is a gripping and fascinating take on the death game format, exploring how the human psyche can warp and twist under pressure. Much like Squid Game, it shows that desperate people are easily exploited by those with money and power. Kaiji's status as a perpetually broke loner struggling to get by makes him both a relatable protagonist and the perfect vehicle with which to explore this unusual world. So, if you're looking for something to fill the hole left by Squid Game, Kaiji is the perfect anime for you.
