What gives a man ultimate power?
The definition of true power in this world.
Who can tell me?
- Military power. - Intelligence.
Market dominance.
- Money, sir. - Money?
Rinko Endo
The real question is how to use that money.
Your answer is too obvious, you dimwit!
A fallout shelter?
True power is the financial muscle
to build a fallout shelter.
Impressive, Tonegawa.
But I'm interested not in a mere pit in the ground,
but a kingdom!
A large, underground empire.
It is a king's mandate
to build a kingdom!
What's more,
you won't need to worry about labor for construction.
This country is teeming with young men
filled with innocent hope.
Give it to me.
C'mon, c'mon...
Yes!
One more for 10,000 yen.
10,000 yen, please!
Dammit.
Thank you.
Allow us to help you realize your dreams.
For a true partner,
choose Teiai. Because the future is yours.
Thank you.
He looked at your tits.
Creepy!
Totally staring, too.
Watch it, asshole!
Who you calling creepy!
Damn!
Goddamn Mercedes!
Take that!
Only people driving these
are tax evaders and crooks who take bribes!
Another Mercedes!
Get out of my face! Damn!
What'd you do that for?
Sorry, I didn't mean harm!
Sorry, I didn't mean to...
It was dumb.
Please...
Kaiji Ito, right?
Furuhata was a former co-worker.
I haven't even seen him in a while.
Well, he borrowed money and disappeared.
Remember signing this contract?
Loan amount: 300,000 yen Guarantor: Kaiji Ito
I guess 2 years ago...
Or wait, did I?
Unfortunately, since the borrower disappeared,
you as the guarantor must pay for it.
I don't have 300,000 yen. I'm barely making rent...
No, you owe 2.02 million.
- 2 million? - Interest.
From 300,000?
Compound interest, look. So what can you afford?
If you pay 60,000 per month, in 11 years...
You gotta be joking. I can't pay that.
I shouldn't have to...
"I can't, I can't..."
Are you still a kid?
I don't want to hear your little excuses.
I could care less about you!
So you gonna pay or what?
The car damage, too.
I'm sorry.
But I just can't pay that kind of money.
There's a ship leaving in 4 hours.
They're looking for participants.
If you're lucky,
your debt will be cleared in a day.
The debt...
Boarding Contract all cleared?
One night of a gambling cruise with broke people like you.
Win the game, and your debt's cleared.
The ship is called Espoir.
It's French for "hope".
Kaiji Ito.
Why don't you try it?
But what kind of game?
Who knows.
But your life is worthless now, right?
You're just a lazy bum
with a cheap apartment and job,
sleepwalking through life,
making one excuse after another,
and now you're pushing 30.
You've done nothing. Nobody loves you.
Now wait...
And soon you'll be dead.
I'm still working on it.
It's not supposed to end this way. One day I'll...
It's never gonna happen.
Wanna bet? Your life won't change.
I'm sure you know already.
Poor thing.
Don't cry.
I'm saying I can give you one last chance
to change your life.
Change my life?
Right, change your life.
Change...
my life?
The ship is called Espoir.
It's French...
for "hope".
Kaiji: The Ultimate Gambler
Who are these guys? They all look like losers.
That's 10. I filled my quota.
That guy took you for a nice person.
Me, a nice person? Please.
Welcome to the 23rd annual Creative Cruise.
The objective is the salvation of young men.
Please gather by the stage.
Good evening.
I'm Tonegawa, your host for your big gamble.
To participate in the game,
you'll first need to purchase
3 of these stars at 1 million yen each.
One million?
Needless to say, you're all penniless,
so we will loan you the amount.
A loan?
The 3 million yen
will be loaned at an interest of 1% per minute.
That's ridiculous.
Trying to squeeze more money from us?
Who the hell charges 1% per minute?
Forget these damn interests!
If that's the rule, we're getting off!
Be my guest. We won't stop you.
However, if you win,
not only will your debt be wiped clean,
we'll buy back each star for 1 million yen.
Considering your sizable debts,
this is quite generous.
I'll explain the rules.
But only once.
Listen carefully.
Place the stars on your chest and open the envelope.
I'm sure you're all familiar with this game.
Scissors Paper Stone.
In this version,
you'll stand face to face at the boxes behind you.
After agreeing to fight,
call out, Scissors,
followed by Stone
then Paper, as you throw down your card.
If it's decisive,
the winner receives a star from the loser
and puts it on himself.
On draws, keep your star.
Drop used cards into the slots.
Choose your opponent freely,
and play Scissors Paper Stone to win stars.
It's that simple.
The time limit is 30 minutes.
30 minutes? That's all?
And finally, what constitutes a victory in this game?
Regardless of the method,
if you use up all 12 cards
and have at least 3 stars, you win.
That concludes the orientation.
What if we lose?
What happens to us?
Like I said, I'll only explain once.
You're kidding.
Sorry, no questions.
Our fate's on the line. Answer us!
We have the right to know!
That's right!
Wanna die, you scums?
Do you always get answers?
You're all like selfish little kids,
expecting everything to be given to you.
Talk about shameless naïveté!
Grow up! The world is not your mommy!
You failed out there,
and you arrived here as trash.
And trash doesn't have any rights.
Not here, not out there.
That's absurd.
You have no one to blame
but yourselves for being losers.
What you must now do...
is simply win.
Just win!
Don't hope to win. You have to win!
Living without winning is not an option!
It's a slugfest for losers.
If you lose here, I can't help you anymore.
Honestly, I could care less.
Winning is everything.
If you lose, you're garbage!
I can do it!
They ate it up.
There's no time. Someone, play me!
I won! I'm taking this.
Calm down and think first.
Let me go!
Where are you taking me?
He already lost 3 games?
Lose your stars, you're out.
What the hell is that room?
Hasn't even been 2 minutes.
Demoralizing, isn't it?
In this game, if you use your head and find the right partner,
you won't lose.
No way!
What do we need to do to win?
Use up your cards and end up with 3 stars.
Exactly. You don't need 4.
You just need to hold onto your 3.
What if we have 12 straight draws?
Draws?
Then we'll survive.
Draws!
How did you?
I thought about it.
Word is, if you lose,
you're taken out to another ship and treated like slaves.
But if you win,
you can leave with money.
I don't want to lose.
I just need to clear my debt and get off.
So I've been looking for the right partner.
You're not like the rest of these idiots here.
But...
As we speak,
the interest keeps accruing every minute.
Let's survive together.
My name's Funai.
Alright.
Let's do it, Funai.
I'm Kaiji.
Let's go.
Here we go.
In this order: Scissors, Paper, Stone.
Got it.
Scissors, Paper, Stone.
A draw.
I must be lucky.
In this moment of crisis, I met a reliable partner.
With 12 draws,
I can clear my debt and leave safely.
Victory is mine!
Shit, I'm sorry. I messed up.
I'll put down stone next.
You put down paper.
You win the next one.
Okay, paper.
Just for show.
They're watching.
Just for show.
They're watching.
Ready?
Yeah.
Scissors, Paper, Stone.
This took practice.
Sorry.
The card I showed you
and the one on the table...
I swapped them
like this.
Nifty trick?
Thank you very much.
Wait, Funai.
What's going on?
Are you a moron?
Now I've got 5 million. Jealous?
What're you looking at?
Funai.
You can't do this!
Get off me.
Give 'em back, Funai!
Give 'em back!
I'm bleeding.
This guy hit me!
Give my stars back!
Calm down!
We had an agreement and he betrayed me!
Don't be a baby. You were preyed on, that's all.
Why you?
Enough!
Any more and you're disqualified. Now scram.
Wait, but he...
You guys, too.
You exposed yourself on a battlefield and got hit.
That's all.
A battlefield?
Losers!
His card is scissors!
His last card is scissors!
If you have a stone, you'll beat him.
His card is a stone!
His last card is a stone!
He's got 5 stars from tricking me.
Shut up.
Use up that stone, or you're out.
Alright, who's got paper? I'll let you win.
Who's got paper?
Don't fall for it.
You two are trying to hustle us?
They're trying to trick us, too.
No one's gonna play you now!
We're not falling for it.
He was practicing something.
Sleight of hand?
Stealing a peek?
Hell, no.
You're the one peeking.
What're you looking at?
What the hell!
A melee.
Looks like most won't make it.
13 minutes left.
What should I do?
Think...
Listen up!
Please, it was just an impulse!
This man tried to flush his cards down the toilet.
Dumping your cards will get you disqualified.
Understood?
I'm terrible at this game.
There's no way I'll survive playing this many cards.
Let's reshuffle!
Listen.
Let's give this a rest.
We're all suspicious of each other now,
but it won't do us any good.
There's 11 minutes left.
I have an idea.
Let's reshuffle.
We collect everyone's cards, shuffle them,
and deal the same number you had.
What do you think?
Help me...
Is that even allowed?
Well, is it?
The rules given earlier were all.
Alright, we don't have much time.
I'm in.
Me, too.
Help...
Someone help me...
I'll help you.
Count me in. And him, too.
Sure, why not? Let's start.
Alright, here we go.
- How many? - 2.
- 3. - 3 cards.
2.
3.
2.
10.
10?
Good luck.
1, right?
Done reshuffling. Let's start again!
I'm gonna win!
Please remember to drop used cards into the slots.
Kaiji.
Wanna play me again?
With a con artist like you? No.
C'mon, I was just desperate.
Whatever.
In that case,
how about for 2 stars?
You bet 1 for 2 of mine.
For 3, then.
I'll play you for 3.
Ridiculous. 3 of mine to 1 of yours?
I'll bet 3, too.
Together, there's 3.
Us combined.
What? These are mine...
Shut up. This is ludicrous.
If I bet 3 and lose, I'm out.
But that card of Kaiji's...
I know it's scissors.
I can win.
Fine.
I'm a man.
I accept your challenge.
Good.
Kaiji...
Let's do it.
Scissors, Paper...
Stone!
What's wrong?
Hurry, throw it down.
Let me guess, scissors?
You have scissors?
I actually won!
You're going to hell.
What an idiot...
you are!
See, paper... Paper?
We won!
Yes, I won!
Thanks for believing in me, mister.
I won! I won!
You saw before I did
that your blood was on the scissors card.
So you went up...
Let's reshuffle!
I thought,
what would you do if I joined in the reshuffle?
I figured you'd give the scissors back to me,
and keep your stone.
Then you'd beat me,
and finish with one more star.
So I needed help.
Trust me and do as I say.
Trust you?
Give me your paper, hurry.
Paper.
I wiped the scissors card clean
and put blood on the paper card.
Count me in.
You promptly marked your own card.
Sure, why not? Let's start.
You pretended to reshuffle...
One, right?
But gave me the blood card
and kept the marked stone card for yourself.
Let's start again!
But the blood card wasn't scissors.
It was paper!
You brought this on yourself with greed.
If you played someone else, at least you wouldn't be out.
For a guy you talk an awful lot, you cheater!
Give me back my stars.
Never.
I'm not the cheater.
No, no, wait!
Mister, hurry.
We'll use up our cards with draws.
Hurry.
It'll work.
Start with stone.
Scissors, Paper, Stone.
Good, again.
Last one.
We won!
Thanks, mister.
3 stars.
I won!
Kaiji, I'm sorry.
I had one in my pocket.
Here's your change. Good luck.
Thanks.
You, get back to work!
Next thing I knew, I was somewhere deep underground,
in forced labor with others.
Keep working.
No stopping.
Don't just stand there.
Get moving!
We're forced to work everyday.
15 years in this hell hole,
like worms wriggling deep in the earth.
This will be a resort area, with a tennis court here.
We'll need to go higher.
That's it for today!
Done for today!
March!
Dammit.
Goddammit.
There's no escape.
Listen up.
Don't even think about escaping.
Every move you make
is being monitored 24 hours
by the microchip under your brand.
I was so close to winning.
Actually, I'd won.
If only I'd just abandoned that man, Ishida.
We share this card. We're going together.
Kaiji.
In the end, I lost again.
I'm a loser, even here.
I was so close.
Dammit!
Heads forward.
Arms out.
Thank you.
Commence eating.
Thank you.
Good work today.
Today is the 25th, your payday.
The curfew is 22:00.
Here it is, boys.
Maeda.
Miyoshi.
Kaiji Ito.
Here.
Attention, everyone.
This is Kaiji's first paycheck here.
As you all remember, this is a momentous occasion.
Give him a hand!
What the hell?
It's a perica bill.
Perica?
It's our currency underground. Worth a tenth of the yen.
So your salary of 91,000 perica
is worth 9,100 yen.
9,100 yen? That's my monthly salary?
The day rate in the underground empire is 3,500 yen.
We deduct your debt repayment and facility fee, leaving you 350 yen.
That, times 26 days.
350 yen per day?
Listen, like I always say,
be thankful for what you receive.
Thanks to the Teiai Group,
your interest here is zero.
You're given an orderly life
and the chance to repay your debt slowly but surely.
Unbelievable.
Who is he, anyway?
Dammit, I'll just have to save these perica
so I can get out of here and change my life at last.
Here's your monthly treat!
Chips for 3,000, chicken for 7,000,
beer for 5,000 perica.
Give me beer!
Beer?
Beer...
Kaiji.
Want something?
Beer for 5,000 perica would be 500 yen!
I need to repay my debt. I can't afford that.
I know how you feel.
You want to save up to pay off your debt.
I was like that, too.
But you need to take it easy.
This one's on me.
To celebrate your first paycheck. Enjoy.
Thank god!
It's ice cold, too.
It's so good it's wicked!
I can't take it!
One beer.
5,000 perica. Thank you.
5,000 perica...
What would you like?
Just one...
What's that?
Just one beer.
Sure, one beer for Kaiji.
Some nibbles?
Beer tastes better with nibbles.
Just try something.
Haven't had anything greasy in a month.
To get that chicken heated up
and have it with my beer...
No, I shouldn't.
Crackers: 500 perica
I'll have the crackers.
Kaiji, what you really want is the chicken, right?
Your heart is like a rubber ball.
If you hold it down, it'll spring back.
You'll end up being stressed out.
You should reward yourself.
You need to indulge once in a while.
It'll keep you going.
Well, you've got a point.
Great, he's buying chicken!
Thank you! Want it heated?
Absolutely.
And potato chips.
Potato chips for Kaiji!
Thank you.
That'll be 15,000 perica.
That a boy.
I'll bring change.
Damn, that's good.
Why did I do that?
Blowing my hard-earned pay like that,
I'll never get out of here,
much less change my life.
Kaiji, here.
Work hard, with cheer!
Mister! Mister!
Are you okay?
Come on!
Goddammit!
Hang in there.
We're almost there.
You okay?
This man needs help.
Put him over there.
You'll be alright. I'm putting you down.
You have to bear it.
What's going on?
Are they being treated at all?
Sure, but they need perica to buy medicine.
I can still work.
I can work, dammit.
Hey, you're in my team.
Those bastards.
In 2 years,
or sometimes in months, we all get these coughs.
It keeps sending us to this hospital...
so we'll never get out.
Kaiji, was it?
You got framed, too?
No.
It's possible I was framed,
but I just want to change my life...
Still haven't figured it out?
Talk about losers!
Consumption is all they've got.
So the temptation is enormous.
Once they give in, they'll drown in it.
Especially the ones who cave in on the first payday.
Forget working hard starting tomorrow.
Today is all that matters.
Tomorrow only comes to those who make it through today.
The foreman said that?
Garbage like us will always be garbage to them.
For us to get out of this,
it'll take one big shot...
for a breakthrough.
Without an opening like that,
we're never making it back!
Don't worry, you'll get your last chance soon.
I'm off to Brave Men Road
Brave Men Road?
The only path out of this hell.
Path?
When you come down to this hell and your debt gets even worse,
that's where you're taken.
And you're running up your medicine bill.
Kaiji, no beer for you today?
Don't worry.
If you don't have enough, I'll advance your salary.
Only 60,000 perica, though.
60,000?
It's an advance. Can't give you the full 91,000.
We have to charge a fee on it.
You're one hell of a crook.
This is nothing but a racket.
All you're doing...
is baiting us with these
so we can't ever pay off our debts,
all so you can work us to the ground!
I know your type.
Sucking on the blood of poor, desperate people...
like leeches!
I see.
It's offered purely for your convenience.
It's unfortunate you don't appreciate it.
You can't defy the foreman.
Just shut up!
I know I'm a loser.
Every person here is a loser.
Everyone's got "loser" written on his face.
Don't be silly. I'm not a loser.
Yes, you are!
How can you stand this?
Even the foreman's ripping us off!
How stupid can we be?
Well? Say something!
Kaiji...
Team E foreman!
Your own Makoto Sahara
was chosen for the prestigious Brave Men Road.
As a reward, each member of team E will receive 30,000 perica.
Thank you, sir.
Hooray!
Don't be so tactless, guys.
It's in exchange for his life.
How can you say that?
If he wins, he gets to return to the surface.
Congratulations, Sahara!
Time to go.
I'm going, too.
If I win, I'm free, right?
Then I'm going.
I may be a weak person.
But for once, I'm changing my life.
Are you for real?
I see.
Very impressive.
Takes courage to volunteer for this. Applause!
Stop!
Everyone listen.
Hear me.
Don't be tricked,
don't give up,
and find a way out of this shit hole.
I'm gonna do it.
I'll show the way to freedom.
Where are we headed?
Now we're going up.
An elevator?
Are we going to the surface?
Walk.
Stop.
Where are we?
Welcome to the Starside Party.
The main program is Brave Men Road, the way to freedom.
Here are the contestants.
We'll begin in just a moment.
Welcome, brave men.
Tonegawa...
The rule is utterly simple.
Nothing complicated whatsoever.
You'll now receive a cash voucher.
You'll then exchange it at a designated place. That's it.
7 zeroes...
10 million yen?
It's yen, not perica!
The exchange location is Starside Hotel, Room 5014.
Starside Hotel?
Never heard of it.
Gentlemen, behold the Brave Men Road.
What is this?
Your path to freedom.
Make it across, you win 10 million and freedom.
Just think of it as a long balance beam.
I'm sure you've tried it as kids.
Cut the crap!
If we fall, we'd die!
Of course. It's 10 million yen!
Let me tell you what others shy away from saying.
Money is worth more than life!
You neither studied hard nor worked hard.
Endured or overcame nothing.
Why should slackers like you
be given 10 million so easily?
If you want this kind of money without earning it,
and in a short time at that, then all you can do...
is put your life on the line!
This is bullshit!
There's no way!
I'll do it.
I'm doing it. It's the only way.
This time I won't lose.
That's the spirit.
Pave the way, brave man.
I'll do it, too.
Me, too.
Going back isn't an option, either.
I'll do it.
What'll it be?
Shut up!
Wait just a second.
How many times have you said that in your life?
The world will not wait for trash like you to make a decision!
Fine, keep wavering.
And miss out on your chances.
I'll do it.
Me, too.
And me.
Dammit! We're all idiots!
Very well.
It's electrified?
Indeed.
We can't subject our customers to the unseemly sight
of you crawling on the beam.
Customers?
Now hurry. The audience is waiting.
They wish to enjoy the sight...
of men trembling and crumbling before fear.
The joy of knowing that they alone are safe from harm,
that fleeting pleasure we call "safety"...
They revel in it.
I can't!
I never should've agreed to this...
We can do this.
Just like he said,
think of it as a balance beam or a line on a sidewalk.
We can't!
You have to!
No way!
No way I can do this!
I have an idea.
Your shoes.
It's part good-luck charm, part sighting system.
Like crosshairs on a gun.
Align the line on your shoes
with the center line on the beam as you walk.
That's brilliant!
Kaiji.
Do it for me, too.
Me, too.
There's no reason we can't do this.
Let's hurry across and get the hell out of here.
Let's do it!
We can do this!
We're all gonna make it.
Don't let anyone fall.
We can make it.
It's like a scream for help.
They're trying to numb themselves to the fear.
But I'll bet you,
in 5 meters they'll wake up.
You lost weight?
You gained some girth to go with your clout.
Disappointing to see you fall.
Work out there isn't bad. Good for dieting, too.
As long as you work without a fuss.
Alright,
let's go.
I can do it!
Align the lines together...
Good.
There you go.
I can do it!
Don't think.
Just don't think.
Align the lines together...
Falling means certain death.
No, don't think about it.
I can't do this.
Please, I don't want to fall.
I don't need money.
I'll work with debt all my life if I have to.
I just want to live!
Lightning?
It's gonna rain?
If it rains on us, we're dead.
Don't worry about rain. It's not even windy.
It's getting windy!
It's blowing me!
Wind?