Kaiji: Against All Rules

The next series I’d like to introduce is Kaiji: Against All Rules, the second entry in the Kaiji saga. If you haven’t read the first installment (Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor), I highly recommend starting there before diving into this sequel. The story follows Kaiji, who sinks deeper into debt and is thrown into the underground “Teiai Empire” for forced labor. There, he claws for survival and freedom through a series of life-or-death gambles, ultimately aiming for yet another reversal of fortune. To be honest, I think the second series is far more entertaining than the first. While it features fewer “unique” games compared to Ultimate Survivor, the gambles are more strategic and suspenseful. In particular, the legendary “Bog Pachinko” arc is one of the most thrilling storylines in the entire Kaiji franchise. Like the first series, Against All Rules is full of unforgettable moments and iconic quotes. One that stands out is delivered by Ōtsuki, the foreman of Kaiji’s underground work unit: “Don’t say you’ll start tomorrow… it’s today…! Only those who give it their all today, only those who start today, will ever see tomorrow!” This line has become widely known among manga fans, and when I first read it back in college, I told myself, “Alright… I’ll start tomorrow” (ironically enough, haha). But the real highlight of Against All Rules is without a doubt the Bog Pachinko. For those unfamiliar, pachinko is a Japanese form of gambling where players shoot small steel balls into a machine, hoping to hit the jackpot. The Bog Pachinko is a special machine deliberately rigged so that the house always wins. Kaiji, however, sets out to break the system—through ingenious sabotage, clever modifications, and even large-scale tricks involving the entire building. The tension is intense, the strategies are ingenious, and the payoff is incredibly satisfying. Can Kaiji overcome the unbeatable Bog and wipe away his crushing debt? I love Kaiji: Against All Rules so much that I’ve reread it multiple times. If you’re a fan of Nobuyuki Fukumoto’s works, this installment is an absolute must-read.

September 2, 2025