Kaiji Itou  

, 伊藤開司

The protagonist in this narrative is named Kaiji and he leads an impoverished life in a rundown neighborhood. Despite his destitute situation, he spends his leisure time playing low-cost gambling games with neighbors, even though he consistently loses. However, when faced with perilous circumstances, Kaiji reveals an astonishing talent for gambling that helps him endure the hardships he encounters. At the outset of the story, Kaiji is burdened by a 3,850,000 yen debt, which was accrued due to a coworker persuading him to sign a loan agreement. This financial obligation is compounded over time and becomes an enormous weight on his shoulders.