Gambling may be life ruining, but I suppose when you have no life to ruin, then you mind as well go all-in, though Kaiji does that in a “all-in whether you like it or not” sort of way.
With lovably scummy and evil characters, Kaiji is a master class in creating tense moments that feel dangerous despite doing things like just playing children’s games.
Alternative Titles:
- Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
- Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji
- 逆境無頼カイジ Ultimate Survivor
Year Anime Premiered: 2007
Animation Studio: Madhouse
Number of Seasons: 2 + 1 spin-off
Source Material Country of Origin: Japan
Source Material Available: Manga
Is It Officially Licensed Past Where The Anime Ends?: No
Is It Fan Translated Past Where The Anime Ends?: Yes
Entry Last Updated: April 15th, 2025
Where To Start The Kaiji Manga After The Anime?
The Kaiji manga series is a bit different from other manga series in that it is very long-running, but constantly ends its manga series at the end of an arc, then starts up a sequel manga series.
Where to start the Kaiji manga after the Kaiji anime is actually very simple as long as you know the titles of the manga.
Kaiji manga series include:
- Kaiji Part 1 – Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji (Complete, 13 Volumes, 158 Chapters) – Fully adapted in Kaiji Season 1
- Kaiji Part 2 – Tobaku Hakairoku Kaiji (Complete, 13 Volumes, 134 Chapters) – Fully adapted in Kaiji Season 2
- Kaiji Part 3 – Tobaku Datenroku Kaiji (Complete, 13 Volumes, 131 Chapters) – Start here after the anime. This is Chapter 292 if the fan-translated site lumps all the chapters together.
- Kaiji Part 4 – Tobaku Datenroku Kaiji: Kazuya-hen (Complete, 10 Volumes, 100 Chapters)
- Kaiji Part 5 – Tobaku Datenroku Kaiji : One Poke-hen (Complete, 16 Volumes, 155 Chapters)
- Kaiji Part 6 – Tobaku Datenroku Kaiji: 24 Oku Dasshuntsu-hen (Ongoing)
Tobaku Datenroku Kaiji: 24 Oku Dasshuntsu-hen is presently on long-term hiatus, though it is close to its conclusion. The next manga series that will follow it (which will be heretofore unnamed Kaiji Part 7) has been rumored to be the last of the series.
Middle Manager Tonegawa
Middle Manager Tonegawa is a spin-off of Kaiji about Tonegawa, a side character that works for one of the business scumbags in the Kaiji universe. It is distinctly a comedy spin-off, but also got an anime adaptation.
If you finished the Middle Manager Tonegawa anime and want to continue the story with the manga, you can start at Volume 6, Chapter 42.
The Middle Manager Tonegawa manga is complete. It ended in 2020 with Volume 10, Chapter 86.
What to Expect From The Kaiji Manga?
Kaiji may be about scumbags and mind games, but it was excellent as an anime adaptation. There is no reason or need to go read the Kaiji manga from the beginning unless you just want to. The anime adapted the story well and skipped very little.
Will There Be A Kaiji Season 3?
There has been no official announcement of a Kaiji Season 3 anime.
As the anime aired in 2011, it seems very unlikely, but Kaiji is also a long-running, beloved manga series. Those tend to not be forgotten so easily.
