Kakegurui (Series)

Kakegurui (Japanese: 賭ケグルイ, Hepburn: Kakegurui) is a psychological thriller and gambling-themed anime series adapted from the manga of the same name written by Homura Kawamoto and illustrated by Toru Naomura. The anime adaptation was produced by MAPPA and first released in 2017.

Kakegurui manga began serialization in 2014 in Gangan Joker, a magazine published by Square Enix. The series quickly gained attention and was expanded with various side stories.

The anime adaptation premiered on Japanese television in July 2017. Following the first season, a second season (Kakegurui××) was released in 2019. The series was made available internationally to viewers outside Japan via Netflix.

Kakegurui is set in Hyakkaou Private Academy, an elite school where students’ social status is determined not by academic achievement but by gambling skills. The school’s system is built entirely on a risk-and-reward hierarchy.

Students compete against each other through high-stakes gambling games. Losers face severe social and economic consequences, while winners gain significant privileges within the school. This structure continuously shifts the balance of power among characters.

The universe functions as a closed system that generates its own rules. The governing board serves as the central authority ensuring the sustainability of this order.

^{Yumeko Jabami} (IMDb)

The story begins with the arrival of Yumeko Jabami, a new transfer student at Hyakkaou Academy. Despite appearing to be an ordinary student, she quickly draws attention due to her extraordinary talent for gambling.

Yumeko’s approach to gambling is not focused on winning but on deriving pleasure from risk itself. This philosophy disrupts the school’s existing order and directly affects her relationships with other students.

Throughout the series, the narrative progresses through various gambling games and strategies, centering on the psychological states and decision-making processes of the characters. Yumeko’s rivals and members of the governing board play pivotal roles in driving the story forward.

• Yumeko Jabami: The main character of the series. Her Japanese voice is performed by Saori Hayami.
• Ryota Suzui: Yumeko’s classmate. His Japanese voice is performed by Tatsuya Tokutake.
• Mary Saotome: A competitive student. Her Japanese voice is performed by Minami Tanaka.
• Kirari Momobami: The student council president. Her Japanese voice is performed by Miyuki Sawashiro.
• Midari Ikishima: A member of the governing board. Her Japanese voice is performed by Mariya Ise.

Ryota Suzui (IMDb)

Kakegurui explores themes such as risk-taking, power dynamics, and human psychology. The story examines how individuals make decisions through gambling and the consequences of those choices.

The narrative style advances through intense dialogue and dramatic scene transitions. During gambling sequences, characters’ internal thoughts and strategic moves are brought to the forefront. Visual storytelling features exaggerated facial expressions and dramatic tones.

^{Kirari Momobami} (IMDb)

Kakegurui consists of two anime seasons. The first season was released in 2017 and comprises 12 episodes. The second season (Kakegurui××) was released in 2019 and also consists of 12 episodes.

In addition to the anime, live-action film adaptations were released in 2019 and 2021. These productions present the manga’s story through a different narrative format.

^{Mary Saotome} (IMDb)

Kakegurui manga achieved high sales figures in Japan and ranked among the top positions on various manga charts. The series received nominations in multiple award categories and gained widespread popularity among young adult readers.