Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler is a Japanese manga series written by Homura Kawamoto and illustrated by Tōru Naomura. It began serialization in Square Enix's Gangan Joker in March 2014. A prequel spin-off manga, Kakegurui Twin, began serialization in Gangan Joker in September 2015. An animetelevision adaptation by MAPPA aired in Japan from July to September 2017, and a live-action drama adaptation aired in Japan in 2018. A second season, titled Kakegurui ××, aired from January to March 2019. In North America, the manga has been licensed for an English language release by Yen Press. The anime series has been licensed and streamed by Netflix outside of Japan.
Synopsis
Setting
The story is set in Hyakkaou Private Academy, a high-class elite school housing the children of Japan's most wealthy and influential people and with many future leaders and professionals among the student body. However, the student hierarchy in this school is not determined by academic performance or athletic ability, but rather by gambling. Students are ranked by their monetary contributions to the student council, which fuels an intricate gambling system where students freely bet their fortunes against one another after class. Those who win earn popularity, prestige and connections, while those who lose and fall into debt become "house pets" slaves to the whims of the remainder of the student body, nicknamed "Doggy" or "Kitty" depending on gender and identified with a collar-like tag around their necks. Pets who are unable to clear their debts by the graduation receive "Life Schedules" which dictate their futures as they pay their debts with their lives.
Plot
Second-year transfer student Yumeko Jabami is a beautiful, cheerful and intelligent high school girl at first glance, but deep inside she is a compulsive gambler who gambles for the thrill of it, unlike students that do so for financial or social gain. Unrestrained by rules or logic, and with an exceptional observation ability to see through gambling scams, she quickly disrupts the hierarchy of the school, drawing the attention of the student council who frantically tries to shut her down.
Media
Manga
Kawamoto and Naomura launched the manga in Square Enix's Gangan Joker anthology magazine on March 22, 2014. Square Enix has compiled its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on October 22, 2014. As of June 22, 2020, thirteen volumes have been published. At Anime Expo 2015, Yen Press announced that they had licensed the manga for an English language release in North America.
Spin-offs
A spin-off, titled Kakegurui -Twins-, focused on Mary Saotome prior to the main story, is illustrated by Kei Saiki and serialized in Square Enix's Gangan Joker since September 21, 2015. The manga has been licensed by Yen Press. A 4-panel comedy spino-ff illustrated by Taku Kawamura, titled Kakegurui , was launched in Gangan Joker on December 22, 2016. Another spin-off, titled Kakegurui Midari, which focuses on the history of Midari Ikishima, is illustrated by Yūichi Hiiragi and was serialized on Square Enix app Manga UP! from February 21, 2017 to May 19, 2020. Square Enix compiled its chapters into four tankōbon volumes.
Anime
An anime television series animated by MAPPA aired from July 1 to September 23, 2017, on Tokyo MX, MBS and other channels. Yuichiro Hayashi directed the series, Yasuko Kobayashi handled the scripts, and Manabu Akita handled the character designs. TECHNOBOYS PULCRAFT GREEN-FUND composed the music for the series. The opening theme, "Deal with the Devil", is performed by Tia. D-Selections performed the ending theme "LAYon-theLINE". The series ran for 12 episodes. The series is licensed and streamed outside of Japan by Netflix, while Anime Limited acquired the series for release on home video in the United Kingdom and Ireland. A second season titled Kakegurui ×× aired from January 8 to March 26, 2019 on MBS, TV Aichi, and other channels. The cast reprised their roles, and the staff returned for the second season. Kiyoshi Matsuda joined Yuichiro Hayashi as director for the second season. The second season's opening theme song "Kono Yubi Tomare" is performed by JUNNA, and the ending theme song "AlegriA" is performed by D-selections. The second season ran for 12 episodes. Netflix released season 2 outside of Japan on June 13, 2019.
Drama
The live-action drama adaptation was first announced on November 21, 2017. The drama was first broadcast on MBS on January 14, 2018, and TBS' slot Dramaism on January 16, 2018. The opening theme is sung by Re:versed titled "Ichi ka Bachi ka" while the theme song titled "Strawberry Feels" is sung by BIGMAMA. Tsutomu Hanabusa is directing the drama. The drama was streamed on Netflix in Japanese with subtitles including English, Spanish, Chinese, and Thai in May 2018.
Reception
As of February 2019, the manga had over 5 million copies in print.
