Kakegurui XX
Alternate Title
賭ケグルイ××
Synopsis
Hyakkaou Private Academy: an institute specifically developed for extremely wealthy students. The curriculum for this academy was developed around the idea that, with money and power, it’s not athletics or academics that you need, but the ability to read people and make deals. These skills are developed through classes centered around gambling. Students who are successful gamblers or donate significant sums to the school are treated like royalty, while those who fail or donate the least are treated like pets and called “pooch.”
Protagonist Yumeko Jabami throws a wrench in the school’s pre-existing hierarchy after she transfers into Hyakkaou Private Academy’s second-year class. Her air of naivety instantly makes her cruel and powerful classmate Mary Saotome want to take advantage of her, so the pair plays a loaded game of rock-paper-scissors. As the “leader” of the class, Mary is able to manipulate the game with the assistance of the class’ “pooch,” the timid Ryota Suzui. Jabami reads her tricks with ease, going as far as to pin Suzui as Mary’s assistant, and wins the game. After winning she reveals herself to be a compulsive gambler who’s addicted to challenges and games.
Following her victory against Mary, Jabami continues to seek out increasingly challenging competitors, dangerous games, and higher stakes at the school.
Background
First serialized in Square Enix’s Gangan Joker in 2014, Kakegurui (or Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler ) is a psychological mystery manga written by Kawamoto Homura and illustrated by Naomura Toru. It was an instant hit and went on to win third place in the DaVinchi x NicoNico Tsugi Manga Awards in 2016.
The first season of the anime adaptation of Kakegurui was directed by Yuichiro Hayashi (Garo: Divine Flame, PES: Peace Eco Smile) alongside Yasuko Kobayashi (Shakugan no Shana, Claymore, Attack on Titan) as writer and Manabu Akita (Bleach, Flowers of Evil, Fullmetal Alchemist) as character designer. TECHNOBOYS PULCRAFT GREEN-FUND ( Witch Craft Works ) worked on music in addition to Tia working on the opening theme (“Deal with devil”) and D-Selections on the ending theme (“LAYon-theLINE”). The series was animated by MAPPA, well-known for their work on Ushio and Tora, Yuri on Ice, and Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul. The series began airing on July 1, 2017 in Japan, and included 12 episodes. It was licensed and streamed overseas by Netflix.
The second season of the anime adaptation, Kakegurui XX, will premiere in Japan in January 2019. Many of the staff from season 1 are returning including Yuichiro Hayashi as director along with Yasuko Kobayashi and Manabu Akita as writer and character designer, respectively. Joining Hayashi as director is Kiyoshi Matsuda, and the animation is once again being produced by MAPPA. The opening theme song is "Kono Yubi Tomare" by JUNNA.
Characters
Yumeko Jabami (Voiced by: Saori Hayami (Japanese), Erika Harlacher (English) / Live action: Minami Hamabe)
A transfer student who seems like a lovely young lady at first glance, in reality Yumeko is a compulsive gambler who takes way too much pleasure in taking risks. Following her victory over Kaede Manyuda, Yumeko is now in possession of at least 300 million yen.
Ryota Suzui (Voiced by: Tatsuya Tokutake (Japanese), Griffin Burns (English) / Live action: Mahiro Takasugi)
Level-headed and amiable, Ryota is the classmate and friend of Yumeko. He is both fascinated with her unpredictable style of gambling and grateful to her after she freed him from a debt without asking anything in return.
Mary Saotome (Voiced by: Minami Tanaka (Japanese), Kira Buckland (English) / Live action: Aoi Morikawa)
A prideful young woman, Mary was quite hostile towards Yumeko when she first transferred to the academy. After experiencing an unexpected defeat at her hands, the two have come to an understanding and even have a blossoming friendship.
Itsuki Sumaragi (Voiced by: Yuki Wakai (Japanese), Erica Mendez (English / Live action: Ruka Matsuda)
The daughter of the president of a prominent toy maker in Japan, Itsuki became a member of the student council even though she was only a freshman. She has suffered defeat at the hands of Yumeko.
Kirari Momobami (Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro (Japanese), Michelle Ruff (English))
Kirari is the calculating president of the academy’s student council. Known for creating the donation and pet system, she is one of the core reasons that “weak” students are treated so poorly.
Ririka Momobami
Ririka is not only the vice president of the student council, but also the twin sister of Kirari. Because she does not speak and because she is almost always wearing a mask, she’s regarded as quite the mysterious individual.
Sayaka Igarashi (Voiced by: Ayaka Fukuhara (Japanese), Erica Lindbeck (English) / Live action: Yurika Nakamura)
A second-year student, Sayaka also serves as the secretary of the student council and personal assistant of Kirari. She adores Kirari to no end.
Runa Yomozuki (Voiced by: Maya Udono (Japanese), Kayli Millis (English) / Live action: Natsume Mito)
A member of the student council, this third-year student is childlike in both appearance, behavior, and speech. Her personality is far from innocent though, as she’s both heartless and cruel. During the election for the student council president, she served as the committee chairman and helped manage the election process.
Midari Ikishima (Voiced by: Mariya Ise (Japanese), Sarah Anne Williams (English) / Live action: Miki Yanagi)
Midari is a third-year student who’s a member of the student council and president of the Beautification Council. Thanks to her masochistic and dangerous personality, most students try to avoid gambling with her because it easily can result in harm and even death. A lover of Russian Roulette, it’s facing extreme risk that makes her feel good above all else.
Yuriko Nishinotoin (Voiced by: Karin Nanami (Japanese), Cristina Vee (English) / Live action: Natsumi Okamoto)
A third-year student who’s a member of the student council, Yuriko also happens to be the head of the Traditional Culture Research Club. Though genteel and pleasant on the outside, her true personality can be arrogant and scary. Yuriko has won a game of Life and Death against Yumeko, though it came as a surprise to everyone watching.
Yumemi Yumemite (Voiced by: Yu Serizawa (Japanese), Faye Mata (English) / Live action: Sayuri Matsumura)
This second-year student handles public relations for the student council and also operates as a part-time idol. She is incredibly cute, but her fans don’t know about her violent personality lurking beneath. Even though she hates them, she maintains the pleasant idol personality because she dreams of being an actress in Hollywood and winning an Academy Award.
Kaede Manyuda (Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita (Japanese), Chris Niosi (English))
A second-year student who acts as the student council treasurer, Kaede has lofty political aspirations and has no qualms about crafting schemes targeting his upperclassmen. However, he is currently bedridden after suffering a traumatic defeat at the hands of Yumeko, which was so bad it turned his hair stark white.
Terano Totobami (Voiced by: Megumi Han)
A student who is bound to a wheelchair, Terano also despises Kirari, who tries to disrupt her family’s peace. She is the representative of the Totobami family.
Yumi Totobami (Voiced by: Haruno Inoue)
An energetic girl, Yumi is also the attendant of Terano and helps her around in her wheelchair. She is a member, but not a representative, of the Totobami family.
Rei “Batsubami”
Brought in as a mediator, Rei is a young woman who prefers to wear male uniforms. Though she is a member of the Momobami family, she’s not a representative.
Erimi Mushibami
A representative of the Mushibami family, Erimi has challenged Yumeko to a match during the student council president election, intent on smashing her. Her family’s business is “torture.”
Miyo Inbami
Though she seems elegant at first glance, she actually despises any and all forms of gambling. Similar to the Yobami family, her own family is involved in the medicine manufacturing business. She is a representative of the Inbami family.
Miri Yobami
Though Miri was born into the Inbami family, she was adopted into the Yobami family. A blood sister to Miyo, they often share the same thoughts and goals. Compared to her sister, she doesn’t talk much. She is a representative of the Yobami family.
Sumika Warakubami
Sumika is a reserved girl who wears a mask on a daily basis. She’s quite the mystery considering no one has seen her face. Though a member of the Momobami family, she’s actually a representative of the Warakubami family.
Nozomi Komabami
A rather short young lady, Nozomi is always accompanied by a St. Bernard. She is a representative of the Komabami family.
Miroslava Honebami
A representative of the Honebami family. Half-Russian on her mother’s side, Miroslava’s family’s business deals in “cleansing.” She herself is involved in the violent “elimination” of “impurities.”
Ibara Obami
A member of the Obami family, Ibara can always be found at Rin’s side. Though he looks rough and questionable on first inspection, he actually has a strong sense of loyalty towards Rin.
Rin Obami
A representative of the Obami family, Rin is participating in the election of the student council president. He’s known for his pleasant smile, which makes his true feelings unreadable.
International Streaming
TBA
Official Links
Staff
- Original Creators: Homura Kawamoto, Toru Naomura
- Directors: Kiyoshi Matsuda, Yuichiro Hayashi
- Series Composition: Yasuko Kobayashi
- Character Designer: Manabu Akita
- Opening Theme Song Artist: JUNNA
- Animation Production: MAPPA