It has been revealed that "Kaiji," the hit manga by Nobuyuki Fukumoto that gained popularity when it was adapted into a film starring Tatsuya Fujiwara, will be making a comeback after seven years. The fourth film in the series, "Kaiji: Life Revenge Game," will see Kaiji take on Kazuya Hyodo, the son of the Teiai chairman and a popular character in the original manga, in games based on the familiar steel beam crossing and episodes from the original story.
Fujiwara commented, "I've returned to the world of 'Kaiji' after seven years, and I feel that the unique worldview of Kaiji, including Mr. Fukumoto's ideas and script, has made this a very enjoyable piece of entertainment that resonates even in today's era." Fukumoto also appealed, "Don't you want to see it soon? Tatsuya Fujiwara as Kaiji. You want to see it, right? You can! Please, everyone, go to the movie theater and witness and enjoy it!"
"Kaiji" is the story of Kaiji, a self-indulgent young man who, after unexpectedly incurring a large debt, takes on life-threatening gambling challenges in various games such as "Limited Rock-Paper-Scissors" and "Steel Beam Crossing." Following "Kaiji: The Ultimate Gambler" in 2009 and "Kaiji 2: The Ultimate Gambler" in 2011, the final installment of the series, "Kaiji: Final Game," was released in 2020, becoming a hit with box office revenue exceeding 2.06 billion yen. The character of Kaiji, played by Fujiwara, also became a hot topic, along with his famous lines such as "It's ice cold...!" and "It's devilish!!"
The new film brings together the original series' staff, including director Toya Sato and composer Yugo Kanno. Kaiji, who once fought a deadly battle against the Teiai Group, has once again fallen back into a dissolute, low-life existence. He spends his days struggling to make ends meet. But then, his arch-nemesis, Kazuya Hyodo, the young head of the Teiai Group, stands in his way... That's the story. In the original manga, Kazuya Hyodo is the son of Kazutaka Hyodo, the head of the Teiai Group, and is a character who engages in a deadly battle with Kaiji, so who will play him is sure to be a hot topic.
The movie "Kaiji: Life Revenge Game" will be released on January 29, 2027.
◇Kaiji Ito: Tatsuya Fujiwara
I don't know if it went by in a flash or if it felt long, but it was an incredibly intense experience. Several games appear in this film, and every scene was incredibly challenging. The director, staff, and we actors all felt like we were in a continuous battle with no end in sight. However, that also means there are plenty of highlights, and I think it's a film full of things to see.
I'm back in the world of "Kaiji" after seven years, and I feel that the unique worldview of Kaiji, including Mr. Fukumoto's ideas and script, has made this a very enjoyable piece of entertainment that resonates even in today's era. Furthermore, the technology, such as CG and VFX, has also advanced, so I'm really looking forward to seeing how the director and CG team will create a realistic world of "walking across steel beams." I'm sure it will be a film that everyone will enjoy, so I hope you'll come and see it in theaters.
◇Original story by: Nobuyuki Fukumoto
The idea of doing "Kaiji 4" came up fairly soon after "Kaiji 3" finished. But then I thought, "Well, we advertised 3 as the final one, didn't we?" Sorry about that. We'll do it again! Please let us do it again!
First, there's the script. I worked on it in collaboration with screenwriter Yamaguchi, exchanging ideas along the way. This "Kaiji 4" incorporates many of the games and challenges I've depicted in my manga. And Fujiwara Tatsuya, who plays the real Kaiji, brings them to life vividly on the film stage!
Aren't you eager to see it? Tatsuya Fujiwara's Kaiji. You want to see it, right? You can! Please, everyone, go to the movie theater and witness and enjoy it!
◇Director: Toya Sato
After creating the final game with the feeling that it would be the last, I was overjoyed to hear that we would be making a fourth installment. In fact, I did jump for joy. When you think of a fourth installment, you think of "Mothra vs. Godzilla" in the "Godzilla" series, or "The Battles Without Honor and Humanity" in the "Top Strategy" series. Both are masterpieces among the best in their respective series. We absolutely must make this the greatest masterpiece in the series. The fourth installment is packed with exciting things, including a reunion with Tatsuya Fujiwara as Kaiji, new characters, and new games, and we are currently working hard to finish it so that we can deliver it to you as soon as possible. Please look forward to it!
