High-stakes gambling and the pursuit of dominance in the world of Usogui

Cultures · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the shadows of underground gambling, survival depends on more than just luck. Toshio Sako's Usogui follows Baku Madarame, a master gambler known as 'The Lie Eater,' as he navigates deadly wagers to seize control of a powerful organization that oversees life-threatening games.

Toshio Sako wrote and drew Usogui, which appeared in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump between May 11, 2006, and December 21, 2017. The series spans 539 chapters, which were collected into 49 tankōbon volumes between September 19, 2006, and February 19, 2018. The narrative centers on Baku Madarame, a master gambler who earns the moniker 'The Lie Eater' for his ability to thrive against ruthless opponents in high-stakes environments. This seinen manga was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump magazine. The story follows Baku's dangerous path through a world of ingenious and deadly games.

Baku's journey involves a quest for dominance over Kakerou, an underground gambling organization that acts as a neutral referee for extreme wagers. To maintain the integrity of these life-threatening games, Kakerou employs 48 elite members and 101 referees who supervise matches and enforce outcomes, even when participants wager their lives. Along the way, Baku and his crew—including his protege Takaomi Kaji and bodyguard Marco—become entangled in conflicts with a rival criminal organization known as IDEAL. These referees are responsible for collecting debts when necessary. This occurs even when the stakes involve the very lives of the participants.

The complexity of the series is reflected in its diverse adaptations and commercial presence. An original video animation (OVA) directed by Kazuo Tomizawa was released in October 2012. Warner Bros. Japan also produced a live-action film version. Hideo Nakata directed this movie, which debuted in Japan on February 11, 2022. The manga's popularity is evidenced by its frequent appearances on Oricon's weekly top 50 comic charts, with various volumes reaching high rankings, such as Volume 11 reaching number 16. The OVA was bundled with the limited edition of the 26th volume. Additionally, the live-action film was first announced in 2016.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• At this elite academy, your social status is determined entirely by high-stakes gambling
• Why a Japanese manga about extreme deception became a global cultural phenomenon
• Twelve strangers are given ten billion yen to save Japan in a deadly game.
• A poor student becomes a servant to a wealthy heiress after a kidnapping
• In this corporate arena, business empires are won through unarmed combat
• How a misunderstood English teacher became a manga and anime sensation
• For a century, American cities criminalized the mere presence of people with visible disabilities.
• South Africa's largest nation began as a minor clan named for heaven
• Are the Tutsi a distinct ethnic group or a social class defined by cattle?
• Nobody can agree what the word Turk originally meant
• A family secret shatters the bonds of blood in Tokyo
• The psychological toll of reaching the world's most difficult peaks

More in Ethnology · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics