A Sneak Peek at the Raw Scripts for the Upcoming New Work! Manga Artist Nobuyuki Fukumoto Shares Behind-the-Scenes Stories—What’s Next for “Kaiji”?

New Series and Live-Action Movie

“My new work is a ‘reincarnation’ manga in which a superstar like Shohei Ohtani (32) and a mediocre middle-aged man swap bodies…”

Manga artist Nobuyuki Fukumoto (67) said this with a mischievous smile.His signature work, the popular manga series *Kaiji: Gambling Apocalypse*, marks its 30th anniversary this year. Furthermore, he has consistently produced hit works such as *Akagi: The Genius Who Descended into Darkness*, *Silver and Gold*, and *Ten: The Brave Men of Tenwa Street*, solidifying his position as the leading figure in gambling manga.

His new manga, *Aoi and Teppei*, begins serialization in *Weekly Young Magazine* on October 26.The story begins when Tetsuhei Arima—an ordinary protagonist who slurps instant noodles in a run-down apartment while watching baseball on TV—suddenly finds himself swapped with Aoi, a handsome professional baseball player on the other side of the screen. Exclusively for FRIDAY, he has generously revealed the storyboards for Chapter 1 and the raw manuscript currently in progress (see photos).

“When you see a star like Ohtani on TV, don’t you find yourself wondering, ‘What kind of life would I have led if I had that kind of talent?’ That’s what I wanted to turn into a manga. In typical reincarnation stories, the two people who’ve swapped bodies desperately try to get back to normal, but Teppei and Aoi don’t do that—which makes it quite challenging. It’s turning out pretty interesting, so please look forward to it.”

While anticipation for the new series is building, fans have another concern on their minds…

“I know (laughs). It’s that question: ‘What’s going to happen with the continuation of *Kaiji*, which has been on hiatus since June ’23…?’ When I started serializing *Nikaido Jigoku Golf* three years ago, my editor kept asking me, ‘What about *Kaiji*?!’ I’m truly sorry.
As for how I’ll resume *Kaiji*—I do have a plan.Of course, there’s the continuation of the currently serialized “2.4 Billion Escape Arc,” as well as the final showdown between the protagonist, Kaiji, and his arch-nemesis, Kazutaka Hyodo, chairman of the corrupt lending company “Tei-Ai Group.” Plus, how to weave the chairman’s son, Kazuya, and his talented older brother into the story. I sometimes daydream about the finale for *Kaiji*.
For example, what if Chairman Hyodo ran for Governor of Tokyo?“If I’m elected, I’ll give 500,000 yen to everyone who voted for me. It’ll all come from my personal fortune, so I won’t use any tax money”… he could make a campaign pledge like that. “So, before you vote, make sure to take a photo of yourself holding the ballot with my name written on it!” How about that? (laughs) Please look forward to it.”

On January 29 of next year, the new movie *Kaiji: The Game of Life Revenge*, the first in seven years, is set to hit theaters.Following previous installments, Tatsuya Fujiwara (44) returns as the lead, and Kazuya Kamenashi (40) has been cast as Kazuya, the son of Chairman Hyodo. The internet is truly “buzzing” with excitement. Mr. Fukumoto says he’s been involved from the planning and screenwriting stages, just as he has been with the previous films in the series.

“Without giving away any spoilers, one of the highlights is Kamenashi’s portrayal of Kazuya. He performs brilliantly with movements even more exaggerated than in the manga, and I was truly moved when I saw him on set. Since Fujiwara comes from a theater background, his over-the-top, manga-style acting really suits him, doesn’t it?”

Reality Has Become More Terrifying Than Tei-Ai

This series has achieved great success through its media mix strategy, with both the live-action films and the anime gaining popularity. Furthermore, spin-off manga such as *Tonegawa: The Middle Manager Chronicles*, *Hancho: A Day Out*, and *Ichijo: Life in Tokyo* have become hits one after another—but what is the reason behind this?

“Hmm, while the strength of the individual characters might play a part, I think the biggest factor is probably the ‘Tei-Ai Group’—a villain that’s easy to understand. It’s a chaotic, corrupt lending company ruled by the dictatorial Chairman Hyodo, where Kaiji and other delinquent debtors are forced to work in underground labor facilities, and the way employees are treated is utterly exploitative. In a very straightforward way, they’re vicious, evil, and inhuman.
It’s precisely because Teiai is so genuinely terrifying that we can turn even its executives—like ‘Tonegawa’—or the leader of the underground labor facility, ‘Hancho,’ into sources of humor. But…”

He let out a small sigh as he flipped through the copy of *FRIDAY* in his hands.

“Tokuryu and those trendy scam groups—recent criminal organizations are way more terrifying, aren’t they? (wry smile). Teiai doesn’t kidnap innocent people or force them to sell their organs.Well, they do make you walk across the steel beams strung across the building. But reading *FRIDAY*, I really do think the world has become a scary place these days.”

Meanwhile, *Nikaido Jigoku Golf*, which began serialization in *Morning* in ’23, is currently reaching its climax. The protagonist is Susumu Nikaido, a golfer who has failed the pro test for ten consecutive years. A man who has devoted his life to golf acquires a mysterious power and is forced to make harsh choices in exchange for success.

In the current serialization, Nikaido—who has finally passed the pro test—is tormented by guilt over cheating using his “ability to rewind time”—“Nikaido~ (How about two times?)”—and tries to quit golf.However, when his beloved Kasumi is diagnosed with leukemia, he decides to take on the professional circuit to earn money for her treatment… leading to a plot twist you won’t want to miss.

“Nikaido activated ‘Nikaido~’ in Chapter 30 of the serialization. Normally, that’s the kind of plot point that should have been used by the end of Volume 1 of the collected edition—in other words, around Chapter 10. I definitely held onto it for too long (laughs).The name ‘Nikaido’ is a play on the phrase ‘Nikaido?’ (meaning ‘How about two times?’), and he eventually activates the ability to redo shots and putts—in other words, the ability to rewind time. I confided my anxiety to my editor, asking, ‘Do you think any readers will figure out the meaning behind Nikaido?’ but he told me, ‘Don’t worry, no one will notice.’And sure enough, no one noticed at all (laughs).”

Surprisingly, one of the themes of this work is “making girls look cute.”

“I’ve hardly ever drawn female characters before. That’s why I’m putting so much effort into Kasumi-chan. I’d love to see *Nikaido Jigoku Golf* adapted into a live-action film. And for the role of Kasumi-chan, I’d definitely want Kasumi Arimura (33)!”

[Click here for Part 2] What I’ve Learned After 30 Years of Drawing ‘Kaiji’: Manga Artist Nobuyuki Fukumoto’s Unwavering Creative Drive

From the November 6, 2026 issue of *FRIDAY*