[Kaiji] A collection of "buzz...buzz..." scenes

One sound effect that could be said to be synonymous with Kaiji is the "buzz... zawa..." sound effect that appears in the show. This sound effect does not simply mean that the surroundings are getting noisy and noisy, but is also used to describe the psychology of someone who has a foreboding feeling. "buzz... zawa..." could be said to be Kaiji's one and only sound effect, and today we would like to introduce some scenes in which this "buzz... zawa..." sound appears.

1. Debtors Being Explained on How to Walk on a Steel Beam

Source: Kaiji © Nobuyuki Fukumoto, Kodansha, Madhouse

This is a scene from Kaiji where debtors are being explained about the second gambling game, the steel beam walk, and are "bustling...bustling..." Although it is explained that the challenge involves simply crossing a steel beam, if one slips they will fall from a height of around 10m, causing the participants to yell in fear. Although there is a chance of winning a large sum of money, failure also means being seriously injured, so the complex psychological states of confusion and regret are expressed in one shot. This is a common scene in Kaiji, but it is also part of the charm of the series.

2. Kaiji faces off against Otsuki

Source: Kaiji © Nobuyuki Fukumoto, Kodansha, Madhouse

During an underground game of chinchirorin, Kaiji sees through Otsuki's cheating, and then he tries to use it to his advantage to defeat Otsuki. Having created a well-thought-out strategy and a path to victory, Kaiji now just needs to steadily execute it. As they carry out each step of the plan, this scene shows their anxiety that if they give even the slightest hint of distrust to Otsuki, the plan will fall apart, but also their confidence in the strategy they have built up.

3. Kitami is defeated by Kaiji's strategy

Source: Kaiji © Nobuyuki Fukumoto, Kodansha, Madhouse

During a limited-time rock-paper-scissors game, Kaiji, who is in a difficult position, challenges Kitami to a game. At first, he refuses, but Kaiji's provocation leads him to accept. At this point, Kitami had a good chance of winning and was convinced he could beat Kaiji. However, he fell into Kaiji's trap and suffered a painful defeat. This scene expresses his confusion at having lost a game that he had a high chance of winning at that moment. The "buzz...buzz..." expresses the psychology of not being able to understand what is happening in front of his very eyes, but being overcome by an indescribable anxiety.

4. A simple scene of a hustle and bustle in an izakaya.

Source: Kaiji © Nobuyuki Fukumoto, Kodansha, Madhouse

This is the scene where Kaiji's coworker at the convenience store Sahara is found out to be trying to frame Kaiji, and Kaiji takes him to an izakaya to correct the situation. The "buzz... buzz..." sound used in this scene is simply a sound effect expressing the commotion inside the izakaya. "Buzz... buzz..." can also be used in this simple way. However, if you read into it more, Kaiji and his friends will later take part in a steel beam crossing, and it seems to be creating a suspicious atmosphere that seems to allude to this.

5. Kaiji suspects a shortcut to crossing the steel beams

Source: Kaiji © Nobuyuki Fukumoto, Kodansha Madhouse

Towards the end of the crossing of the steel beams of a high-rise building, Kaiji finds a glass passageway next to the beams. Seeing Sahara fall into a trap after going straight, Kaiji believes this passageway is the correct one. However, having been trapped so many times up until now, Kaiji becomes suspicious of the passageway in front of him. This psychology is expressed with the "buzzing...buzzing..." sound effect. In a critical situation where one wrong move could mean death, Kaiji experiences an extreme state where doubt and relief intersect.

Summary

Source: Kaiji © Nobuyuki Fukumoto, Kodansha, Madhouse

No discussion of Kaiji can leave out the "buzzing...buzzing..." sound. At first, it felt a bit odd, but now that it's become so ingrained in the series, it's impossible to watch Kaiji without it. "Buzzing...buzzing..." is a versatile sound effect that clearly expresses situations and psychology. When you read Kaiji, it will be even more interesting if you enjoy the story while getting excited along with the characters.