Ushijima the Loan Shark

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Ushijima the Loan Shark
First tankōbon volume cover
闇金ウシジマくん
(Yamikin Ushijima-kun)
Manga
Written byShohei Manabe
Published byShogakukan
MagazineWeekly Big Comic Spirits
Original runMay 10, 2004 – March 4, 2019
Volumes46
Further information
Television drama
Directed byMasatoshi Yamaguchi
Written byMasahiro Fukuma
Original networkTBS, MBS
Original run October 12, 2010 – September 18, 2016
Episodes27
Live-action film
Directed byMasatoshi Yamaguchi
Written by
  • Masahiro Fukuma
  • Masatoshi Yamaguchi
Music bySuperfly
ReleasedAugust 25, 2012 (2012-08-25)
Runtime129 minutes
Live-action film
Ushijima the Loan Shark Part 2
Directed byMasatoshi Yamaguchi
Written by
  • Masahiro Fukuma
  • Masatoshi Yamaguchi
Music bySuperfly
ReleasedMay 14, 2014 (2014-05-14)
Runtime133 minutes
Live-action film
Ushijima the Loan Shark Part 3
Directed byMasatoshi Yamaguchi
Written by
  • Masahiro Fukuma
  • Masatoshi Yamaguchi
Music bySuperfly
ReleasedSeptember 22, 2016 (2016-09-22)
Runtime131 minutes
Live-action film
Ushijima the Loan Shark The Final
Directed byMasatoshi Yamaguchi
Written by
  • Masahiro Fukuma
  • Masatoshi Yamaguchi
Music bySuperfly
ReleasedOctober 22, 2016 (2016-10-22)
Runtime130 minutes
Manga
Nikumamushi Densetsu
Written byYū Hayato
Published byShogakukan
MagazineYawaraka Spirits
Original runFebruary 2017 – present
Volumes16
Manga
Gaiden: Ramen Namerikawa-san
Written byŌdō Yamazaki
Published byShogakukan
MagazineYawaraka Spirits
Original runDecember 7, 2017 – March 4, 2019
Volumes5
Manga
Shōnen-in Ushijima-kun
Written byŌdō Yamazaki
Published byShogakukan
MagazineMangaONE
Original runJanuary 30, 2023 – present
Manga
Naniwa Time Slip Aizawa-kun
Written bySatoshi Sasasani
Published byShogakukan
MagazineMonthly Big Comic Spirits
Original runApril 26, 2024 – present
Manga
Namerikawa-Gumi Yakuza Meshi
Written byYouichi
Published byShogakukan
MagazineYawaraka Spirits
Original runMarch 24, 2025 – scheduled
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Ushijima the Loan Shark (Japanese: 闇金ウシジマくん, Hepburn: Yamikin Ushijima-kun) is a Japanese manga series by Shohei Manabe. The series was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Big Comic Spirits magazine from May 2004 to May 2019. It was adapted into a live action television drama series in 2010 and into a live action film in 2012. A second live action film, Ushijima the Loan Shark 2, was released on May 16, 2014.[1][2] Two other live action films, Ushijima the Loan Shark 3, and Ushijima the Loan Shark The Final have also been released.

In 2011, the series won the 56th Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga.

Plot

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Cow Cow Finance is an unlicensed moneylending operation that offers loans at exorbitant interest rates of 50% over ten days. The company recruits Takada, a former host, as a new employee. Under the cold and ruthless leadership of its president, Kaoru Ushijima, Takada initially struggles with fear and unease. However, he gradually adapts to the harsh environment, working alongside senior employees to issue loans and collect debts.

Every day, desperate individuals—people with no means to secure their next meal—flood the office, seeking financial relief. The story follows the relentless and often brutal world of underground finance, where both lenders and borrowers are trapped in a cycle of exploitation and survival.

Characters

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Media

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Manga

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Written and illustrated by Shohei Manabe, Ushijima the Loan Shark was serialized in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Weekly Big Comic Spirits from May 10, 2004,[3] to March 4, 2019.[4] Shogakukan collected its chapters in forty-six tankōbon volumes, released from July 30, 2004,[5] to May 30, 2019.[6]

A spin-off manga by Yū Hayato, titled Nikumamushi Densetsu, began serialization on Shogakukan's Yawaraka Spirits manga service in February 2017.[7]

A spin-off manga by Ōdō Yamazaki, titled Gaiden: Ramen Namerikawa-san, was serialized on the Yawaraka Spirits manga service between December 2017 and May 2019.[8][9]

Another spin-off manga by Ōdō Yamazaki, titled Shōnen-in Ushijima-kun, began serialization on Shogakukan’s MangaONE app on January 30, 2023.[10]

A spin-off manga by Satoshi Sasasani, titled Naniwa Time Slip Aizawa-kun, began serialization in Shogakukan's Monthly Big Comic Spirits on April 26, 2024. The spin-off centers around Aizawa time traveling to the 90s.[11]

A spin-off manga by Youichi, titled Namerikawa-Gumi Yakuza Meshi, is set to begin serialization on Yawaraka Spirits on March 24, 2025.[12]

Drama

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In 2010, the manga series was adapted into a TV drama.[13]

Film

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In 2012, the manga was adapted into a live-action film, with the cast and staff from the TV drama reprising their roles.[14]

Reception

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In 2011, the series won the 56th Shogakukan Manga Award in the general category.[15][16]

By March 2022, the manga had over 21 million copies in circulation.[17]

References

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  1. ^ Kevin Ma (May 13, 2014). "Frozen tops Japan B.O. for tenth weekend". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  2. ^ "闇金ウシジマくん Part2 (2014)". alcinema.net (in Japanese). Stingray. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  3. ^ ビッグ スピリッツ 2004年24号 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on August 15, 2004. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  4. ^ 闇金ウシジマくん完結！「全部捧げる気持ちで描いてきた」、デコトラ全国走行も. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. March 4, 2019. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  5. ^ 闇金ウシジマくん １ (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  6. ^ 闇金ウシジマくん ４６ (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  7. ^ Ressler, Karen (January 29, 2017). "Ushijima the Loan Shark Gets Spinoff Manga About Nikumamushi". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  8. ^ Ressler, Karen (December 5, 2017). "Ushijima the Loan Shark Gets New Spinoff Manga About Namerikawa". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  9. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 29, 2019). "Ushijima the Loan Shark's Spinoff Manga About Namerikawa Ends in 5th Volume". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  10. ^ Cayanan, Joanna (January 20, 2023). "Ushijima the Loan Shark Manga Gets New Spinoff Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  11. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 27, 2024). "Ushijima the Loan Shark Manga Gets Spinoff Manga About Aizawa". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Cayanan, Joanna (March 11, 2025). "Yūji Takemura, Kurano Each Launch New Manga, Ushijima the Loan Shark Gets New Spinoff by Youichi". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 11, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  13. ^ "Ushijima the Loan Shark Manga Gets Live-Action Show". Anime News Network. August 9, 2010. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  14. ^ "Ushijima the Loan Shark Manga Gets Live-Action Film". Anime News Network. August 3, 2011. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  15. ^ 小学館漫画賞 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on September 23, 2004. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  16. ^ "56th Shogakukan Manga Award Winners Announced (Updated)". Anime News Network. January 21, 2011. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  17. ^ YouTube「闇金ウシジマくん」チャンネルで『肉蝮伝説』1巻分まるごと動画化&無料公開！ (Press release) (in Japanese). Shogakukan. March 2, 2022. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via PR Times.
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