The first episode of , which premiered on July 7, 2013, serves as a high-stakes introduction to one of Japan’s most successful television dramas. Centered on the ruthless world of Japanese banking, the episode establishes the series' core conflict: a lone banker’s battle against corporate corruption and systemic scapegoating. Plot Summary: The 500 Million Yen Trap
During his first meeting with the team, Hanzawa boldly suggests a new strategy to attract high-net-worth clients, which impresses Ikeda and raises eyebrows among his colleagues. However, not everyone is convinced of Hanzawa's approach, and he soon finds himself at odds with the bank's traditionalists.
A decade later, rewatching is a visceral experience. It taps into a universal, primal fear: being betrayed by the system you serve. Every salaryman who has watched a boss take credit for their success or a coworker deflect blame onto them has felt Hanzawa’s fury. Hanzawa Naoki Episode 1
: Three months later, Nishi Osaka Steel abruptly goes bankrupt, revealing it had been hiding massive debts through fraudulent accounting. The Scapegoat
Hanzawa Naoki is a loan officer at the Osaka Nakanoshima branch of Tokyo Central Bank. When the branch manager, Asano, pressures him to approve a 500 million yen loan to a steel company without proper collateral, Hanzawa complies. The company files for bankruptcy shortly after, revealing the loan was fraudulent. To protect his own career, Manager Asano blames Hanzawa. Faced with certain dismissal, Hanzawa vows to uncover the truth and force Asano to bow in apology. The episode ends with Hanzawa beginning his investigation, discovering a secret account in the steel company’s books. Hanzawa Naoki The first episode of , which
As the elevator doors open, Hanzawa is greeted by his new boss, the strict and seasoned banker, Ikeda (played by Akira Nagao). Ikeda is notorious for being tough on his subordinates, and Hanzawa quickly realizes that he'll have to prove himself.
Episode 1: "Double Payback! A New Hero Rises Against Corrupt Bosses" The story begins with Naoki Hanzawa (Masato Sakai), the loan section chief at Tokyo Chuo Bank's Osaka West Branch. 1. The Trap Branch Manager (Kanji Ishimaru) aggressively pushes Hanzawa to approve a 500 million yen loan (approx. $5 million) for Nishi Osaka Steel However, not everyone is convinced of Hanzawa's approach,
While searching for the missing president of Nishi Osaka Steel, Hanzawa saves Mr. Takeshita, another business owner ruined by the bankruptcy, from a suicide attempt. This mirror's Hanzawa's own tragic past, where his father committed suicide after a bank denied him a loan.