Kurosagi (クロサギ) is a Japanese manga series written by Takeshi Natsuhara and illustrated by Kuromaru (manga artist). It was serialized in Shogakukan's manga magazine Weekly Young Sunday from November 2003 to July 2008, with its chapters collected in 20 volumes. It was followed by Shin Kurosagi (2008–2012), Shin Kurosagi: Kanketsu-hen (2012–2013), and Kurosagi Sakidō: 18-sai Shinseijin Sagi Hanzan-hen (2022); the three were serialized in Weekly Big Comic Spirits. The series follows Koshiro Kurosaki, a boy who swindles only other professional swindlers known as shirosagi. A 11-episode television drama adaptation was broadcast on TBS from April to June 2006. It was followed by a live-action film adaptation premiered in March 2008. A second 10-episode television drama adaptation was broadcast on TBS from October to December 2022. By September 2022, the manga had over 8.5 million copies in circulation. In 2008, Kurosagi won the 53rd Shogakukan Manga Award in the general category.

Plot

Six years ago, Kurosaki's family was destroyed when a shirosagi (シロサギ) (a "white swindler", who focuses on defrauding others) swindled Kurosaki's father of their family's life savings. As a result, his father killed Kurosaki's mother and sister before committing suicide. Since then, Kurosaki has devoted himself to becoming a "kurosagi" ("black swindler"), who swindles other swindlers, as a means of revenge. As a "kurosagi", Kurosaki's acts have helped innocent victims of swindling schemes get their money back. However, he is frequently met with opposition by a stubborn grad student, who seeks to become a prosecutor.

Characters

Media

Manga

Written by Takeshi Natsuhara and illustrated by Kuromaru (manga artist), Kurosagi started in Shogakukan's manga magazine Weekly Young Sunday on November 13, 2003, to July 31, 2008, until the magazine ceased its publication. Its chapters were collected in 20 volumes, released from April 5, 2004, to September 3, 2008. The series resumed in Weekly Big Comic Spirits, under the title Shin Kurosagi (新クロサギ), on September 6, 2008, and finished on August 6, 2012. Shogakukan collected its chapters in 18 volumes, released from December 26, 2008, to March 29, 2013. A third series, Shin Kurosagi: Kanketsu-hen (新クロサギ完結編), was serialized in Weekly Big Comic Spirits from August 27, 2012, to July 29, 2013. Its chapters were collected in four volumes, released from June 28 to December 27, 2013. A short-term series, titled Kurosagi Sakidō: 18-sai Shinseijin Sagi Hanzan-hen (クロサギ再起動 –18歳新成人詐欺犯罪編–), was serialized in Weekly Big Comic Spirits from September 26 to November 7, 2022. Its chapters were collected in a single volume, released on November 10, 2022.

Live-action

Drama

A 11-episode television drama adaptation was broadcast on TBS from April 14 to June 23, 2006. Another 10-episode television drama adaptation was broadcast on TBS from October 21 to December 23, 2022.

Film

A live-action film adaptation premiered on March 8, 2008.

Reception

In 2008, along with Tetsuji Sekiya's Bambino!, Kurosagi won the 53rd Shogakukan Manga Award in the general category. By September 2022, the manga had over 8.5 million copies in circulation.