Two of anime’s biggest psychological gambling series have officially come together. A new collaboration visual has been released featuring the upcoming Junket Bank anime, based on Ikkō Tanaka’s manga, alongside the currently airing LIAR GAME anime, adapted from Shinobu Kaitani’s acclaimed manga.
The collaboration gives fans a special crossover between two series known for their mind games and strategic battles. It also builds excitement for Junket Bank, which is scheduled to premiere in October 2026.
Junket Bank and LIAR GAME Unite
The collaboration visual features Akira Mitarai from Junket Bank alongside Shinichi Akiyama from LIAR GAME. In the artwork, the two strategists are shown holding coins and playing cards, while wearing confident smiles, highlighting the psychological battles that define both series.
The crossover is a natural fit because both manga were serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump. LIAR GAME ran in the magazine from 2005 to 2015, while Junket Bank continues to be serialized there today. Their shared focus on high-stakes gambling, strategy, and psychological mind games makes this collaboration a fitting tribute to two of the magazine’s most recognizable suspense series.
What Is the Junket Bank Anime About?
Junket Bank follows Akira Mitarai, an ordinary bank employee whose life changes after he is transferred to a secret department within the bank. Hidden beneath the company is an underground gambling arena where wealthy clients risk enormous fortunes. There, Akira encounters the mysterious gambler Shin Mafutsu, whose extraordinary talent for high-stakes games draws him into a dangerous new world.
The anime adaptation is directed by Seiji Kishi at Studio CUE, with Makoto Fukami handling the series composition. Masanori Shino is in charge of character designs, while Taku Iwasaki is composing the music. The main cast includes Soma Saito as Shin Mafutsu and Rikuya Yasuda as Akira Mitarai.
Soma Saito said of his character: The most captivating aspect is the deception and mind games between characters who possess extraordinary intelligence and are not bound by common sense or conventional ethics. Just one miscalculation can completely overturn the situation, and until you turn the page, you never know what will happen next. I think it offers an incredibly thrilling reading experience that is hard to find elsewhere.
The Connection Between Junket Bank and LIAR GAME
LIAR GAME premiered in Japan on April 6, 2026, on TV Tokyo and its affiliated networks. The series is also streaming worldwide on Crunchyroll, excluding Japan and China, and is scheduled to air continuously for six months without any broadcast breaks.
The anime entered its second cour in July 2026, introducing a new opening theme, “All in” by Kroi, and a new ending theme, “Still Not Enough” by Muque. The ongoing broadcast has helped keep LIAR GAME in the spotlight, making its collaboration with the upcoming Junket Bank anime especially timely.
The anime’s original creator, Shinobu Kaitani, reflected deeply on its significance when it was first announced. Kaitani said: This year marks the 20th anniversary since LIAR GAME began serialization in Weekly Young Jump. The series originally began with the theme of ‘the importance of trust.’ However, 20 years later, with the pandemic and the rapid development of social media, it has become an even more difficult world in which to trust others. In such an era, we bring you the LIAR GAME anime.
The anime stars Saya Hitomi as Nao Kanzaki and Takeo Ōtsuka as Shinichi Akiyama. Chief Director is Yūzō Satō (Kaiji – Ultimate Survivor, Akagi, Trillion Game), and the anime is produced by Madhouse.
Why the Junket Bank x LIAR GAME Collaboration Matters
This collaboration is more than just a promotional visual. It brings together two series that have built their reputations on psychological battles, clever strategies, and high-stakes gambling. For longtime manga fans, seeing Akira Mitarai and Shinichi Akiyama side by side celebrates the shared appeal of Junket Bank and LIAR GAME and the legacy of Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump.
With Junket Bank set to premiere in October 2026, the collaboration also helps build excitement for the upcoming anime.
