Is Banking supposed to be this riveting? Masato Sakai character created in the viewer’s head a detailed portrait of an endearing idealistic person from the opening scene to the closing scene. Two colleagues befriend Hanzawa Naoki on their slow and steady rise through the ranks in a Male-Dominated field of the Japanese Corporate Banking Institution. Through Hanzawa Naoki’s eyes, we discern the stress bankers (salarymen) encounter daily to hit a specific quota.

The storyline is predictable, but it is not like another office drama handling of corruption or salary life within an organization. It is a realistic account of Japanese Men who battle the hierarchy or structure within the institution daily. The smart script adapted from a pair of novels by Jun Ikeido benefited Masato Sakai’s extraordinary versatility. His acting skills would suit the stage, but the over dramatics blended to the screenplay.

I was looking forward to this drama for the simple fact the screenwriter is brilliant and prolific. Yatsu Hiroyuki wrote Runaway - Aisuru Kimi no Tame ni (2011), Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit (2008), Roosevelt Game (2014), Shitamachi Rocket (2015), and many more that were engaging. It is a modern-day and period drama colliding without swordplay.

Masato Sakai was the star of the show, but every character had a strategic purpose. Yes, I did watch this partly because of Ueto Aya. Hanzawa Hana is a beautiful, intelligent, supportive wife that was not annoying and alike her other half. If you do not mind a little overacting, if you call it that then, you will love their home conversations.
The protagonist (Masato Sakai) and the antagonist (Kagawa Teruyuki ) was a delight to watch them battle it out. The antagonist Owada Akira was a person characterizing all the evils within the Japanese Banking Institution. Hanzawa Naoki is a salaryman struggling and fighting to bring down the cancers surrounding the Japanese Banking Institution. Oikawa Mitsuhiro and Takito Kenichi gave strong performances that aided more than hindered the script. Now, if you are like me, which you are not, you might enjoy the little Kendo matches/relieving stress exercises Takito Kenichi and Masato Sakai sport every once in a while.

The OST is not something I would listen to regularly, but I got to give the composer credit because the music flows perfectly from one scene to the next that was appropriate. It fits well at a refreshing moment.

Japanese dramas distinguish themselves from Korean and Chinese shows from their unique directing and acting styles that many will forgo because it might be hard to follow. I would say this watch the first few minutes and get acclimated to the witty script and acting that is nonstop exhilaration. If you cannot get into this show, many other superb Japanese dramas are waiting for you. I was skeptical, but I can watch almost anything.

One last note, I rarely give high grades, and this is one of the best Japanese dramas I had the privilege of viewing. I cannot wait for Season 2!!!! Like Hanzawa Naoki says, “I believe in People’s Good Will, but if they screw me, I will screw them back, It’s Double Payback .”

My Final Overall Rating: 9.11/10 stars
Story: 9.27/10 stars
Acting/Cast: 9.26/10 stars
Rewatch Value: 8.27/10 stars
My rewatch value varies every time I watch the show. I have watched this three times since 2013.