Japanese reviews praised Episode 1 as “a perfect setup” for a thriller. The Nikkei called it “a cathartic mirror for the 8.8 million Japanese office workers who have been scapegoated by their bosses.” Some critics noted the villain Asano is almost caricature-level evil, but argued this amplifies the genre’s appeal as modern-day jidaigeki (period drama) set in a bank.
International viewers (especially in China and Taiwan, where the show became a cult hit) remarked on the “raw emotion” rarely seen in typical reserved Japanese workplace depictions. Hanzawa Naoki Episode 1
The episode opens in 2004, introducing us to Hanzawa Naoki (Hiroki Hasegawa) as he enters the Osaka Nishi Branch of Tokyo Chuo Bank. He is the loan section chief, a man who walks with a purposeful stride but carries a furrowed brow. The atmosphere is instantly oppressive. Director Katsuo Fukuzawa employs tight camera angles and desaturated tones to make the bank look less like a place of business and more like a prison. Japanese reviews praised Episode 1 as “a perfect
We quickly learn the hierarchy: Hanzawa is sandwiched between the sycophantic branch manager, Asano, who cares only about his promotion, and the subordinate staff who are terrified of making mistakes. The opening scenes effectively establish the central conflict of the series: the crushing weight of the Japanese corporate structure (kao o tateru), where saving face is more important than the truth. The episode opens in 2004, introducing us to
The middle portion of Episode 1 functions like a heist movie in reverse. Instead of stealing money, Hanzawa is trying to find it. He discovers that the president of Nishi Osaka Steel has hidden assets—specifically, a massive purchase of "Lagoon Blue" diamonds.
The writing shines here as it demystifies banking jargon. The episode explains off-balance-sheet transactions and auditing tricks in a way that is accessible and thrilling. Hanzawa’s visit to the diamond district, piecing together the paper trail, is filmed with the urgency of an action movie.