Gurazeni

Gurazeni is a Japanese manga series written by Yuji Moritaka and illustrated by Keiji Adachi. The series revolves around a left-handed relief pitcher named Natsunosuke Bonda who calculates the value of professional baseball players based on their performance and, especially, their salaries. The title, "Gurazeni," is a portmanteau of "gura," meaning luxury or easy money, and "zeni," meaning money, essentially referring to the exorbitant salaries earned by professional athletes.

The manga explores the often-harsh realities of professional baseball, focusing not only on the games themselves but also on the business side, the pressures faced by players, and the significant disparities in pay based on performance, popularity, and marketing potential. The story follows Bonda as he navigates the world of Japanese professional baseball (NPB), constantly analyzing his own worth and the worth of others in terms of the "gurazeni." He witnesses firsthand the cutthroat competition, the fleeting nature of success, and the financial implications that heavily influence players' careers.

The initial series, Gurazeni, ran from 2010 to 2014. This was followed by a sequel series, Gurazeni: Tokyo Dome-hen, which takes place after Bonda transfers to the Tokyo Dome team. Another sequel, Gurazeni: Pa League-hen, sees Bonda playing in the Pacific League. An anime adaptation of Gurazeni was broadcast in 2018.

The series is notable for its realistic and often cynical portrayal of the professional sports industry, delving into the complex relationship between talent, performance, money, and the overall business ecosystem of baseball.