Akio Kashiwagi

Akio Kashiwagi a.k.a. "The Warrior" is known for his incredible winnings and even more incredible losses at baccarat table.

A Man of Fortune

Akio Kashiwagi was a Japanese real estate developer with sackfuls of money and alleged ties to the Yakuza. He had a house and office in Tokyo owning a company Kashiwagi Shoji Co. According to the reports his annual revenue was hundred million dollars a year moreover he was also claimed to have a billion dollars in assets.

Ruinous Passion

But Akio Kashiwagi was enslaved by a dangerous passion called gambling, his game of choice was baccarat and routinely he was wagering $100,000 - $200,000 a hand. For his reckless gambling casino workers called him "The Warrior". In February 1990 won a record sum - $6 million at at the Trump Plaza Casino, Atlantic City.

His next trip to baccarat table in May wasn't that successful and he left the casino with two million dollars in chips, having lost ten million in six days of Baccarat session and set up a record of the largest single loss in the history of baccarat. Donald J. Trump is quoted to say that Akio was wagering US$200,000 a hand at a rate of around US$14 million an hour.

Mysterious Death

On January 3, 1992 Akio was found dead in his home near Mount Fuji. He had as many as 150 stab wounds given by a samurai sword. Rumours say that for his murder Yakuza is to blame as Akio was said to mess with powerful crime syndicate.

At the time of his death, Akio still had huge casino debts owing $5 million to the Las Vegas Hilton and $4 million to the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City.

Interesting fact: In the film Casino, the character of K.K. Ichikawa, the Japanese high roller, is based on real-life Akio Kashiwagi.