I got into Loan Shark Ushijima last year in September. My wife was away for a couple of weeks and I was trying out Netflix (didn't renew the free trial though -too much of a time suck).

LSU (闇金ウシジマ君 -Yamikin Ushijima-kun in Japanese) is a manga, a couple of series of a TV show, and three movies. It is remarkably popular, a fun (if incredibly bleak) watch, and a really interesting window into parts of Japanese society and thinking that I'm glad I seldom get to see.

First, a warning: the content is violent, distressing, and really depressing at times.

The stories revolve around Ushijima, who owns a small money-lending company. He isn't a yakuza, but works for and around them. He is portrayed as very tough, intelligent, and ruthless, but occasionally does something that makes you think he actually cares about people.

LSU is actually kind of moralistic. The horrible stuff that happens to people in the series tends to stem from their faults or stupidity, or those of their friends and family. From time to time people are redeemed, often through Ushijima's stern guidance.

The views of the underbelly of Japanese society seem completely ridiculous, unless you read Tokyo Reporter, at which point you realise that they could be horribly true to life.

The manga came first, but I read it after watching the TV show and the movies. A lot of the stories are faithfully reproduced in the TV show and the movies. I wasn't able to continue reading past book 11 or so of the manga. It was just too bleak and depressing. The supporting characters ('customers' and victims of the loan sharks and the criminals around them) engage in really stupid and self-defeating behaviour. I found it exhausting and had to stop reading.

I watched three full series of the TV show. It was available with English subtitles on Netflix when I watched it. The first series was by far the best. It features a fantastic female support character that really rounds out the cast and the stories work well. I would definitely start here.

The second and third series of the TV show are not as good, but are still watchable. Carry on watching as I did if you need more of a fix.

The movies are over the top and kind of stupid. They are much more violent and graphically sexual than the TV show, so it feels like the creators were trying stuff they wouldn't have been able to do on TV. Also more cartoonish than the TV show, particularly the fight scenes. I haven't gotten round to watching the third movie yet.

One thing I found particularly interesting was the impression of investing that seems to be common in Japanese society, ie that it is dangerous and risky. There are several investing scams in Ushijima, including a particularly horrible one in the comic that goes on for several books where a clueless housewife is swindled out of first all her money, then her husband's retirement bonus, then their house, and finally her mother's house in a succession of encounters with crooked salesmen and companies orchestrated by Ushijima.

One can perhaps see where some Japanese people's aversion to the stock market comes from after reading that particular story line.

So I really recommend the first TV show. The rest of the TV and movie content is fine, and if you manage to get through the manga let me know how the later books are.

Anyone else familiar with Ushijima? Any other TV shows tangentially related to personal finance I should check out?

I managed to watch this a few weeks ago. It's made by HBO, but I could not for the life of me find a way of watching it legally, so I ended up watching it on Youtube.

It's ninety minutes, and provides an intimate look at Warren Buffett and his life. One of the most surprising things for me is how ordinary his life is (or how ordinary he portrays his life as) and how unusual aspects of it are (like his relationships with his two wives).

This is an interesting, heart-warming documentary about one of the richest people in the world and how he got there.

It's also a real endorsement of lifestyle design, ie figuring out what you are good at and what you enjoy doing, then making a life that lets you do that.

It's well worth ninety minutes of your time.

I also really enjoyed The Snowball, his authorized biography, and of course the annual letters compilation. I actually read through all of these. Considering they are the annual reports of a large corporation, it wasn't too bad ;)
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Any other good documentaries I should check out?
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I watched Money Monster on a plane headed for Europe (along with four other films -seems like I only ever watch films on planes now).

It's a good film. Engaging story and characters, mostly interesting plot, great pacing. Clooney and Roberts are great in it (and she normally annoys me, so that is saying something!).

There's not a whole lot of personal finance in there, apart from the lesson to diversify and not take investing tips from the TV ;)

I'd give Money Monster 4/5, and recommend it for RetireJapan readers.

Anyone else seen Money Monster? What did you think?

Last month's review of The Big Short reminded me of another great film about the 2008 financial crisis: Margin Call.

It is is kind of a cross between 24 and the financial news. The film feels like a thriller and is very fast-paced. The mood is cynical, and the cast is incredible.

Well worth checking out.

Any other good financial films?