The Guys from Paradise

A Japanese businessman arrested for heroin possession who navigates a corrupt system to survive. He allies with Yoshida, ultimately taking risks to secure leverage, and later adopts a new identity to influence political outcomes. His journey from victim to strategist drives the plot.

A former underworld figure who hires Kohei as his representative and manipulates prison and street power. He relies on bribery to control events and remains a dangerous, unpredictable force throughout the story. His true identity as Murakame adds an enduring aura of menace.

A Manila-based restaurant owner who becomes a practical ally to Kohei, providing help and stability amid chaotic schemes. He represents a relatively ordinary citizen who adapts to extraordinary pressures. His loyalty grounds some of Kohei’s actions.

A pedophile involved in predatory schemes who robs Kohei of his safety, and is later subjected to violent consequences. His presence underscores the film’s darker alleys of vice and danger. His fate highlights the brutal costs of the criminal underworld.

A convict from the women’s wing who offers valuable gemstones to a powerful rival and later aids Kohei, complicating prison politics. Her actions reveal complex loyalties and the potential for cunning within the system. She plays a pivotal role in shifting the balance of power.

A prisoner who helps Kohei by creating a distraction with money to aid an escape. His intervention showcases how calculated risk can alter the trajectory for those caught inside the system. He represents practical, street-level problem-solving within confinement.