HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE 2 - END OF SKY

**HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE 2 - END OF SKY** is a 2017 Japanese action film directed by Shigeaki Kubo and Tsuyoshi Nakakuki. It is the third film of the HiGH&LOW franchise, and the second film focusing on the war between yakuza organisation Kuryu Group and the S.W.O.R.D gangs. Following the story of HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE and HiGH&LOW THE RED RAIN, the S.W.O.R.D gangs continued to fight against Kuryu Group's plan of transforming their town into a casino.

The film was released in Japan by Shochiku on August 19th, 2017, and in Taiwan on September 7th, 2018.

## Plot

Though being attacked, the SWORD gangs united and defeated the army of enemies led by former Mugen leader, Kohaku, at the fight at the Container Yard, the SWORD area gets a temporary peace.

However, Kuryu Group does not give up its plan of building a casino in the SWORD area. To fight their mutual enemies, Cobra of Sannoh Hoodlum Squad suggests the five SWORD gangs should ally. However, as Smoky's illness takes a turn for the worse, Rude Boys members, who attend the summit of SWORD leaders in place of Smoky refuse the plan, saying that it's more important for them to survive. White Rascals' leader Rocky refuses to ally too, maintaining that they only want to protect women. The plan of alliance therefore fails.

Rocky refuses the plan for his own reason. The vicious man he has a feud with, Doubt's leader Ranmaru Hayashi has got out of prison, Rocky does not want the other SWORD gangs to get involved in the feud between them. Ranmaru Hayashi came prepared, with his money and the fierce Prison Gang he calls from the prison, he almost destroys White Rascals and injures Rocky. Cobra offers Rocky his help, but Rocky insists that one should rely on his own when he can.

Meanwhile, another fight against the casino plan has begun. After the death of their older brother, Takeru; Masaki and Hiroto Amamiya gives the USB with proof of politicians taking bribes from the Kuryu Group to Kohaku, who deeply regrets the mistakes he has made and wants to expose the evil of the Kuryu Group. Kuryu Group becomes aware of their plans of publicising information in the USB, and they send Genji Kuki, vice leader of Kurosaki-kai, to kill Kohaku and his right-hand man, Tsukumo.

To end the feud between themselves and the alliance of Doubt and the Prison Gang, the White Rascals head to the fierce battle. When they are almost killed by their powerful enemy, Cobra, and other SWORD members, come to their rescue with the determination to protect the SWORD area as a whole from their enemies. At the same time, Kohaku,  Tsukumo and the Amamiya Brothers have to fight the formidable killer Genji Kuki.

The biggest fight that will determine the future of the SWORD area begins. The SWORD gangs repulse the attacks of their enemies at walls, but their true enemy, the Kuryu Group, has not yet been defeated.

## Trivia

* The film's cast includes not only a large number of members of the Exile Tribe, Takanori Iwata, Akira, Sho Aoyagi, Takahiro and Hiroomi Tosaka for instances, but also actors like Kento Hayashi, Masataka Kubota, and Yuki Yamada.
* The premiere on August 9, 2017, attended by 60 people on its stage greeting event, it was an impressive event that surpass the massive premiere of the previous HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE.
* On its opening, the film attracting more than 266 thousand audiences. 40% of the viewers were male, which was much higher than the 20% of the previous HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE.
* The sequel, HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE 3 - FINAL MISSION is released on November 11th, 2017.
* On September 7, 2018, HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE 2 - END OF SKY were released in Taiwan alongside HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE 3 - FINAL MISSION.