High&Low (stylized as HiGH&LOW) is a Japanese action media franchise centred around the Exile Tribe. Produced by Exile Hiro, the High&Low entertainment project consists of television series, various films and other media, including music, stage productions, live tours, official SNS accounts, mobile games, books, manga, anime, and temporary themed establishments, comprising an all-encompassing fictional universe.[1][2] In 2016, it grossed 2.7 billion yen and was the 15th-highest-grossing media franchise of Japan that year.[3]
| HiGH&LOW (High and low) | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Exile Hiro |
| Original work | High&Low: The Story of S.W.O.R.D. (2015) |
| Print publications | |
| Comics | See below |
| Films and television | |
| Film(s) | See below |
| Television series | See below |
| Games | |
| Role-playing | High&Low: The Game – Another World |
| Audio | |
| Original music | |
| Official website | |
The High&Low franchise started in 2015 with a television drama High&Low: The Story of S.W.O.R.D., which was broadcast in October.[4] One of its slogans was that every character in the franchise was a leading character.[5]
Overview
editHigh&Low's story began in a town that was once under the rule of a powerful organization called "Mugen". But after a fight with the enemy they could not crush, the Amamiya Brothers, Mugen suddenly broke apart and became a legend of the past. Afterwards, five new gangs were formed and took control of the area; based on the initials of the five gangs that lead each territory, the town began to be known as the "S.W.O.R.D. Area".[1][6]
Gangs in the world of High&Low
editMugen
editTheme Song: Sandaime J Soul Brothers from Exile Tribe - "Mugen Road"
Founded by Kohaku, Tatsuya, and Tsukumo, and later joined by Cobra and Yamato, Mugen was the gang that used to control the area. It disbanded after a fight with the Amamiya Brothers.
The Amamiya Brothers
editTheme Song: Ace of Spades feat. Hiroomi Tosaka - "Sin"
Masaki and Hiroto Amamiya are the brothers that even the powerful Mugen could not defeat. They have superior martial arts skills that can knock down hundreds of opponents. Their eldest brother, Takeru, disappeared years ago and they were looking for him.
Sannoh Rengokai (Hoodlum Squad)
editTheme Song: Doberman Infinity - "Do or Die"
Sannoh Rengokai was led by former Mugen's member Cobra. They took control of the northeastern part of the S.W.O.R.D. Area and strived to protect the citizens of the "Sannoh Shopping Street".
DTC
editSannoh Rengokai's member Dan, Tettsu, Chiharu formed a small sub-unit called DTC. They often met in the Itokan Diner and joked together.
White Rascals
editTheme Song: PKCZ® feat. Exile Shokichi - "Whiteout"
Getting their name from their all white attire, the White Rascals were based in a hip nightclub called "Heaven", which was run by their boss, Rocky. Following the principle of their boss, they fought to protect the women within their area.
Oya Koukou (Oya High School)
editTheme Song: Doberman Infinity - "Jump Around ∞"
Oya Koukou was the high school where bad boys from all over Japan went to. As many of its graduates became yakuza, it was often considered a reserve force for various gangs.
The Part-time School
editThe Part-Time School gang consisted of bad boys who refused to graduate and continued to fight each other, many of whom were older than 20. Their leader was Murayama.
The Full-time School
editThe Full-Time School was for high school students who went to school to fight. They were led by Todoroki. However, as new students like Fujio Hanaoka came to the school, the equilibrium of Oya Koukou's Full-time School collapsed into various factions that competed for hegemony.
Rude Boys
editTheme Song: Generations from Exile Tribe - "Run this Town"
Led by Smoky, the Rude Boys consisted of orphans who lived together in the "Nameless Street" as a family. All skillful in the use of Parkour, they formed this army on their own to protect their home.
Daruma Ikka
editTheme Song: DJ Daruma from PKCZ® - "Voice of Red feat. GS"
Daruma Ikka was led by the menacing Hyuga Norihisa, whose family's gang was defeat by Mugen. Daruma Ikka was a gang of people who hated Mugen and controlled all the rights of festivals in the area. Accompanied by his friend, the Tousetsu Brothers, Ukyo and Sakyo, they gather people who hates the Mugen gang and establish the Daruma Ikka.
Mighty Warriors
editTheme Song: PKCZ(R) feat. Afrojack, CRAZYBOY, ANARCHY, SWAY, MIGHTY CROWN (MASTA SIMON & SAMI-T)- "Mighty Warriors"
The highly fashionable and musically inclined Mighty Warriors, led by ICE, were a bunch of fierce fighters. Based in the coastal regions near the S.W.O.R.D. Area, they would do anything to accumulate money to achieve their dream of music and fashion.
Kuryu Group
editTheme Song: Exile the Second - "One Time One Life"
Literally meaning "Nine Dragons", the Kuryu Group is an organization made up of nine yakuza groups who control the dark underbelly of Japan.
Ichigo Milk
editTheme Song: E-girls - "STRAWBERRY サディスティック"
The female counterpart of Sannoh Rengokai in the Sannoh district. All dressed in pink bosozoku-style jackets, they drove around on their re-modeled bikes.
Chanson
editThe Korean gang who sought to control the S.W.O.R.D. Area and then expanding into the rest of Japan.
Doubt
editTheme Song: Exile the Second - "ASOBO! feat. Far East Movement"
The vicious gang that kidnapped and sold women, this naturally puts them at odds with the chivalrous White Rascals.
Prison Gang
editTheme Song: HONEST BOYZ - "YO!"
The general name for all gangs inside the prisons of the "Rasen Area", which is located near the S.W.O.R.D. Area, there are several gangs in those prisons. Normally, when a street gang member is thrown inside one of those prisons, he would be forced to join one of them in order to protect himself within the dangerous environment. However, Jesse, later known as the "King of the Prison", creates a new gang on his own after he is imprisoned, and very soon his gang becomes the strongest of all. Jesse's gang consists only of people from the same "Little Asia Area" as himself, which ensures their unity remains strong even when "outside" of the prison.
Media
editTelevision
edit| Series | Season | Episodes | Originally aired / released | NetWork | Total Director | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Last | ||||||
| High&Low: The Story of S.W.O.R.D. | 1 | 10 | October 22, 2015 | December 24, 2015 | Nippon TV | Sigeaki Kubo | |
| 2 | 10 | April 17, 2016 | June 26, 2016 | ||||
| High&Low: The DTC | 1 | 11 | August 11, 2017 | August 25, 2017 | Hulu Japan | Norihisa Hiranuma | |
| The Worst Episode.O | 1 | 6 | July 18, 2019 | August 22, 2019 | Nippon TV | Sigeaki Kubo | |
| High&Low: The Best Bout | 1 | 8 | October 3, 2019 | November 21, 2019 | A summary of best scenes of the High&Low Series | ||
| 6 from High&Low: The Worst | 1 | 6 | November 19, 2020 | December 24, 2020 | |||
Film
edit| Film | Japan Release Date | Director | Screenplay by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road to High&Low | May 7, 2016 | Sigeaki Kubo | Team HI-AX | |
| High&Low: The Movie | July 16, 2016 | Kei Watanabe, Norihisa Hiranuma, Team HI-AX | ||
| High&Low: The Red Rain | October 8, 2016 | Yūdai Yamaguchi | Yûko Matsuda, Keisuke Makino, Kei Watanabe, Norihisa Hiranuma | Spin-off |
| High&Low: The Movie 2 – End of Sky | August 19, 2017 | Sigeaki Kubo, Tsuyoshi Nakakuki | Kei Watanabe, Norihisa Hiranuma, Shōhei Fukuda, Daisuke Kamijô, Team HI-AX | |
| High&Low: The Movie 3 – Final Mission | November 11, 2017 | |||
| DTC -Yukemuri Junjou Hen- from High&Low | September 28, 2018 | Sigeaki Kubo | Kei Watanabe, Norihisa Hiranuma, Shōhei Fukuda, Daisuke Kamijô | Spin-off |
| High&Low: The Worst | October 4, 2019 | Hiroshi Takahashi, Kei Watanabe, Shoichiro Masumoto, Norihisa Hiranuma | Spin-off | |
| High&Low: The Worst X | September 9, 2022 | Norihisa Hiranuma, Daisuke Ninomiya | Norihisa Hiranuma, Shoichiro Masumoto, Kei Watanabe | Spin-off |
Stage
edit| Title | Year | Director | Lead Cast | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HiGH&LOW -The Prequel- | 2022 | Kousaku Noguchi | Suzuho Makaze, Hana Jun, Toa Serika, Minato Sakuragi, Hikaru Rukaze, Chiaki Takato | Takarazuka Grand Theater, Tokyo Takarazuka Theater |
| HiGH&LOW -The Sengoku- [7] | 2024 | TEAM GENESIS | Ryota Katayose, Maito Minami, RIKU, Yuria Seo, Itsuki Fujiwara, Yuki Sakurai | THEATER MILANO-Za |
Anime
edit| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2017 | High&Low g-sword Animation DVD Special Edition |
Game
edit| Title | Genre | Japan Release Date | Publisher | Developer | Platforms | Official Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High&Low: The Game – Another World | ARPG | October 28, 2019 | enish | HI-AX & enish | iOS/Android | https://high-low-thegame.com/ |
Manga
edit| Title | Manga Artist | Magazine | Original run | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High&Low: The Story of S.W.O.R.D. | Masami Hosokawa | Bessatsu Shonen Champion | 2015.vol.11-2016.vol.10. | [8] |
| High&Low g-sword | Clamp | Weekly Shōnen Magazine | 2017.vol.16-2017.vol.36&37/2018.vol.43. | [9] |
| DTC Original Another Story | Akira Hiramoto | Weekly Shōnen Magazine | 2018.09.26-10.03 | [10] |
Book
edit| Title | Publisher | Published Date |
|---|---|---|
| High&Low: The Book | LDH | July 19, 2016 |
Music
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon [11] | |||
| High&Low Original Best Album |
|
1 |
Songs
edit| Title | Release Date | Artist | Record | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time Flies | October 12, 2016 | Ace of Spades ×PKCZ® feat. Hiroomi Tosaka | Time Flies | Theme song for High&Low The Red Rain | [12] |
| The Red Rain | Soundtrack for High&Low The Red Rain | ||||
| Break into the Dark | August 16, 2017 | Valentine feat. Rui & Afrojack | Break into the Dark(digital) | Soundtrack for High&Low The Movie 3 / Final Mission | [13] |
| High&Low The Mighty Warriors | October 25, 2017 | Mighty Warriors | High&Low The Mighty Warriors | [14] | |
| Yo! | November 7, 2017 | Honest Boyz | Yo!(digital) | Soundtrack for High&Low The Movie 2 / End of Sky | [15] |
| BEPPING SOUND feat. HIROOMI TOSAKA | June 16, 2018 | BEPPING SOUND feat. HIROOMI TOSAKA(digital) | Soundtrack for DTC -Yukemuri Junjou Hen- from High&Low | [16] | |
| You & I | September 26, 2018 | Doberman Infinity | YOU & I | Theme song for DTC -Yukemuri Junjou Hen- from High&Low | [16] |
| Futen Boyz | October 3, 2018 | Exile Shokichi | Futen Boyz | [17] | |
| Snake Pit | September 25, 2019 | Generations from Exile Tribe | EXPerience Greatness | Soundtrack for High&Low The Worst | [18] |
| Swag & Pride | October 2, 2019 | The Rampage from Exile Tribe | Swag & Pride | Theme song for High&Low The Worst | [19] |
| Fired Up | Soundtrack for High&Low The Worst | [19] | |||
| On Fire | Sway | On Fire(digital) | [19] | ||
| Nostalgie | October 3, 2019 | Ryuto Kazuhara | Nostalgie(digital) | [20] | |
| Ain't Afraid To Die | October 4, 2019 | Exile The Second | Ain't Afraid To Die(digital) | [19] | |
| Top Down | Top Down(digital) | [19] | |||
| Mada Tarinee | November 27, 2019 | Doberman Infinity | We are the one / Zutto | [21] | |
| Don't | December 4, 2019 | Salu | Gifted | [22] |
Unreleased songs
edit| Title | Artist | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Back | Mighty Warriors | ||
| traffic light | DTC | Soundtrack for DTC -Yukemuri Junjou Hen- from High&Low | |
| IIKOTO | DTC with Tate fue kyōdai | ||
| Shura BANBAN |
Video releases
edit| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPNDVD | JPNBD | ||
| High&Low The Live |
|
1 | 1 |
Tours
editHigh&Low The Live (2016)[23]
Events
edit- HiGH&LOW THE BASE[24]
- 2016.07.05 - 08.31：Ultra Shiodome Paradise
- NTV×LIVE in SUMMER YOKOHAMA PKCZ×HiGH&LOW PREMIUM LIVE SHOW[25]
- 2016.08.05：Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
- HiGH&LOW THE LAND / HiGH&LOW THE MUSEUM[26][27]
- 2017.06.14 - 09.10：Yomiuriland
- PKCZ®×High&Low Advance Screening Event & PREMIUM LIVE SHOW[28]
- 2017.11.06 - 11.07：Yokohama Arena
- PKCZ®×DTC -Yukemuri Junjou Hen- from High&Low Advance Screening Event & Premium Live Show[29]
- 2018.08.21：Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall 1–3
- High&Low THE WORST VS THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE Premiere Screening Event & Premium Live Show[30][31]
- 2019.09.17 - 09.18：Makuhari Messe
- High&Low THE WORST VS THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE On-Demand Screening & Premium Live Show[32]
- 2019.12.26：Yokohama Arena
Others
edit- In June 2016, Exile Tribe's members appeared in NISSIN "CUP NOODLE" new commercial as their characters in the High&Low series.[33]
- In October 2018, Kenjiro Yamashita, Kanta Sato, Taiki Sato, Shogo Yamamoto and Shogo Iwaya appeared in a commercial for DHC Serum as their characters (Dan, Tettsu, Chiharu, Hikaru, and Ken) in the High&Low series.[34]
Awards
edit- JAPAN ACTION AWARDS 2016[35]
- Best Action Scene: High&Low: The Story of S.W.O.R.D. Season1 Episode 6「RUDE BOYS」
- Best Action Director: Takahito Ouchi (High&Low: The Story of S.W.O.R.D. Season 1)
- Best Action Works:High&Low: The Story of S.W.O.R.D. Season 1
- JAPAN ACTION AWARDS 2018[36]
- Best Action Scene:High&Low: The Movie 2 – End of Sky
- Best Action Director: Takahito Ouchi (High&Low: The Movie 2 – End of Sky)
References
edit- ^ a b "Know About Japan's "Yankii" Culture With EXILE TRIBE's HiGH & LOW Project". Japan Info. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
- ^ "EXILE・HIRO企画「HiGH＆LOW」ドラマ版豪華追加キャスト発表！". cinemacafe.net (in Japanese). 23 September 2015. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
- ^ Orikon entame māketto hakusho : 2016. Tōkyō: Orikonrisāchi. 2017. ISBN 978-4-87131-096-3. OCLC 981003174.
- ^ "EXILE、三代目JSBメンバー気合い十分！「HiGH&LOW」ついに本格始動". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
- ^ "超全員主役！豪華キャストが次々登場！！日本中が熱狂した「HiGH&LOW」待望の新作映画！「HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE 2 / END OF SKY」超迫力の30秒特報がついに公開！". プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
- ^ "HiGH&LOW". NIPPON TV. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
- ^ "High & Low -The Sengoku-". HiGH&LOW. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "ドラマも話題の「HiGH&LOW」2冊同時発売、「錻力のアーチスト」最終巻も". コミックナタリー (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "CLAMP's HiGH&LOW Manga Gets Flash Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "「監獄学園」の平本アキラ×映画「DTC」のコラボが実現！平本アキラ描きおろしのDTCビジュアルが初解禁！！". プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "2016年06月13日～2016年06月19日 オリコン週間 アルバムランキング". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
- ^ "『HiGH&LOW』第2弾主題歌は「ACE OF SPADES」と登坂広臣が再タッグ！". cinemacafe.net (in Japanese). 27 August 2016. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "感動のバラード曲に載せたHiGH&LOW Special Trailerが解禁！そして、挿入歌「Break into the Dark」の配信が決定". プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "着実に勢力を伸ばしたMIGHTY WARRIORSが「HiGH&LOW」スピンオフDVDに". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "HONEST BOYZ®、映画『HiGH&LOW』の"ジェシーのテーマ"こと「要!」を配信＆アナログ盤発売". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). 31 October 2017. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ a b "『DTC -湯けむり純情篇- from HiGH&LOW』主題歌『YOU & I』に乗せた予告編が解禁！さらに主題歌を歌うDOBERMAN INFINITYよりWEB限定コメントが到着！". プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ Japan, Arama! (2018-10-03). "EXILE SHOKICHI releases his 6th single "Futen Boyz"". ARAMA! JAPAN. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "GENERATIONS、映画『HiGH&LOW』最新作でオロチ兄弟のテーマ担当 劇中歌に数原龍友ソロ曲". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). 5 July 2019. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ a b c d e "『HiGH&LOW THE WORST』劇中歌一部が明らかに EXILE THE SECOND、SWAYら担当". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). 18 July 2019. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "数原龍友「光栄でした」映画劇中歌で初のソロ曲披露 - シネマ : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "DOBERMAN INFINITY's 9th single "We are the one / Zutto" to be released on 11/27 (Wed.)!! | NEWS (ALL) | LDH - LOVE DREAM HAPPINESS TO THE WORLD -". www.ldh.co.jp. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
- ^ "【12/4(水)Release】SALU オリジナルアルバム『GIFTED』". EXILE mobile (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-01-27.
- ^ MUSIC(エムオンミュージック), 音楽WEBメディア M.-ON!. "全員主役！EXILE TRIBE総出演『HiGH&LOW THE LIVE』大盛況で幕". 音楽WEBメディア M-ON! MUSIC(エムオンミュージック) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "HiGH&LOW THE BASE". HiGH&LOW (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ LDH. "PKCZ®出演！『日テレ×LIVE in SUMMER YOKOHAMA PKCZ®×HiGH&LOW PREMIUM LIVE SHOW』のチケット一般発売スタート！". EXILE TRIBE FAMILY -EXILE TRIBE OFFICIAL FAN CLUB-. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "HiGH & LOW the Land/ the Museum at the Yomiuri Land". amuzen in English. 2017-06-08. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "HiGH&LOW THE LAND本日オープン、岩田剛典はARでコブラと2ショット撮影". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ^ "神に感謝しろよ？「HiGH&LOW」ライブでHONEST BOYZが「要！」初披露（写真10枚）". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ^ ""PKCZ®×HiGH & LOW Advance Screening Event & PREMIUM LIVE SHOW" will be held at Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall on 8/21 (Tue.)!! | NEWS (ALL) | LDH - LOVE DREAM HAPPINESS TO THE WORLD -". www.ldh.co.jp. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "Digest video of "HiGH & LOW THE WORST VS. THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE PREMIUM LIVE SHOW @Makuhari Messe" unveiled | NEWS (ALL) | LDH - LOVE DREAM HAPPINESS TO THE WORLD -". www.ldh.co.jp. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "HiGH&LOW完成披露試写会×THE RAMPAGEイベントのライブビューイングが決定". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
- ^ "【To be broadcast live!】"In gratitude for box-office success: 'HiGH & LOW THE WORST VS THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE' screening with cheering & PREMIUM LIVE SHOW" to be held on 12/26 (Thu.)!! | NEWS (ALL) | LDH - LOVE DREAM HAPPINESS TO THE WORLD -". www.ldh.co.jp. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "EXILE TRIBE×カップヌードルの新CMに大反響! 熱い支持の理由は? (1) ネットがちょっとした"祭り"となった新CM". マイナビニュース (in Japanese). 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "「HiGH&LOW」がDHCとコラボ、DTC KHがテーマソング歌う短編コメディ公開（動画あり）". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "ジャパンアクションアワード「HiGH&LOW」3冠、男優賞は「極道大戦争」KAERUくん". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "第6回ジャパンアクションアワード「HiGH&LOW」が2冠、最優秀男優賞は佐藤健". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
External links
edit- Official website (in Japanese)
- High&Low's channel on YouTube