{ "id": "ep191bjkpb", "slug": "crows-zero-ii", "title": "Crows Zero II (クローズZERO II)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "label": "Franchise and series entries as standalone works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries", "label": "Action, thriller, and crime series film entries", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-2000s", "label": "Entries released in the 2000s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-2000s" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-2000s.yr-2005-2009", "label": "Released 2005 to 2009", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-2000s.yr-2005-2009" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "label": "Asia (other) · 2001 to 2020: Franchise and series entries as standalone works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "path": [ { "id": "geo.asia", "label": "Asia (other)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2001", "label": "Asia (other) · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "label": "Franchise and series entries as standalone works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Crows Zero II (クローズZERO II) is a 2009 Japanese action film by Takashi Miike, sequel to Crows Zero, based on Hiroshi Takahashi's Crows manga; Suzuran High fights Hosen Academy, grossing about 3.02 billion yen.", "snippet": "Crows Zero II (クローズZERO II) is a 2009 Japanese action film by Takashi Miike, sequel to Crows Zero, based on Hiroshi Takahashi's Crows manga; Suzuran High fights Hosen Academy, grossing about 3.02 billion yen.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-2000s.yr-2005-2009", "markdown": "# Crows Zero II (クローズZERO II)\n\n**Crows Zero II** (クローズZERO II) is a 2009 Japanese action film directed by [Takashi Miike](https://www.edgepedia.org/takashi-miike) and the sequel to *Crows Zero* (2007), adapting an original screenplay set in the world of Hiroshi Takahashi's delinquent manga *Crows* (クローズ)[1](https://eiga.com/movie/53719). It was released in Japan on April 11, 2009, runs 133 minutes, was rated PG-12, and was distributed by Toho[1](https://eiga.com/movie/53719). [Shun Oguri](https://www.edgepedia.org/shun-oguri), Takayuki Yamada, Kyosuke Yabe, and Meisa Kuroki reprise their roles from the first film, joined by RIZE drummer Nobuaki Kaneko and actor [Haruma Miura](https://www.edgepedia.org/haruma-miura) as new antagonists from Hosen Academy[2](https://www.tristone.co.jp/movie/crows_zero2/). The film earned about 3.02 billion yen at the Japanese box office[3](https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/geijutsubunka/eiga/eigaweek/pdf/93969101_06.pdf).\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | April 11, 2009 (Japan), Toho; 133 minutes; PG-12[1](https://eiga.com/movie/53719) |\n| Director / screenwriters | Takashi Miike; screenplay by Shogo Muto and Rikiya Mizushima[4](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/1566) |\n| Source | Original story based on Hiroshi Takahashi's manga *Crows* (Akita Shoten, Young Champion Comics)[2](https://www.tristone.co.jp/movie/crows_zero2/) |\n| Lead cast | Shun Oguri (Genji Takiya), Takayuki Yamada (Serizawa Tamao), Kyosuke Yabe (Ken Katagiri), Meisa Kuroki (Ruka Aizawa)[4](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/1566) |\n| New antagonists | Nobuaki Kaneko as Hosen Academy's Narumi Taiga; Haruma Miura as first-year Bitou Tatsuya[2](https://www.tristone.co.jp/movie/crows_zero2/) |\n| Japanese box office | About 3.02 billion yen, tenth among 2009 domestic releases as of October 2009[3](https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/geijutsubunka/eiga/eigaweek/pdf/93969101_06.pdf) |\n| Home video | DVD and Blu-ray released October 2, 2009 (TBS/Toho)[5](https://www.toho-a-park.com/dvd/item/html/TDV/TDV19152R.html) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Story\n\nThe film begins a few months after the events of *Crows Zero*, in which Genji Takiya (Shun Oguri) defeated Serizawa Tamao's faction at Suzuran High School and then lost his summit battle with the strongest fighter, Rinda-man (Motoki Fukami)[6](https://www.cinematoday.jp/movie/T0006577). Genji has still not united the school, and his G.P.S. alliance is close to falling apart while Serizawa's group stays silent and the first-year students act freely[2](https://www.tristone.co.jp/movie/crows_zero2/).\n\nThe conflict turns outward when Hosen Academy, a rival school feared as the \"Army of Killers,\" sends an assassin to Suzuran[2](https://www.tristone.co.jp/movie/crows_zero2/). The two schools had been bound by a truce signed after a past \"bloody war\" in which Hosen's leader Mito was stabbed to death by Suzuran's then-top fighter Kawanishi; when Hosen ambushes Kawanishi and Genji loses control at the scene, the truce collapses[7](https://happinet-p.com/jp3/special/0908-1.html). Hosen's third-year leader Narumi Taiga declares war on Suzuran to avenge Mito, and Hosen's executives attack Suzuran's strongest fighters one after another[7](https://happinet-p.com/jp3/special/0908-1.html). Mito's younger brother Tatsuya, a first-year who has entered Hosen's leadership, watches from the sidelines[7](https://happinet-p.com/jp3/special/0908-1.html).\n\nThe climax is a battle between about 500 students of the two schools, described in promotional material as the largest brawl scene in film history[2](https://www.tristone.co.jp/movie/crows_zero2/).\n\n## Cast and production\n\nOguri, Yamada, Yabe, and Kuroki lead the returning cast, with supporting roles played by Sosuke Takaoka, Kenta Kiritani, Motoki Fukami, Tsutomu Takahashi, Suzuki Matsuo, Kenichi Endo, and Goro Kishitani, among others[2](https://www.tristone.co.jp/movie/crows_zero2/). Nobuaki Kaneko, drummer of the rock band RIZE, was cast as Narumi Taiga, and Haruma Miura, then known for *Koizora*, played Bitou Tatsuya[2](https://www.tristone.co.jp/movie/crows_zero2/).\n\nThe crew largely carried over from the first film: producer Mataichiro Yamamoto, screenwriters Shogo Muto and Rikiya Mizushima, cinematographer Nobuyasu Kita, production designers Yuji Hayashida and Tsukuru Hashimoto, editors Shuichi Kakesu and Tomoki Nagasaka, and composer Naoki Otsubo[4](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/1566). The film was produced by the \"Crows Zero II\" Production Committee of TBS, Tristone Entertainment, Toho, MBS, Akita Shoten, CBC, Happinet, and SDP[2](https://www.tristone.co.jp/movie/crows_zero2/). It was shot on 35mm in [CinemaScope](https://www.edgepedia.org/cinemascope) (1:2.35) with [Dolby Digital](https://www.edgepedia.org/dolby-digital) sound[4](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/1566).\n\n## Box office and reception\n\n*Crows Zero II* grossed about 3.02 billion yen in Japan, ranking tenth among 2009 domestic releases as of October 2009, just behind *Yatterman* and *April Bride* at 3.15 billion yen each[3](https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/geijutsubunka/eiga/eigaweek/pdf/93969101_06.pdf). TBS described the result as a 3-billion-yen hit, following the first film's 2.5 billion yen[8](https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000382.000003065.html). A compiled figure puts worldwide earnings at $29,893,636[9](https://www.hisour.com/data/crows_zero_2/).\n\nThe film also screened internationally during 2009, including in Singapore, Russia, and Hong Kong, and at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in the United States on February 6, 2010[9](https://www.hisour.com/data/crows_zero_2/). On Rotten Tomatoes it held a 77% Tomatometer from a single counted review, with critic Anton Bitel of *Little White Lies* calling it \"a violent, often slyly funny vision of the endless male path to hierarchical supremacy\"[10](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kurozu-zero-ii).\n\n## The manga and the series\n\nThe film is the second prequel-style screen story derived from Takahashi's *Crows* manga, written originally for the screen rather than adapting manga chapters[4](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/1566). Published circulation figures for the manga differ by source and date: eiga.com cites over 42 million copies[1](https://eiga.com/movie/53719), the official Tristone page over 45 million[2](https://www.tristone.co.jp/movie/crows_zero2/), and a TBS press release from 2014 gives over 75 million for the series as a whole[8](https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000382.000003065.html).\n\n[Home video](https://www.edgepedia.org/home-video) followed on October 2, 2009, in premium, standard, and rental editions with making-of features and a Takahashi–Yabe conversation[5](https://www.toho-a-park.com/dvd/item/html/TDV/TDV19152R.html). A third film, *Crows Explode* (2014), directed by Toshiaki Toyoda with a largely new cast, continued the series' story after the *Zero* films[11](https://shopping.tbs.co.jp/tbs/shop/goods_dvd/movies_cz2).\n\n## References\n\n1. [クローズZERO II : 作品情報・キャスト・あらすじ, 映画.com](https://eiga.com/movie/53719)\n2. [クローズZERO II, Tristone Entertainment](https://www.tristone.co.jp/movie/crows_zero2/)\n3. [資料1 2009年邦画作品別興収（10月末現在）, Agency for Cultural Affairs](https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/geijutsubunka/eiga/eigaweek/pdf/93969101_06.pdf)\n4. [CROWS II (クローズZERO II), Japanese Film Database](https://jfdb.jp/en/title/1566)\n5. [クローズ ZERO II DVD, TOHO-AMUSEMENT-PARK](https://www.toho-a-park.com/dvd/item/html/TDV/TDV19152R.html)\n6. [クローズZERO II (2009), Cinema Today](https://www.cinematoday.jp/movie/T0006577)\n7. [クローズZERO story page, Happinet Pictures](https://happinet-p.com/jp3/special/0908-1.html)\n8. [映画「クローズZERO」「クローズZERO II」TBSオンデマンドにて配信中, TBS Television press release (PR Times, 2014)](https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000382.000003065.html)\n9. [クローズZERO2, HiSoUR film data](https://www.hisour.com/data/crows_zero_2/)\n10. [Crows Zero II, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kurozu-zero-ii)\n11. [クローズEXPLODE, TBS Shopping](https://shopping.tbs.co.jp/tbs/shop/goods_dvd/movies_cz2)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Action, thriller, and crime series film entries › Entries released in the 2000s › Released 2005 to 2009*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/crows-zero-ii", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/crows-zero-ii.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Crows Zero II (クローズZERO II)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/crows-zero-ii. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Crows Zero II (クローズZERO II)](https://www.edgepedia.org/crows-zero-ii)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/crows-zero-ii](https://www.edgepedia.org/crows-zero-ii). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Crows Zero II (クローズZERO II)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/crows-zero-ii. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Crows Zero II is a 2009 Japanese action film by Takashi Miike, sequel to Crows Zero, based on Hiroshi Takahashi's Crows manga; Suzuran High fights Hosen Academy, grossing about 3.02 billion yen." }