Template:Short description Template:Use mdy datesTemplate:Use American English Template:Expand Japanese Template:Infobox film
Template:Nihongo is a 2022 Japanese historical war film directed by Shinsuke Sato. An adaptation of the manga of the same name by Yasuhisa Hara, the film is the sequel to Kingdom (2019). The film stars Kento Yamazaki, Ryo Yoshizawa, and Kanna Hashimoto.[1]
By the end of 2022, Kingdom 2 had earned Template:JPY (equivalent to Template:USD), making it the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film of that year.[2] Two sequels have been released: Kingdom 3: The Flame of Destiny (2023) and Kingdom 4: Return of the Great General (2024).
Plot
6 months after the events, an assassination attempt is made upon the properly stabilized King of Qin. Most of the original gang makes their reappearance at this time when Shin/Xin (Kento Yamazaki) finally defeats the assassins. During their final moments the name of the Chi-woo clan (Chi-you clan) is revealed. Further information regarding the clan is revealed to Shin before news of about the state of Wei invading the state of Qin. Shin moves to join the infantry army of the 4th division. He is quickly grouped up with 2 childhood friends, a smith and an unknown figure who goes by the name of Outcast (Qiang Wei - Nana Seino). Together they form a 5-man team.
The army marches to the Dalken plains where the Wei army has already taken over two hills within the plains. The goal of the army that Shin is a part of is to take the 2nd hill that was recently captured by the enemy. The leaders of Shin's group make rash and foolhardy decisions, but they ultimately succeed as the initial conflict ends with Shin killing the enemy commander. The enemy retreats only for a second enemy division made up of armored chariots to arrive. Outcast provides a tip to stack up the enemy bodies to create an impromptu barricade against the charging chariots. The plan works and the remaining members of the 4th division survive.
Night soon falls and the remaining members of the 4th division scramble to stay alive from the persistent assault of the enemy soldiers. Most of the group retreats under Shin's insistence with the exception of Outcast who reveals a powerful assault method against the enemies before running out of breath. The enemies drag down Outcast's scarf to reveal that they were a woman this whole time. Shin and Outcast are soon encircled and are forced to jump off a cliff into the river below.
After some time Shin awakens to find that Outcast has bandaged him. It is revealed that Outcast is from the Chii-you clan. She has come to join the war against Wei to find and kill the fellow Chi-you clan member who killed her sister during the official clan competition to find the final member who would inherit the true title of 'Chi-you'. Shin begins to coerce Outcast to kill for herself after she gets her revenge. His words inspire her to change the more she ponders it.
The duo soon make their way back to where the rest of the 4th infantry division is. Shin proposes charging into the partially empty hill they were originally assigned to. News spreads to both enemy camps as well as ally camps. The command from the ally camp allows the 4th cavalry division to charge up the hill and support the infantry to capture the hill. With the power of infantry and cavalry they reach the peak of the hil, forcing the enemy camp that had originally disregarded them to focus upon capturing the ally general (Biao Gong) and ending the fight. This disregard allows the army and Shin to reach the commander. The army commander that had originally showcased foolhardy thoughts is stabbed by the enemy commander. In his final moments the army commander stabs a knife into the neck of the enemy commander.
Meanwhile, back at the forest that the infantry had reached on their way to the top of the hill, Outcast finally remembers what her 'sisters' dream was. This causes her to become more caring as she overexerts herself to protect the 4th division infantry members. With the enemy routed, the infantry members that were left behind while Shin went alongside the Cavalry arrive at the camp.
As the army commander gives his final message, Shin realizes the entire Wei army has left the first hill and are moving to assault the Qin army camp. At this time, the Qin commander finally grants the command for a full charge while 'Great General of the Heavens' Wang Qi (General Ouki) also makes his appearance at the hill that Shin and the 4th division took. He begins to give advice to Shin about what it means to be a general. At the same time, the Qin army general is charging towards the enemy army. Shin is given a horse by Wang Qi that he uses to catch up with the Qin general and supports their arrival to the Wei army. The Wei and Qin generals face off. The Qin general wins. The Wei army breaks down without a commander. The Qin commander and General Wang Qi chat for a bit while looking at the sunset.
Shin returns to the Qin capital and meets up with the king and He Lei Diao (Ten-Kanna Hashimoto). He Lei Diao reveals that she also wishes to join the army as an advisor. After another scene change it shows the Qin imperial hall where news about Shin being made a centurion are revealed. The prime minister arrives from his trip to Wei state during the first movie. He claims to investigate the assassins that arrived at the beginning of the film. Ying Zheng (the king of Qin/Souetsu) ends the movie by saying "I shall be in your care".
Cast
- Kento Yamazaki as Xin
- Ryo Yoshizawa as Ying Zheng
- Kanna Hashimoto as He Liao Diao
- Nana Seino as Qiang Lei
- Etsushi Toyokawa as Biao Gong
- Amane Okayama as Wei Ping
- Takahiro Miura as Wei Dao
- Jun Kaname as Teng
- Masahiro Takashima as Lord Changwen
- Shinnosuke Mitsushima as Bi
- Masaya Kato as Si Shi
- Togi Makabe as Pei Lang
- Ryusuke Taguchi as Huang Li Xian
- Miou Tanaka as Yuan
- Takayuki Hamatsu as Ze Gui
- Chihiro Yamamoto as Qiang Xiang
- Kiyohiko Shibukawa as Fu Hushen
- Tsutomu Takahashi as Gong Yuan
- Yukiyoshi Ozawa as Wu Qing
- Yūsuke Hirayama as Meng Wu
- Hiroshi Tamaki as Lord Changping
- Kōichi Satō as Lü Buwei
- Takao Osawa as Wang Qi
Awards and nominations
| Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35th Nikkan Sports Film Awards | Yūjirō Ishihara Award | Kingdom 2: Far and Away | Template:Won | [3] |
| Best Supporting Actress | Nana Seino | Template:Won | [4] | |
| 65th Blue Ribbon Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Template:Won | [5] | |
| 46th Japan Academy Film Prize | Best Supporting Actress | Template:Nom | [6] | |
| Best Cinematography | Akira Sakō | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Lighting Direction | Hiroyuki Kase | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Art Direction | Hidetaka Ozawa | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Sound Recording | Akira Sakō | Template:Nom |
References
External links
Template:Kingdom Template:Shinsuke Sato Template:Nikkan Sports Film Award for Yūjirō Ishihara Award