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~~ Adapted from the manga series "Crows" (クローズ) by Takahashi Hiroshi (高橋ヒロシ). The film presents the story that precedes the original manga. The characters have also been newly re-created.
Crows Zero (2009), directed by Takashi Miike, is a high-octane action drama that serves as a prequel to the popular manga series Crows by Hiroshi Takahashi. Set in the rough and violent Suzuran All-Boys High School—infamously known as "The School of Crows"—the story centers around Genji Takiya, a transfer student and son of a powerful yakuza boss. Determined to prove himself worthy of inheriting his father's criminal empire, Genji sets out to accomplish the impossible: to unify the school by defeating all the gangs and becoming Suzuran’s top boss, a feat no one has ever achieved.
Genji quickly forms a group of loyal followers called "Genji Perfect Seiha" (GPS) and begins challenging the reigning factions, most notably Serizawa Tamao, a powerful and respected senior known as the school’s current top fighter. The tension between Genji and Serizawa builds as both vie for dominance, leading to a series of brutal and strategic gang battles that test their strength, loyalty, and leadership.
Throughout the film, Genji struggles not just with physical battles but also with the weight of his father’s expectations and the complex world of honor and violence. His journey is marked by internal conflict and hard-earned alliances, including a bond with Ken Katagiri, a washed-up yakuza who becomes an unlikely mentor to Genji. Meanwhile, Serizawa also faces his own challenges, dealing with betrayal and the crumbling of his once-stable faction.
The film culminates in an epic showdown between Genji and Serizawa’s forces, resulting in a fierce and symbolic final fight. Crows Zero not only delivers explosive action but also delves into themes of ambition, identity, and the chaotic struggle for power. It lays the groundwork for the characters’ development seen in the original manga, establishing Genji’s legacy within the violent but honor-bound world of Suzuran.