High&Low

Japanese action media franchise From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

Created byExile Hiro
Original workPuki(2015)
ComicsSee below
Film(s)See below
Quick facts Film Tele, Created by ...
Film Tele
Created byExile Hiro
Original workPuki(2015)
Print publications
ComicsSee below
Films and television
Film(s)See below
Television seriesSee below
Games
Role-playingHigh&Low: The Game – Another World
Audio
Original music
Official website
Close

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

High&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

Mugen

Theme 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

Theme 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)

Theme 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

Sannoh 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

Theme 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)

Theme 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.Even the "Housen Killer Corps" Who often fights with Suzuran as the strongest school in Toarushi city, admits that Oyakou is a dangerous school and even admits that Oyakou is no match for a high school student like Housen. This indirectly shows that Housen's fighting strength is below Oya Kou Part Time and is no longer a match for a high school student like Housen.

The Part-time School

The 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

The 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

Theme 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

Theme 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

Theme 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

Theme Song: Exile the Second - "One Time One Life"

Literally meaning "Nine Dragons", the Kuryu Group is an organization made up of nine yakuza groups The strongest in Japan who controls the dark underbelly of Japan.

Ichigo Milk

Theme 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

The Korean gang who sought to control the S.W.O.R.D. Area and then expanding into the rest of Japan.

Doubt

Theme 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

Theme 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

Television

More information Series, Season ...
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
Close

Film

More information Film, Japan Release Date ...
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, 2016Kei 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
Close

Stage

More information Title, Year ...
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
Close

Anime

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title
2017 High&Low g-sword Animation DVD Special Edition
Close

Game

More information Title, Genre ...
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/
Close

Manga

More information Title, Manga Artist ...
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]
Close

Book

More information Title, Publisher ...
Title Publisher Published Date
High&Low: The Book LDH July 19, 2016
Close

Overseas media

On 25 November 2025, as part of their 'Magic Vibes Maximized' event, television production company and talent agency GMMTV announced the first official overseas expansion of the High&Low franchise with their series High & Low: Born To be High in collaboration with the production company Parbdee Taweesuk.[11][12][13] Starring 13 of GMMTV's biggest male stars, it is slated to air in 2027.[14] The pilot trailer is available on the GMMTV official YouTube channel.[15]

Music

Studio albums

More information Title, Album details ...
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
JPN
Oricon

[16]
High&Low Original Best Album
  • Released: June 15, 2016
  • Label: Rhythm Zone
  • Formats: CD/DVD, CD/Blu-ray
1
Close

Songs

More information Title, Release date ...
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 [17]
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 [18]
High&Low The Mighty Warriors October 25, 2017 Mighty Warriors High&Low The Mighty Warriors [19]
Yo! November 7, 2017 Honest Boyz Yo!(digital) Soundtrack for High&Low The Movie 2 / End of Sky [20]
BEPPING SOUND feat. HIROOMI TOSAKA June 16, 2018 BEPPING SOUND feat. HIROOMI TOSAKA(digital) Soundtrack for DTC -Yukemuri Junjou Hen- from High&Low [21]
You & I September 26, 2018 Doberman Infinity YOU & I Theme song for DTC -Yukemuri Junjou Hen- from High&Low [21]
Futen Boyz October 3, 2018 Exile Shokichi Futen Boyz [22]
Snake Pit September 25, 2019 Generations from Exile Tribe EXPerience Greatness Soundtrack for High&Low The Worst [23]
Swag & Pride October 2, 2019 The Rampage from Exile Tribe Swag & Pride Theme song for High&Low The Worst [24]
Fired Up Soundtrack for High&Low The Worst [24]
On Fire Sway On Fire(digital) [24]
Nostalgie October 3, 2019 Ryuto Kazuhara Nostalgie(digital) [25]
Ain't Afraid To Die October 4, 2019 Exile The Second Ain't Afraid To Die(digital) [24]
Top Down Top Down(digital) [24]
Mada Tarinee November 27, 2019 Doberman Infinity We are the one / Zutto [26]
Don't December 4, 2019 Salu Gifted [27]
Close

Unreleased songs

More information Title, Artist ...
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
Close

Video releases

More information Title, Details ...
Title Details Peak chart positions
JPNDVD JPNBD
High&Low The Live
  • Released: March 15, 2017
  • Label: Rhythm Zone
  • Format: 2DVD, 2Blu-ray
1 1
Close

Tours

High&Low The Live (2016)[28]

Events

  • HiGH&LOW THE BASE[29]
    • 2016.07.05 - 08.31:Ultra Shiodome Paradise
  • NTV×LIVE in SUMMER YOKOHAMA PKCZ×HiGH&LOW PREMIUM LIVE SHOW[30]
  • HiGH&LOW THE LAND / HiGH&LOW THE MUSEUM[31][32]
  • PKCZ®×High&Low Advance Screening Event & PREMIUM LIVE SHOW[33]
  • PKCZ®×DTC -Yukemuri Junjou Hen- from High&Low Advance Screening Event & Premium Live Show[34]
  • High&Low THE WORST VS THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE Premiere Screening Event & Premium Live Show[35][36]
  • High&Low THE WORST VS THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE On-Demand Screening & Premium Live Show[37]

Others

Awards

  • JAPAN ACTION AWARDS 2016[40]
    • 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[41]

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI