Kingdom 2: Far and Away

Kingdom 2: Far and Away (キングダム2 遥かなる大地へ) 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.

By the end of 2022, Kingdom 2 had earned ¥5.16 billion (equivalent to US$), making it the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film of that year. 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 of the first film regarding the usurpation attempt by Souetsu's younger half-brother. An assassination attempt is made upon the properly stabilized King of Qin. Most of the original gang makes their reappearance at this time with Shin/Xin (Kento Yamazaki) finally defeats the would-be assassins. During their final moments the name of Chi-woo clan (Chi-you clan) was 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 had already taken over two hills within the plains. The goal of the army that Shin was part of was to take the 2nd hill that was recently captured.by the enemy. As if to portray the difference between good strategy and bad strategy, the leaders of Shin's group made rash and foolhardy decisions but they worked out well in the end as the initial conflict ended with Shin arriving the life of 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 worked and the remaining members of the 4th division army that Shin was part of survived.

Night soon fell 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 revealed a powerful assault method against the enemies before running out of breathe. The enemies had dragged down Outcast's scarf to reveal that they were a women 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 had bandaged him. After some talks it is revealed that Outcast is from the Chiyou 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 the bold idea of charging into the semi 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 finally 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 hill where the enemy camp that had originally disregarded them to focus upon capturing the ally general (Biao Gong) and ending the fight. This disregard allowed the army and Shin to reach the commander where the army commander that had originally showcased foolhardy thoughts about not letting the infantry rest upon their arrival to the Dalken plains. This commander is stabbed by the enemy commander but 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 attitude to become more caring as she overexerts herself to protect the 4th division infantry members. With the enemy routed soon, 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 spots 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 company 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 where the Wei general and Qin general face off with Qin winning. The Wei army breaks down without a commander. The Qin commander and General Wang Qi chat for a bit whilst looking at the sunset.

The scene soon changes to Shin returning back to the Qin capital and meeting up with the king and He Lei Diao (Ten-Kanna Hashimoto). He Lei Diao reveals that she wishes to join the army as well but not as a soldier but advisor. After another scene change It shows the Qin imperial hall where news about Shin being made a centurion are revealed. Unexpected company soon arrives as the Prime minister finally arrives from his trip to Wei state during the first movie. The prime minister 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