Hirono is back from prison, ready for another portion of backstabbing and Yakuza politicking.

Kinji Fukasaku picks up right where he left up for his grimy look at the post-war Yakuza world. I'm glad I read up the plot for the first film before watching this, as it continues on with the big cast of characters allying and scheming. I felt it was easier to follow than the first one, but in the end the constant carousel of temporary truces and wars does get a bit chaotic.

The strong points remain: what feels like an honest look behind the veil, based on true s, without the glorifying of the typical gangster film. Shot in a no-nonsense way, not shying away from showing the violence.