be a prequel to one of asian cinema master work and this film and 1 ichi have a lot to live up to . direct this time by takashi miikes right hand man and masato tanno and the assistant director of ichi the killer bring a fresh take to the world of ichi . apparently closer to the manga than ichi the killer be and though i wouldn not know a i haven not see the manga comic . the primary setting for 1 ichi be a school and so this be presumably suppose to have take place before ichi the killer . nao omori return a the emotionally imbalanced ichi and though the main character be really teah from a miike film the city of lose soul . to many people and teah probably fill the shoe of kakihara ( tadanobu asano ) and and do an admirable job at it . he retain the coolness and equal sadism that kakihara possess . by the way the original music for this film be apparently compose by tadanobu asano and showing just one of the man many talent . teah play dai and the tough guy in school . after a short intro of ichi watch a boxing match we see dai involve in a fight . he easily win and spot ichi watch the fight and smile at dai initial misfortune . ( one of his opponent hit him on the head with a flower pot . ) dai notice ichi watch his fight . this seem to get under his skin . dai remain the tough guy until koji chihara turn up and play onizame . a guy who just transfer and be a real bad as . it an interesting fact that chihara form one part of a comedy duo and who be famous in japan . rivalry flare up and it isn not long before their be a showdown between ichi and onizame . who no one else can seem to beat up . for much of the film ichi rage be suppress and it take a lot of bully for him to snap . there be a lot of fight in this film and much of it be and in my opinion more disturbing than in ichi the killer a it be more realistic . the movie be also lighthearted a dai friend provide some comic relief . one of them have a fixation with part 3 of movie and the other one keep change his hair . masato tanno do an excellent directing job and with some great camera work and interesting filming . slight tinting and fading shot etc . the film evidently have a small budget than ichi the killer and some of it seem to have be shoot on digi cam and though this just add to the great look of the film . to conclude i recommend that you see this . it entertaining and a neat addition to the story of ichi and who be a superb character . you do not need to have see ichi the killer to enjoy this either .