Japanese Film Festival – Nov 2026 – Kokuho

Kokuho (国宝) is a Japanese drama film directed by Lee Sang-il, based on the acclaimed novel by Shuichi Yoshida. The film follows the life of Kikuo, the son of a yakuza family who is drawn into the highly traditional world of kabuki theatre, tracing his long journey from a disadvantaged position without the benefit of a prestigious kabuki lineage to becoming a rare and celebrated kabuki performer. The film explores themes of lineage and talent, joy and despair, trust and betrayal, and the dedication of one’s life to the pursuit of artistic excellence.  

The cast is led by Ryo Yoshizawa as Kikuo and Ryusei Yokohama as Shunsuke, Kikuo’s close friend and lifelong rival, who is himself a kabuki actor and the son of a famous kabuki family.  

Upon release, Kokuho received strong praise from critics for its visual elegance, the meticulous attention to kabuki traditions, including the kabuki instruction provided by the celebrated kabuki actor Nakamura Ganjiro IV, ambitious storytelling, and the performances of its leading cast.  

Audiences and reviewers particularly highlighted the film’s ability to make the specialized world of kabuki accessible to modern viewers while maintaining authenticity. Through its portrayal of kabuki as a living art form and its exploration of the relationship between lineage, talent, and artistic dedication, the film offers a compelling reflection on the continuity and significance of traditional Japanese performing arts in contemporary society.