Kokuho (film)

Kokuho (国宝, Kokuhō; lit. National Treasure) is a 2025 Japanese drama film directed by Lee Sang-il, written by Satoko Okudera and based on a novel of the same name by Shuichi Yoshida. Starring Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, Mitsuki Takahata, Shinobu Terajima, Min Tanaka, and Ken Watanabe.^[2][3]

The film premiered in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 18 May,^[4] and was theatrically released in Japan by Toho on 6 June. It was a critical and commercial success.^[5][6] It was selected for the Best International Feature Film as the Japanese entry at the 98th Academy Awards,^[7] making the December shortlist.^[8]

Renowned kabuki actor Hanai Hanjiro II visits yakuza group Tachibana for a New Year gathering. During the gathering, Kikuo Tachibana, the son of the Tachibana group’s leader, performs an excerpt of the kabuki performance Barrier Gate with yakuza youth Tokuji. Kikuo’s onnagata performance impresses Hanjiro, who requests to speak to him after the performance. However, a rival yakuza group attacks, killing Kikuo’s father Gongōro as Hanjiro and Kikuo watch.

Following the death of his family, Kikuo gets a back tattoo of an eagle owl, which symbolises gratitude as they always return favours. Despite the protests of his girlfriend Harue, he plans revenge on the rival yakuza with Tokuji. They attempt to take revenge and kill the yakuza members but fail.

A year later, Kikuo is taken on as an apprentice by Hanjiro at the age of 15, despite the reluctance of Hanjiro’s wife Sachiko, who is both wary of Kikuo’s yakuza background and outsider status, as bloodline is highly valued in the world of Kabuki. Kikuo is given the stage name Toichiro and begins training alongside Shunsuke (whose stage name is Hanya), Hanjiro’s son and heir to the Tanba-ya house of Kabuki. Raised together, the two form a brotherly bond and rivalry as they go through rigorous trainings. Hanjiro takes them to see a performance of Heron Maiden by Mangiku, an onnagata kabuki actor who is a Kokuho (Living National Treasure). The performance deeply inspires both Kikuo and Shunsuke, but Mangiku warns Kikuo that although his face is beautiful, it may also lead to his downfall. Kikuo and Shunsuke also visit a teahouse, where geisha Fujikoma expresses her admiration for Kikuo and her desire to become his romantic partner.

While both Shunsuke and Kikuo are talented, Kikuo is truly passionate about honing the craft, while Shunsuke is more laid-back and even shows up hungover before performing. Sachiko and Hanjiro decide to pair the two up as an onnagata duo, and they make their debut as the “Tohan” duo with a performance of Wisteria Maiden. This attracts the attention and praise of Umeki from the Mitomo corporation which is heavily involved in the kabuki business. He offers the Tohan duo the opportunity to perform Ninin Dojoji at the Osaka Shochikuza Theatre. Mitomo employee Takeno is dismissive, stating that things are bound to end badly for Kikuo because of kabuki’s hereditary nature, which causes Kikuo to attack him in a rage.

The Tohan duo debut successfully and become immensely popular. Kikuo asks Harue to marry him, but Harue is hesitant because of the upwards trajectory of Kikuo’s career. As the duo continue to grow in popularity, Hanjiro suddenly gets into a traffic accident. While he survives, he is injured and unable to perform as the lead onnagata role of Ohatsu in his upcoming performance of The Love Suicides at Sonezaki.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations that Hanjiro will choose Shunsuke as his understudy, Hanjiro picks Kikuo to replace him, resulting in great displeasure from Sachiko. Kikuo is nervous before the performance and Shunsuke has to complete his makeup for him as Kikuo stresses about the fact that he has no kabuki blood to protect him unlike Shunsuke. Despite this, Kikuo performs extremely well, upsetting Shunsuke who leaves and hides in the theatre foyer. Seeing this, Harue leaves as well to comfort him. The two leave the theatre together in understanding as the performance ends.

Eight years later, Shunsuke still has not returned. Hanjiro, now almost blind from diabetes, expresses his wish for Kikuo to inherit the title of Hanai Hanjiro III so that he can inherit the title of Hanai Byakko IV. Despite the disapproval of Sachiko, Kikuo accepts. Kikuo visits Fujikoma, with whom he now has a daughter named Ayano. During this visit, Kikuo makes a wish at a shrine, promising to give the devil everything in exchange for his becoming the best kabuki actor in Japan.

At the succession parade, Ayano runs out for her father, but Kikuo ignores her until Fujikoma gets ahold of her. Kikuo and Hanjiro’s succession ceremony opens to a full house, but Hanjiro vomits blood halfway, causing the ceremony to be cut short. As Hanjiro struggles, he repeatedly calls for Shunsuke, causing Kikuo to be filled with immense grief, mumbling apologies as Mangiku watches.

Shunsuke, having had a son with Harue, returns and meets with Kikuo, who is now Hanai Hanjiro III. Following Hanjiro Hanai II’s death, Kikuo has not been able to land any leading or even speaking roles, even though he is technically the successor of the Tanba-ya house and has taken the responsibility of paying all of his master’s debts. Conversely, despite being heavily out of practice, Shunsuke immediately gets starring roles alongside Mangiku.

Public opinion turns against Kikuo, as his yakuza background, tattoo, and illegitimate daughter are made public. Furthermore, there is much resentment against him for “stealing” the Hanai Hanjiro name. Unable to find roles, Kikuo enters a relationship with Akiko, daughter of a prominent kabuki investor. When her father finds out, he beats Kikuo and threatens to disown Akiko. In love with Kikuo, Akiko decides to leave her family.

Kikuo becomes resentful towards Shunsuke, rejecting his offer to partner up once again as the “Han-han” onnagata duo. Shunsuke questions Kikuo’s taking advantage of Akiko, resulting in a physical altercation. Following their fight, Kikuo leaves the kabuki scene.

Four years later, Kikuo is unable to rejoin the kabuki scene and makes a living with Akiko by performing kabuki at banquets and small establishments. During one performance at a banquet, one man becomes enamoured with Kikuo’s onnagata and approaches him backstage with the encouragement of his friends after the performance. Upon finding out that Kikuo is a man, the man and his friends beat Kikuo. Kikuo becomes disillusioned and drinks heavily on a rooftop, dancing drunkenly. When Akiko talks to him, he does not look at her, and she leaves him.

Mangiku, now 93 and retired, asks for Kikuo to see him, offering Kikuo a way back into the kabuki world. After performing for Mangiku, Kikuo teams up again with Shunsuke as the “Han-han” duo to great success. Kikuo also coaches Shunsuke’s son in kabuki, although he is more interested in basketball.

During a performance of Ninin Dojoji, Shunsuke is unable to climb up a ladder, and Kikuo has to complete the performance alone. Shunsuke has gangrene in his foot due to his diabetes and has to amputate his left foot, meaning it will now be extremely difficult for him to continue acting in kabuki roles.

Shunsuke’s diabetes spreads to his right foot. Shunsuke expresses his desire to perform as Ohatsu in The Love Suicides at Sonezaki before he has to amputate his right foot; Kikuo agrees and offers to perform as the male lead Tokubei. During the performance, Shunsuke trips several times. Despite the intense physical pain, they continue the performance to great success, although Shunsuke is extremely weak and close to death by the end of the performance.

16 years later in 2014, Shunsuke is posthumously granted the title of Hanai Byakko V. Kikuo is named a kokuho and is set to perform Heron Maiden in his honour. At an interview, Kikuo is asked what he is further seeking, to which he replies that he is looking for a certain type of scenery, the same answer he gave after his performance of Ninin Dojoji years ago. The interview photographer, revealed to be Ayano, tells him that although she has never seen him as a father figure due to his abandonment, she still cannot help being drawn in by his performances.

Kikuo performs Heron Maiden to a full house. After the performance, he stares up alone at the lights and envisions the falling of snow. He tears up in awe, admiring the beauty of the scenery.

Ryo Yoshizawa, the lead actor, trained for a year and a half under Kabuki actor Nakamura Ganjirō IV alongside Ryusei Yokohama. Yoshizawa regarded this film as the culmination of his career so far.^[9] After seeing the completed movie, Ken Watanabe gave his strong approval, saying, 'I believe this will become Ryo's signature work.^[10]

In making this work, the main cast members Ryo Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama devoted a year and a half to rehearsals, including kabuki dance and movements, and spent three months filming. In an interview after filming, Yoshizawa said, "Practicing for a year and a half, I realized more and more that I couldn't keep up the pace the more I did. Compared to everyone who has been performing on stage since childhood, of course, a year and a half isn't enough to master it all, but I think what was necessary for this film was the spirit of clinging to kabuki despite understanding that. That perseverance was what I felt was needed." Yokohama commented, "I didn't know much about the world of kabuki myself. If I had known more, I might have been overwhelmed with unnecessary information, so maybe my desire to learn more came from not knowing. While respecting the customs and traditions, I also lived as a kabuki actor, and I think I was able to throw myself into it wholeheartedly.".^[11]

When asked about a scene that left a strong impression while playing in this work, Yoshizawa replied, "It might not be the same as 'touching the heart,' but there is a scene where I dance wildly on a rooftop of a building. Out of about three takes, what I was doing was all over the place and mostly improvised. The one used was the last take, and the director told me to look at Nanao Mori's face. When I looked at her suddenly, she asked, 'Where are you looking?' That line naturally came out of me, thinking, 'Where am I looking?' It was a moment where, through my own filter, I wondered, 'Where is Kikuo looking?' and I couldn't quite tell. I remember everything about the filming of that scene vividly, including that honest line.".^[11]

Regarding a scene or line that left an impression, Yokohama responded, "The line Shunsuke says, 'I want to become a true actor,' really struck me... Shunsuke and I are complete opposites, but that one desire was something I could resonate with and empathize with."^[11]

The film had its world premiere in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2025,^[4] and was theatrically released in Japan by Toho on June 6.^[5][6]

Kokuho will also be presented in the Gala Presentation at the 30th Busan International Film Festival in September 2025.^[12]

This film was released in Japan on June 6 and debuted in third place with a box office revenue of ¥346 million in its first three days, following Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.^[6] It received high praise from audiences and moved up one spot in its second week, with cumulative box office revenue surpassing ¥1.1 billion.^[13] The film finally hit number one in its third week and held that spot for four consecutive weeks until Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle was released.

Toho announced on August 18 that Kokuho has become the fourth Japanese live-action film to surpass ¥10 billion at the box office. It's the first film to achieve this milestone in 22 years, since Bayside Shakedown 2.^[14] Its strong performance at the box office continued, with the film breaking ¥15 billion mark on September 24. Not only that, but the original novel recorded ten consecutive weeks at the top of the sales charts.^[15] Furthermore, reports indicate that the number of people interested in Kabuki itself increased, with ticket sales rising by 20% compared to the previous year.^[16]

On November 25, it was announced that the box office revenue for this movie reached ¥17.37 billion, surpassing Bayside Shakedown 2 to become the highest-grossing live-action Japanese film of all time.^[17]

• List of highest-grossing films in Japan
• List of submissions to the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
• List of Japanese submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

• Kokuho at IMDb