KOKUHO
-
Japan / 2025 / 175 min
Directed By Sang-Il Lee
Crowned as the highest-grossing live-action film of all time in Japan, spanning decades of ambition, scandals, loyalty, and betrayal, Kokuho traces the extraordinary journey of two performers chasing greatness, as one rises to become a legendary master of Kabuki. After the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, fourteen-year-old Kikuo is taken in by a renowned Kabuki actor and introduced to the demanding world of traditional theatre. Growing up alongside Shunsuke, the actor’s only son, the two boys devote their lives to the stage - training, performing, and competing as their bond shifts between brotherhood and rivalry. An Oscar nominee and winner of 10 Japanese Academy Awards, the film is an epic portrait of artistry, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.
UK & Irish Release Date - 8th May 2026
STARRING
Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, Tokyo Vice)
Masatoshi Nagase (Paterson, Mystery Train)
Min Tanaka (Perfect Days)
Ryusei Yokohama
Ryo Yoshizawa
Soya Kurokawa (Monster) -
International FIlm Festival Premieres
World Premiere - Cannes Film Festival - Directors' Fortnight
Toronto Film Festival - Official Selection
Shanghai Film Festival - Official Selection
Busan Film Festival - Official Selection
Palm Springs Film Festival - Official SelectionAwards
Academy Award® Nominee for Best Makeup & Hairstyling
Winner of 10 Japanese Academy Awards:
Best Film
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Actor
Best Music Score
Best Cinematography
Best Lighting
Best Art Direction
Best Sound
Best Editing
-
★★★★ "heartfelt and muscular ... action is elegantly interspersed with performance" The Guardian
★★★★ "forget micro-dramas, this is the maximalist kabuki drama you’ve been waiting for" Financial Times
★★★★ “a kabuki star is born … nothing short of intoxicating”Little White Lies
★★★★ "Japanese film of outstanding beauty" DMovies
★★★★★ "experience majesty and ruthlessness in Kokuho ... epic in every sense of the word" The Upcoming
“propulsive, lavish drama … people from opposite sides of the social spectrum becoming friends and professional rivals … engrossing storytelling” Screen
“A stunning tale of art, ambition and bloodlines” — The Hollywood Reporter
“Thrilling” New York Times
“Japanese Epic” Variety
“Exceptional … must see on the big screen … every actor is extraordinary … takes you inside a Japanese artform … elegant direction … a personal story and a cultural experience we can all identify with” Tom Cruise, as shown on Deadline Hollywood -
-
Kokuho is in cinemas now
