KOKUHO
Genre
Drama
Running time
174 minutes
Year
2025
Language
Japanese
Subtitle
English and Arabic
Country
Japan
Director
Lee Sang-Il
Bio
Producer
Chieko Murata
Cast
Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, Ken Watanabe
Scriptwriter
Satoko Okudera
A box-office hit in Japan, Kokuho is Lee Sang-il’s long-gestating passion project, born from a 15-year fascination with kabuki and the tradition of onnagata: male actors who play female roles on stage. Adapted from a novel by Shūichi Yoshida, the story begins in 1964 Nagasaki and unfolds over five decades, tracing the bond between Kikuo — taken in by a kabuki master after his father’s death — and the master’s son, Shunsuke. Part brotherhood, part rivalry, their connection fuels a sweeping saga of ambition, sacrifice and devotion within a revered theatrical lineage. Starring Ryo Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama, Kokuho is visually sumptuous and emotionally resonant — a powerful meditation on legacy, identity and the high cost of artistic greatness.
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