Kokuho
Nagasaki, 1964 – After the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, 14-year-old Kikuo is taken under the wing of a famous Kabuki actor. Alongside Shunsuke, the actor’s only son, he decides to dedicate himself to this traditional form of theater. For decades, the two young men grow and evolve together – from acting school to the grandest stages – amid scandals and glory, brotherhood and betrayals. One of them will become the greatest Japanese master of the art of Kabuki.
Cast
- Kikuo
- Ryô Yoshizawa
- Shunsuke
- Ryûsei Yokohama
- Hanjiro
- Ken Watanabe
Kokuho
Sang-Il Lee
- Fiction
- Production Country / Year
- Japan 2025
- Language
- ja. OF m. engl. UT
- Format
- DCP, Color, 174min
2.39:1, Discrete 5.1
Director & Crew
Sang-Il Lee
Born in 1974 in Niigata/Japan. Studied at Kanagawa University and at the Japanese Film Academy. Active as a director and screenwriter.
Filmography
| 2000 | Chong | Spielfilm | |
| 2002 | Border line | Spielfilm | |
| 2004 | 69 | Spielfilm | |
| 2005 | Scrap heaven | Spielfilm | |
| 2006 | Hula girls | Spielfilm | |
| 2010 | Kaidan - horror classics | TV-Serie | |
| Villain | Spielfilm | ||
| 2013 | Unforgiven | Spielfilm | |
| 2016 | Rage | Spielfilm | |
| 2017 | The blue hearts | Spielfilm | |
| 2022 | Wandering | Spielfilm | |
| 2025 | Kokuho | Spielfilm | 2025 |
“Kikuo and Shunsuke are immersed in the unique world of Kabuki, where the art is passed on through succession, preserving the intangible art of Kabuki through generations of actors. My initial interest in Onnagata [male actors who play female characters] probably explains my fascination with Kabuki. There is a timeless quality to Onnagata; they’re an androgynous depiction of others. They’re atypical, in a class of their own. They are sensual in a sophisticated way, and if I may say so, the sensuality strikes you unexpectedly.”
- Music Composer
- Marihiko Hara
- Producer
- Chieko Murata
- Shinzo Matsuhashi
- Production Designer
- Nao Shimoyama
- Writer
- Satoko Okudera
- Shûichi Yoshida
- Editor
- Yûki Izumi
- Casting Director
- Masunobu Boo Motokawa
- Director of Photography
- Sofian El Fani
News
All news
Apr 7, 2026
KOKUHO im Kino
In Japan it is already the most successful film of all time: the artistic drama KOKUHO can now be seen in cinemas nationwide.
Jan 24, 2026
HoF Nominations at the Oscars and German Film Critics Awards
The Kabuki epic “Kokuho” celebrated its German premiere at the 59th Hof International Film Festival and thrilled the audience. The film has now received an Oscar nomination.