Kokuho - The Master of Kabuki
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 theatre. 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.
Festivals & awards
Cannes 2025: Quinzaine des cinéastes
Toronto International Film Festival
Busan Film Festival
Vancouver International Film Festival: Audience Award
Academy Awards 2026: Japan's Oscar submission for Best International Feature Film
Credits
Pro Material
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Press voices
«At the center of its superb cast, Ryo Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama deliver exquisitely layered performances that interweave offstage characterization and onstage theatricality.» The Hollywood Reporter
«Le récit établit subtilement un parallèle entre leur relation et celle d’une histoire d’amour: une rencontre décisive, une connexion grandissante née de la rivalité, une rupture dramatique et la possibilité d’une réconciliation.» Asian Movie Pulse
«Lee Sang-ils mitreissendes, opulentes Drama bietet einen Einblick in die japanische Kunst des Kabuki-Theaters.» Screen Daily
«Kokuho révèle le parcours énorme et le défi d’une vie consacrée à la poursuite d’un objectif plus grand que soi.» Next Best Picture