Lee Sang-il’s latest film, a captivating kabuki drama titled ‘Kokuho,’ has shattered records in Japan, becoming the country’s highest-grossing live-action film to date with earnings surpassing $111 million at the domestic box office. The movie stars Ken Watanabe and was selected as Japan’s official entry for the Best International Feature category at the Oscars. It was also introduced to U.S. audiences through a limited one-week qualifying run by GKids, debuting in Los Angeles on November 14 and in New York on November 21, drawing in an estimated gross exceeding $60,000 from these screenings.

Premiering earlier this year at the Directors’ Fortnight section of Cannes Film Festival, ‘Kokuho’ officially opened in Japanese cinemas on June 6 and has maintained its popularity through an extensive run. After 172 days in theaters, more than 12.3 million tickets have been sold, accumulating a total gross of over ¥17.38 billion (around $111 million). This achievement has set a new benchmark, overtaking the previous 22-year record held by the 2003 film ‘Bayside Shakedown 2,’ and now ranks as the 11th highest-grossing film in Japan.

The narrative traces the life of Kikuo, a young boy from Nagasaki, who, following his yakuza father’s death in 1964, is mentored by the renowned kabuki actor Hanjiro Hanai, played by Watanabe. As Kikuo and Hanjiro’s son Shunsuke grow up together, their bond deepens amid the challenges and triumphs of mastering kabuki—a traditional Japanese theatrical art. The story explores themes of legacy, rivalry, and artistry, with performances by Ryo Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama portraying the protagonists’ evolving relationship.

Director Lee Sang-il emphasized the rarity of kabuki as a cinematic theme, noting that it has been nearly 80 years since a film centered on kabuki was produced in Japan. He highlighted the complexity of translating such a deeply rooted and hierarchical art form onto the screen, revealing that actor training alone took over a year and a half. Watanabe expressed admiration for the dedication of the cast and crew, noting that although theatrical performances last only 30 minutes, filming extended over ten hours daily to capture the essence of their craft.

Produced collaboratively by Aniplex, Myriagon Studio, Amuse Inc., Toho Co., Ltd., Lawson Inc., and Credeus, ‘Kokuho’ is slated for a wide release across North American theaters early next year. GKids’ President, Dave Jesteadt, congratulated the team on the film’s historic success, emphasizing its appeal as a compelling theatrical experience that has drawn Japanese audiences back multiple times. The film, adapted from Shuichi Yoshida’s novel, was written by Satoko Okudera and has participated in major festivals such as TIFF and AFI, further cementing its critical acclaim and cultural significance.

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