[Review] From Yakuza Orphan To National Treasure: Enter the World of Kabuki with Japan’s Highest Grossing Live Action Film, Kokuho

As part of the SJ60 celebrations marking 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan, Shaw Theatres Lido recently hosted the premiere of Japan’s highest grossing live action film, Kokuho.

This cinematic event, which also celebrated the 100th edition of JCC Cinema, drew an esteemed crowd of ambassadors, diplomatic representatives, and local film enthusiasts. We were honoured to be among the invitees.

After sitting through the ambitious, nearly three hour epic, it is easy to understand why this visually stunning piece of cinema became the top grossing Japanese live action movie of all time.

Directed by Lee Sang Il, Kokuho translates to “national treasure” and adapts Shuichi Yoshida’s 2018 novel into a sprawling, multi generational tale of ambition, jealousy, and the relentless pursuit of artistic perfection.

The story opens in 1960s Nagasaki with a memorable but violent sequence.

Kikuo, a young boy born into a yakuza family, witnesses the brutal murder of his father during a grand social event. Following this tragedy, a legendary kabuki actor named Hanai Hanjiro, played with commanding gravitas by the ever versatile Ken Watanabe, adopts the orphaned Kikuo.

The boy is thrust into the rigorous and traditional world of kabuki theatre, specifically training as an onnagata. This highly specialised discipline requires male actors to dedicate their entire lives to mastering the art of playing female characters, a tradition that stems from a 17th century ban on women performing on stage.

The emotional core of the film revolves around the intense, complicated rivalry between Kikuo and his adoptive brother Shunsuke.

While Shunsuke is the biological heir to the prestigious acting dynasty, he lacks a genuine passion for the stage and would much rather escape his predetermined fate. Conversely, Kikuo is fiercely driven, bearing the literal and figurative scars of his yakuza past, which includes a prominent back tattoo that marks him as an outsider.

This dynamic sets up a classic story of two young men pushed to their absolute limits by a demanding patriarch.

Both Ryo Yoshizawa as Kikuo and Ryusei Yokohama as Shunsuke deliver spectacular, transformative performances. The two actors reportedly trained for over a year to master the complex dances and subtle gestures required for their roles, and that sheer dedication shines through in every theatrical sequence.

While the movie is undeniably beautiful and historically fascinating, it is not without a few noticeable flaws. Clocking in at just under three hours, the pacing can feel laborious at times, and the film occasionally bites off more than it can chew in its attempt to chronicle half a century of history. The narrative is steeped in melodrama, frequently leaning on familiar tropes of familial jealousy and professional sabotage.

Despite these storytelling shortcomings, the sheer dedication to the craft of kabuki is completely mesmerising. The cinematography captures the stage performances with a spellbinding reverence, offering thoughtful refractions of the dramas transpiring backstage.

Sequences featuring classic plays are brought to life with dazzling costumes, breathtaking makeup, and striking visual metaphors, such as falling snowflakes that morph into fiery sparks in Kikuo’s transfixed eyes.

At at broader level, the film asks profound questions about the sacrifices required to achieve true greatness and explores whether the chilly isolation of artistic perfection is truly worth the loss of ordinary human connection.

For local audiences looking to experience this cultural phenomenon, Kokuho offers a rare and immersive glimpse into a traditional Japanese art form that is rarely seen with such high production value.

The movie begins its exclusive theatrical run from 23 July at Shaw Theatres. Whether you are a longtime fan of Japanese cinema or a newcomer curious about the international hype, Kokuho is a theatrical experience that absolutely justifies the admission fee. Go catch it!