Kokuho

Set in post-war Japan beginning in 1964, this drama follows Kikuo, a teenager born into a yakuza family. After his father passes away, Kikuo is taken in by a renowned Kabuki performer. Alongside the performer's son, Shunsuke, Kikuo commits himself to the traditional theater. The story spans several decades, tracing the two men's journey from their early training to the professional stage as they navigate friendship, betrayal, and the pursuit of fame. Eventually, one of them rises to become a premier master of the art.

Directed by Sang-il Lee, this is the fourth film in the director's career, following Hula Girls, Unforgiven, and Rage. The movie features a cast including Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, Mitsuki Takahata, and Shinobu Terajima, with Soya Kurokawa and Keitatsu Koshiyama appearing as the younger versions of the lead characters. The screenplay was written by Satoko Okudera.

Produced by companies including TOHO and Aniplex, the film had a budget of 8 million USD and earned 134 million USD at the worldwide box office. On TMDB, it holds a rating of 7.8/10 based on 115 votes.