KOKUHO

A 2025 Japanese drama directed by Lee Sang-il and scripted by Satoko Okudera, adapted from Shuichi Yoshida's novel Kokuho (). The film stars Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, Mitsuki Takahata, Shinobu Terajima, Min Tanaka, and Ken Watanabe. It centers on Kikuo Tachibana, the son of a yakuza boss who is killed by a rival gang. At fifteen, he becomes an apprentice to kabuki actor Hanai Hanjiro. Despite kabuki tradition's emphasis on family lineage, Kikuos exceptional natural talent drives him toward fame and artistic achievement. The film debuted at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors Fortnight section on May 18, then screened at Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 before a Japanese theatrical release by Toho on June 6. It achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success, earning selection as Japans official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.