Kokuho (2025)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 174 minuten
Alternative title: 国宝
Country:
Japan
Directed by: Sang-il Lee
Stars: Ryô Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama and Ken Watanabe
IMDb score:
7,5 (6.562)
Releasedate: 6 June 2025
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Kokuho plot
Kikuo is fifteen years old when he loses his father in a feud. Yakuza boss Hanjiro takes him in. There, Kikuo and Hanjiro's son Shunsuke are raised as brothers. Through their good friendship and rivalry, they know how to improve each other and dedicate their youth to the art. One day, their fate is shaken up when Hanjiro, who ends up in the hospital after an accident, appoints Kikuo instead of Shunsuke as his replacement.
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Actors and actresses
Kikuo Tachibana
Shunsuke Ogaki
Harue Fukuda
Sachiko Ogaki
Kikuo (young)
Shunsuke (young)
Mangiku Onogawa
Hanjiro Hanai
Akiko
Takeno
Reviews & comments
mrklm
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- 12646 messages
- 10615 votes
In 1964, Kikuo [Soya Kurokawa] becomes a pupil of the famous Kabuki actor Hanjiro Hanai [Ken Watanabe]. He befriends Hanjiro's son Shunsuke [Kitatsu Koshiyama], but as the boys grow into men (played by Yoshiwaza and Yokohama), friendship turns into rivalry. The tragic events that result put their relationship to the test, but also ensure that they gain a better understanding of the tragic characters they play. The performances are briefly introduced, but some knowledge of and appreciation for Kabuki is definitely an advantage, also due to the length and slow pace. A brilliant production, but very long (174 min) and not equally accessible to everyone.
Translated from Dutch · View original
mjk87 (moderator films)
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- 14951 messages
- 4725 votes
Ultimately, the film is just a bit too long. 170 minutes is a lot, and although there aren't really too many scenes in it and the slow pace isn't too slow either, it does mean that you really start to feel those 170 minutes in roughly the last 20 minutes. But that doesn't mean the film was boring (certainly not) or didn't hold my attention (absolutely). It was more that I'd had enough after 150 minutes.
An interesting film about a subject we in Europe are hardly familiar with. That form of theater doesn't do much for me either, and as a Westerner, I find it difficult to judge whether the actors portray it well or not. Fortunately, I can say something about the acting outside the theater, which is pleasantly restrained and profound, ensuring that the film does touch you at times. Despite the film being sometimes episodic, we are given enough information—so the length certainly works here.
Visually beautiful in its understatedness. The individual shots are consistently well-composed, and the wide format is utilized brilliantly at times. 3.5*.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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