Japanese film “Kokuho. El maestro del kabuki” shatters box‑office records

The three‑hour drama “Kokuho. El maestro del kabuki” traces 50 years of Japanese history through the intersecting worlds of traditional kabuki theatre and the yakuza. It follows the fictional Kikuo Tashibana, whose father, a yakuza clan leader, is murdered, prompting Kikuo to train under famed kabuki actor Hangiro Hanai. Directed by Lee Sang‑il, the film premiered at Cannes in 2025 and subsequently screened at festivals in Toronto, Shanghai, Busan, Bangkok, Rio de Janeiro, Thessaloniki, Palm Springs and Dublin.

The movie has become the highest‑grossing live‑action Japanese film, attracting 14 million viewers and generating more than €116 million worldwide. It was Japan’s Oscar submission, though it did not reach the final shortlist. In Spain the film became available for streaming on Filmin on a Friday, expanding its international reach.

The success highlights growing global interest in Japanese cultural productions that blend historic art forms with contemporary storytelling.