Kokuho poster

Kokuho

7.9(127)20252h 54m5

Nagasaki, 1964: Following the death of his Yakuza father, 15-year-old Kikuo is taken under the wings of a famous Kabuki actor. Alongside Shunsuke, the actor’s only son, he decides to dedicate himself to this traditional form of theatre. For decades, the two young men grow and evolve together – and one will become the greatest Japanese master of the art of Kabuki.

Share WhatsApp Telegram
Status
Released
Budget
$8M
Box office
$134.4M
Language
Japanese
  • based on novel or book
  • rivalry
  • cross dressing
  • period drama
  • gender roles
  • lgbt
  • kabuki
  • 1960s
  • theater performance
  • nagasaki, japan
  • grand
  • japanese culture

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

Sang-il Lee

Produced in

Japan

Where to watch

Availability for United Kingdom. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.

Rent

Buy

Gallery

Still from KokuhoStill from KokuhoStill from KokuhoStill from KokuhoStill from KokuhoStill from KokuhoStill from KokuhoStill from KokuhoStill from KokuhoStill from KokuhoStill from KokuhoStill from Kokuho

Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereAFI Fest24 Oct 2025
    • Theatrical (limited)NRAMC Universal CityWalk Hollywood (Los Angeles, California)14 Nov 2025
    • Theatrical (limited)NRAngelika Film Center (New York City, New York)21 Nov 2025
    • Theatrical (limited)NRNew York City, New York / Los Angeles, California6 Feb 2026
    • TheatricalNR20 Feb 2026
  • United KingdomGB

    • Theatrical158 May 2026
  • AustraliaAU

    • PremiereJapanese Film Festival6 Nov 2025
    • TheatricalM10 Dec 2025
  • CanadaCA

    • PremiereVancouver International Film Festival2 Oct 2025
    • Theatrical14A6 Feb 2026
  • AustriaAT

    • PremiereJapannual5 Oct 2025
  • BrazilBR

    • Theatrical145 Mar 2026
  • ChinaCN

    • PremiereShanghai International Film Festival17 Jun 2025
  • FinlandFI

    • PremiereK-12Helsinki Cine Aasia27 Mar 2026
    • Theatrical27 Mar 2026
  • FranceFR

    • PremiereCannes Directors' Fortnight18 May 2025
    • PremiereChéries Chéris Film Festival24 Nov 2025
    • Theatrical1224 Dec 2025
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical1226 Mar 2026
  • GreeceGR

    • Theatrical16 Apr 2026
  • Hong KongHK

    • PremiereHong Kong Asian Film Festival25 Oct 2025
    • TheatricalIIA13 Nov 2025
    • TheatricalIIAIMAX29 Jan 2026

Frequently asked questions

Kokuho was released on 6 June 2025.

Audience reviews

2
  • C

    Call Me Dunham

    2/18/2026

    9/10

    First of all, I want to thank Feat Pictures for bringing this magical, lavish, and grand Japanese film to Indonesia. I genuinely couldn’t take my eyes off the screen while watching it. One of my favorite aspects is how carefully the film handles its use of music knowing exactly when to bring in the score and when to let silence take over. Moments of quiet often make the atmosphere hit even harder, and it’s rare to se…

  • C

    CinemaSerf

    5/13/2026

    8/10

    When we first meet "Kikuo" (Soyo Murokawa) you get the distinct feeling that his Yakuza father isn't so impressed that he is performing as a kabuki actor at a luncheon. Well that doesn't matter for very long as that meeting is gatecrashed by a rival gang and the young man soon finds himself a fifteen year old orphan in the care of "Hanjiro" (Ken Watanabe) - himself reputedly the finest actor in all Japan. After a fai…

Member reviews

Sign in to rate and review. Browsing stays free and open.

Sign in

Member comments

0

Sign in to post a comment. Browsing stays free and open.

Sign in

More like this