The film ‘Kokuho,’ depicting the life of a kabuki actor, has become the highest grossing domestic live-action film with box office revenue reaching about ¥17.38 billion by Monday, according to its distributor Toho Co. It has broken the 22-year-old record previously held by ‘Odoru Daisosasen The Movie 2: Rainbow Bridge o Fusa Seyo!’
Directed by Lee Sang-il, ‘Kokuho’ is an adaptation of Shuichi Yoshida’s epic novel of the same title, telling the story of two kabuki actors striving to become accomplished onnagata, or female role performers. Ryo Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama star in the lead roles, with the film showcasing gorgeous kabuki performances and the tough world of traditional performing arts.
The movie has recently opened in theaters overseas, including South Korea and Taiwan. It has been selected to represent Japan in the international feature film category at the 98th Academy Awards, with much interest in whether it will make the final Oscar nominees. A wide release in the United States is scheduled for next year.
Animated films dominate the overall box office rankings for Japanese movies, with ‘Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Ressha-hen’ (‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Movie: Mugen Train’) from 2020 earning ¥40.75 billion at the top. ‘Kokuho’ has now set a new benchmark for live-action domestic films.