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.

A visual knockout that patiently explores the price that artists pay for their craft, Kokuho's astonishing technical virtues are only rivaled by Ryô Yoshizawa and Ryûsei Yokohama's superb performances.

'Kokuho' delivers exceptional performances from Ryo Yoshizawa, Yokohama, and Ken Watanabe, with breathtaking cinematography that captures kabuki tradition in innovative ways. Director Sang-il Lee's confident vision creates an immersive experience exploring passion, sacrifice, and artistic devotion. However, opinions divide sharply on the three-hour runtime, with some finding every scene essential while others felt it unnecessarily long with repetitive moments. Supporting characters were criticized as thinly sketched, though the protagonist's development earned consistent praise.