Kabuki Drama 'Kokuho' Shatters Records in Japan's Theaters
A milestone has been achieved by the Japanese Kabuki drama "Kokuho", which has now become the highest-grossing live-action film in Japan, boasting a staggering $111 million in local revenue. The 172-day run of the film, since its opening on June 6, has secured its place as the 11th highest-grossing film in Japanese box office history.
Directed by Sang-il Lee and starring Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, and Ken Watanabe, "Kokuho" tells a captivating story of Kikuo, a young actor who trains in kabuki theater alongside the son of a famous kabuki actor after his yakuza leader father's death. Spanning decades, the film follows their journey from acting school to major stages.
The film's impressive box office success has been attributed to its immersive beauty and has garnered widespread acclaim among Japanese audiences. With over 12.3 million tickets sold as of November 24th, "Kokuho" has cemented its place in Japanese cinematic history.
Internationally, the film is set to receive a wider release in North America in early 2026, following successful qualifying runs in Los Angeles and New York earlier this year, which generated an estimated cumulative gross exceeding $60,000 across both venues. The success of "Kokuho" has been hailed by GKIDS president Dave Jesteadt as a demonstration that the film is a must-see theatrical event.
A milestone has been achieved by the Japanese Kabuki drama "Kokuho", which has now become the highest-grossing live-action film in Japan, boasting a staggering $111 million in local revenue. The 172-day run of the film, since its opening on June 6, has secured its place as the 11th highest-grossing film in Japanese box office history.
Directed by Sang-il Lee and starring Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, and Ken Watanabe, "Kokuho" tells a captivating story of Kikuo, a young actor who trains in kabuki theater alongside the son of a famous kabuki actor after his yakuza leader father's death. Spanning decades, the film follows their journey from acting school to major stages.
The film's impressive box office success has been attributed to its immersive beauty and has garnered widespread acclaim among Japanese audiences. With over 12.3 million tickets sold as of November 24th, "Kokuho" has cemented its place in Japanese cinematic history.
Internationally, the film is set to receive a wider release in North America in early 2026, following successful qualifying runs in Los Angeles and New York earlier this year, which generated an estimated cumulative gross exceeding $60,000 across both venues. The success of "Kokuho" has been hailed by GKIDS president Dave Jesteadt as a demonstration that the film is a must-see theatrical event.
! $111 million at the box office? That's insane! I remember when I was a kid, watching "The 47 Ronin" with my grandfather, and it was such an epic experience. This new film "Kokuho" is like that but way more modern and cool 
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, and I can see why it's getting all this buzz among locals - the way they blend traditional kabuki with drama is just mesmerizing 
I'm definitely gonna check out the international release next year - fingers crossed they bring some of this magic to my city too! 
I'm so stoked to see 'Kokuho' crushing it in Japan! $111 million in just 172 days is insane! 
The fact that Japanese audiences are eating it up is no surprise, considering how beautiful and immersive the film must be. I've heard the acting from Ryo Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama is on point too! 
It's awesome to see a live-action Kabuki drama making waves and breaking records. Can't wait for the international release in 2026 - bring it on! 
. Can't wait to see what the filmmakers have planned for the global tour! And yaaas, 12.3 million tickets sold? That's some serious theatre magic 
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! I mean, who wouldn't want to watch a epic Kabuki drama about training in theater and dealing with yakuza stuff? The fact that it sold over 12 million tickets is crazy 
. i've heard good things about this film, can't wait to see it for myself. hope they do justice to the art form, would love to see more people experience kabuki like i have 
ken watanabe was his usual awesome self too. gotta admit, i've never seen a kabuki drama before but after watching kokuho, i'm kinda intrigued to explore more 
I mean, $111 million is no joke! The film's success is totally deserved though - the visuals are breathtaking and the story is so captivating. I loved the themes of loyalty, perseverance, and the struggle to stay true to oneself... it's like, totally relatable, you know? 
And Ken Watanabe as the yakuza leader father? Chills every time! 
. With the film's worldwide appeal, I'm curious to see how it might influence or inspire new audiences to explore Kabuki theater 
. However, we should also consider the role of the government in providing funding and infrastructure for theaters and cultural institutions. Maybe this is an opportunity to revisit our film subsidies and see if there are ways to support more Japanese films globally without putting a strain on our national budget 
. i mean, who wouldn't want to watch a film that's got such an immersive beauty? and the fact that ken watanabe is in it is like the icing on the cake 
. plus, it's amazing to see how much love japanese audiences have for this film - 12.3 million tickets sold?! that's insane 
... but what if it's just a shallow adaptation of traditional Japanese culture? 
... but at the same time, I think it's cool that the younger generation is interested in preserving traditional arts. 
It's just too much to think about, you know? 
Not to mention, 12.3 mil tickets sold? That's insane for Japanese theaters alone! 
but what i'm most hyped about is the wider release in n america!!! early 2026 can't come soon enough 