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The Japanese Film Festival is in its twenty-ninth year, and the festival continues to build its reputation as one of the most significant celebrations of Japanese cinema outside Japan. What began in 1997 with three small community screenings has grown into a nationwide cultural program that brings together new releases direct from Japanese cinemas, rare 35 millimetre prints, guest appearances, Q and A sessions and opportunities to experience both traditional and contemporary Japanese culture.

Opening night in Melbourne this year was buzzing from the moment the audience arrived. There was a warm sense of community at this festival, and that feeling was matched by a spread that included some of the best mochi I have ever had, generously provided by Roboto. The mood was festive, the theatre was full, and the anticipation for the flagship film was high.

This year’s opening film is Kokuhō, directed by Lee Sang il. The title means National Treasure, a fitting name given the cultural impact the film has had in Japan. Based on the best-selling novel by Shūichi Yoshida, Kokuhō stormed the Japanese box office in mid-2025 and continued to grow in popularity throughout the year. Audiences flocked to it repeatedly, word of mouth turning it into a major cultural milestone.

Unusually for a live-action drama, Kokuhō also became a major force on the international festival circuit. While Japanese films that break into global award categories are often animated features, Kokuhō made waves at Cannes and several other significant festivals. It was one of the most awarded and widely discussed Japanese films of the year, raising expectations ahead of its arrival in Australia.

A Story Shaped by Lineage, Ambition and Art

The story begins in Nagasaki in 1964 with a moment of shocking violence. Young Kikuo witnesses the murder of his father, a powerful leader of a yakuza organisation. This trauma marks him for life and shapes his intense desire to build a new future for himself. After his father’s death, Kikuo is taken in by the great kabuki master Hanjirō Hanai, played by the legendary Ken Watanabe. Under Hanai’s strict yet compassionate guidance, Kikuo begins to train as a kabuki performer alongside the master’s own son, Shunsuke.

The film follows the intertwined destinies of the two boys as they grow into men and into rivals. Their training is demanding. Their devotion to kabuki becomes an all-consuming pursuit that demands sacrifice, emotional depth and personal transformation. The film spans several decades, charting their rise through acting schools, rehearsal rooms and eventually onto Japan’s most prestigious kabuki stages.

Ryō Yoshizawa gives a powerful performance as Kikuo. He carries the weight of grief, ambition and longing with remarkable nuance. Ryūsei Yokohama as Shunsuke provides the perfect counterpoint, the son of a famous master who must grapple with the burden of legacy and expectation. The complex relationship between the two men provides the emotional core of the film. They are raised like brothers, yet they push and pull against each other constantly as their shared ambition becomes a source of love, frustration and pain.

Drama in Every Sense of the Word

Kokuhō is a drama in the richest sense. It is a story about artistic excellence, intense rivalry and deep emotional turmoil. It is also a story about Japan itself. The film is set during a period of enormous cultural transition. The country was emerging from the aftermath of the Second World War and moving into a modern future. This tension between old and new plays out both on the stage and in the characters’ lives.

One of the most impressive achievements of the film is the way it integrates kabuki into the narrative. Kabuki is known for its bold makeup, elaborate costumes, stylised movement and heightened delivery. For audiences unfamiliar with it, the artform can at first seem exaggerated. The film teaches viewers how to understand its emotional language. Rehearsal scenes show how performers learn to express pain, longing and joy through intonation and precise physicality. As Kikuo and Shunsuke train, we begin to see how their real lives mirror the classic tales they perform on stage.

The kabuki performances are staged with extraordinary visual beauty. The cinematography captures the richness of the costumes, the elegance of the sets and the commanding presence of the actors. The film allows several kabuki scenes to unfold in full, giving the audience a chance to experience the art form as though sitting in the theatre. These scenes also run in parallel with the offstage story, heightening the emotional impact.

A Film That Welcomes Newcomers to Kabuki

One of the film’s great strengths is its accessibility. Even if you have never seen kabuki before, Kokuhō draws you gently into its world. The characters learn and rehearse in ways that reveal the mechanics of the art. As the audience sees them refine their craft and receive feedback from Hanai, kabuki becomes easier to follow and understand. By the time the major stage scenes arrive, the heightened style feels entirely natural because the film has taught us how to read it.

This makes Kokuhō not only a gripping drama but also a cultural education. It provides a rare cinematic window into an artform that has survived for centuries and continues to hold a revered place in Japanese cultural identity.

A Rich Tapestry of Old and New Japan

The film also explores the social and cultural tensions of the era. Kikuo’s yakuza background places him at odds with the traditions and purity expected of kabuki performers. Meanwhile, Shunsuke must contend with the expectations placed upon him as the heir to a master performer. Japan itself is changing, and so are the worlds these men inhabit. The clash between traditional norms and a rapidly modernising society gives the film an added depth.

Verdict: A Masterwork of Emotion and Artistry

Kokuhō is a triumph of storytelling, performance and direction. It is a sweeping epic that never loses sight of the intimate emotional journeys at its heart. The performances are sublime, the direction confident, and the visual experience unforgettable. It balances scale, beauty and emotional truth.

As the opening feature for the 2025 Japanese Film Festival, it could not be more fitting. It embodies the richness and diversity of Japanese cinema and highlights the festival’s commitment to showcasing films that push artistic boundaries and capture the imagination.

The Japanese Film Festival runs nationwide from October to December 2025. To explore the full program, visit the festival website and enjoy a celebration of Japanese cinema that continues to grow in scope, ambition and cultural impact.

To book tickets to Kokuho (Opening Night Reception – Japanese Film Festival), please visit https://japanesefilmfestival.net/film/kokuho/.

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