Kokuho

In 1964, Hanjiro Hanai attends a kabuki performance in Nagasaki. In this traditional Japanese theatre form, female roles are also played by men. Hanjiro, himself a renowned kabuki actor, is impressed by 14-year-old Kikuo, the son of a gangster boss, who is playing one such role. When the gangster boss is murdered, Hanjiro decides to take Kikuo under his wing and takes him to Osaka. There, Kikuo grows up alongside Hanjiro’s son, Shunsuke. A close friendship develops between the two, whilst Hanjiro ensures that they continue to hone their skills in the art of kabuki. With success: ten years later, the two form a successful onnagata duo – men who specialise in portraying female roles. But whilst Kikuo takes a very purist approach to his acting, Shunsuke is increasingly keen on public recognition. This inevitably leads to conflicts.

By his own account, director Sang-il Lee had always wanted to make a film about the ‘onnagata’ phenomenon. Shuichi Yoshida’s 2018 novel Kokuho provided the perfect source of inspiration. The result is this magnificent, now multi-award-winning theatre drama, starring Ken Watanabe in the lead role, amongst others.