Director Sang-il Lee and lead actor Ryo Yoshizawa join moderator Janet Yang for a conversation about the making of KOKUHO.
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Kokuho | Scene at the Academy (Feat. Sang-il Lee, Ryo Yoshizawa, and Janet Yang)
30 Comments
This film “KOKUHO” was blockbuster in Japan in 2025.
These days many Japanese people still prefer to go to the movie theaters.
As Ryo Yoshizawa speaks in this movie, he played the role as super hero in the past.
And then, I knew his existence for the first time. I had an impression that he is very handsome at that time.
I also watched him in the drama “PICU” several years ago, I recognized he had very good acting skills.
I learn many things every day by rooting for him.
There are always pros and cons for everyone.
However, I think he did his absolute best in this film.
Although Ryusei Yokohama wasn't interviewed for this movie, I think he has great humanity as well.
I hope this film resonates with many people in many different countries,
and make everyone's life better.
I am greatly thankful for everyone who was involved with this movie!
Thank you to Ms. Janet Yang for hosting this interview!
And thank you to Mr. Tom Cruise for showing the film “KOKUHO” in the United States.
I really hope many people will have the opportunity to watch this film. It deserves the Oscars.
From Taiwan . I have watched it for 9 times. So gorgeous and impressive in the art, music, and the performance. I have recommended lot of friends, even not familiar with JP traditions. All of them have good feedback, some even watched twice. Please give a try !
Also, Ryo is going to be starring in Dear Evan Hansen in Japan this year, as well!
❤❤❤
It is hard to find an interview in English with sincere. Thank you so much❣️
Please release in the uk 🇬🇧 i have been a fan of Ryo since his Mikey era ❤❤❤❤
Beautiful Ryo Yoshizawa ❤
美しい映画です✨
喜久雄を演じた吉沢亮さんは、小学1年生の時に剣道を始め9年間続けました。以前のインタビューで吉沢亮さんが「9年間、剣道の稽古を休んだことが一度も無かった」と言っていました。映画『KOKUHO』の中で、初の大舞台で緊張する喜久雄に、花井半次郎(渡辺謙さん)が「喜久雄はこの家に来てから歌舞伎の稽古を一度も休んだことが無かったじゃないか」と励ます場面を観て、吉沢亮さんの人生が喜久雄と重なり驚きました。
自分の人生を精一杯生きる姿は美しいなと思いました。吉沢亮さんが主演した大河ドラマ『青天を衝け』でも渋沢栄一さん(現在の日本のお札の偉人)が偉業の数の数倍の多くの失敗をしながらも天命を全うする姿もとても美しくて涙が止まりませんでしたが、映画国宝の喜久雄も必死に生き抜いた姿が美しくて涙が止まりませんでした🪭
私は今まで生きてきた中で「美しいものを見て涙が出る」という経験をしたことがありませんでしたが、映画「KOKUHO」は20回以上観ても最後の『鷺娘』では涙が止めどなく出てきます。素晴らしい映画ですし、邦画実写映画の興行収入歴代1位(22年間入れ替わることが無かった)になった事に不思議はありません✨
I was bummed i failed to get ticket when kokuho was showing for only one day in my country. Hope this movie advances to the nominee list.
And oryo, your side profile is as exquisite as ever
吉沢亮、日本を代表する役者
狂気的な演技が大好きです
This film was a truly special experience, reflecting the dedication and passion of the director, cast, and everyone involved. It absolutely deserves to be seen by many people.
From Germany. I watched this film 3 times and I am going back again. It moved my heart and it introduced me to the unbearable, heart rending beauty of Kabuki. I want to travel to Japan an see it in the theatre.❤
I was completely under the spell Kojuho while watching it. The beauty and emotion coupled with the pain and years of adversity were conveyed through the exquisite filming, I was quite exhausted at the end but cannot wait to watch it again. Thanks Japanese Film Festival in Perth, Australia ❤
I was fortunate enough to watch it at TIFF, the film is spectacular! Ryo Yoshizawa is incredible!
Ah, I want to watch this movie so bad 😢 but sadly it's not being shown in my country. Can't wait for the digital release.
I'm Thai and I'm looking forward to watching this film. I am going to book a ticket on January 16 because it's my day off. Since i heard this film that recieved a lots of praise and reccommend from other critics i keep watching trailers and listening to OST " LUMINANCE " it gave me goosebump and can't keep waiting towatch the film so bad
Cheers from Korea.
Looking at the comments, some places haven't been screened yet.
I was happy to see the movie.
I hope many people can feel this.
From China. I watched this film twice when I traveled to Japan. I admire how the Japanese stay committed to their traditional culture, and how young actors constantly strive to master an art form that was once unfamiliar to them, especially the lead actor, Ryo Yoshizawa.
From Australia. This film moved my spirit in ways that I have never experienced before. I want to thank you all who was involved making this beautiful film. Arigato Gozaimase.
The movie was awesome.There is beauty in all sadness.
私は15回も国宝を夢中で見ましたがとても幸せでした、ありがとうございました、感動しました
RYO is damn fine!!! oh my lord!!
世界中の人にこの美しい映画を体験して欲しい
It's a three-hour film, but it feels more like a collection of drama series than a traditional cinematic film.
This film truly deserves an oscar
작년 초겨울에 극장에서 봤는데, 아직까지도 여운이 남는 영화입니다. 한국에서 응원합니다! 🇰🇷🔥🔥🔥
吉沢さん。歌舞伎の歴史は徳川幕府開闢とほぼ同時に始まったので100年どころか500年以上の歴史があります。
It is evident Director Lee's Korean heritage/roots influenced how this film was directed and portrayed — more visceral and visually enticing and bold.
He did a great job showing the parallels between Kabuki and Yakuza –both operate with the same power mechanics:
– Hierarchy above individuality (talent alone doesn’t free you. Your place is determined by position, not selfhood)
– Lineage over merit (belonging is inherited or granted — never earned freely)
– Ritualized suffering (pain isn’t accidental.
It’s evidence of commitment)
– Silence is survival (speaking out ends your future; endurance is rewarded; dissent is betrayal)
– Ritual as disguise (Yakuza: ceremonies mask coercion as honor. Kabuki: beauty and tradition mask coercion as culture. The difference is aesthetic, not structural.)
Kabuki is filmed like an institution that consumes people, not one that elevates them.
The uncomfortable realization — When you strip away reverence, nationalism, beauty what’s left is:
a closed male power system that survives by discipline, silence, and ritual.
That resemblance to Yakuza isn’t insult —
it’s exposure of structure.
Kabuki feels like Yakuza because both are systems where:
– hierarchy outranks humanity
– loyalty replaces freedom
– ritual disguises control
And once you see that, kabuki stops looking like art —
and starts looking like organized power wearing makeup.