Film National Treasure Earns Praise for Its Unscripted Realism

The biggest hit of the year for Japanese live-action films.

The film Kokuhō (National Treasure), starring actor Ryō Yoshizawa (31) and directed by Sang-il Lee, was released on June 6. In just 24 days, it has drawn a total of 2.31 million viewers and surpassed 3.2 billion yen (approx. $20 million USD) in box office revenue, making it the No. 1 live-action Japanese film of 2025 so far (according to Kogyo Tsushinsha). It’s projected to eventually reach a massive box office total of 5 to 6 billion yen.

The movie is based on a novel by Shūichi Yoshida. Veteran kabuki actor Ganjiro Nakamura (66), who assisted with research during the novel’s writing, served as the kabuki advisor for the film. He oversaw everything from coaching Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama (28) to the props in the dressing rooms and the atmosphere on stage and in the audience—crafting a visually authentic kabuki world alongside director Lee. Nakamura also plays a major kabuki actor in the film.

The story follows Kikuo Tachibana (Yoshizawa), born into a yakuza family. At age 15, his father is killed in a gang conflict, leaving him completely alone. Noticing his raw talent, kabuki master Hanjiro Hanai (Ken Watanabe, 65) takes Kikuo in and introduces him to the world of kabuki. Kikuo grows up alongside Hanjiro’s son, Shunsuke (Yokohama), becoming both close friends and rivals. Eventually, Kikuo debuts as Tōichirō Hanai and Shunsuke as Hanya Hanai, dedicating their youth to mastering their craft.

Actress Shinobu Terajima (52) plays Hanjiro’s wife, Sachiko. Born into the prestigious kabuki family Otowaya, she is the daughter of Living National Treasure Kikugorō Onoe VII (82) and actress Sumiko Fuji (79), sister of Kikugorō Onoe VIII (47), aunt to Kikunosuke Onoe VI (11), and mother of Mahiro Onoe (12), who also performs on stage. As the only cast member with kabuki lineage, Terajima had a unique emotional connection to the film.

“She attended a promotional event in Tokyo on April 23,” said a reporter covering the event. “She commented, ‘I felt more like a crew member than an actress—it was a strange experience.’ She also remarked, ‘Since kabuki is hereditary, the story felt like a dream when I first read it.’” Watanabe also revealed that Terajima had given direct advice to the director, saying, “She had quite a few tough critiques.”

On June 24, a PR video was released on Toho’s official YouTube channel. In the interview, Terajima praised Yoshizawa and Yokohama: “They truly gave it everything—they pushed themselves to the brink. What they pulled off would be difficult even for kabuki actors.” Speaking about the film, she added, “I almost feel like, ‘I wish the kabuki world could be more like this.’ Inheritance is important, but if a star emerges, we should nurture them. If we do, maybe the kabuki world will start to change.”

An aspect of a story of women

“Since she is a woman, the legitimate heir of the ‘Otowaya’ family is her younger brother, and the heir after that is her brother’s son. Even if her own son becomes more popular than her brother’s son in the future, he will never be able to inherit the prestigious stage name of ‘Kikugoro.’

In the film, the scenes where her husband is hospitalized due to an accident and she appoints Kikuo instead of their son Shunsuke as the stand-in, or when she tries to pass her own stage name on to Kikuo when her husband is about to inherit a prestigious name—those exchanges were so realistic that they didn’t sound like scripted lines. Perhaps they reflected the true feelings of the women of the Kabuki world,” said a theater reporter.

Film critic Yuichi Maeda shared his thoughts on the reasons behind the film’s success:

“First of all, Toho invested a significant budget into the film, the cast is star-studded, and Ryo Yoshizawa’s committed performance stands out. Also, the realistic depiction of the backstage world of Kabuki—a cultural sphere often seen in the media but rarely understood—was a fresh subject that caught viewers’ attention.

The current market favors authenticity. In this era where CGI is dominant and any kind of imagery can be created, it’s precisely because of that that audiences are drawn to the real deal—like Tom Cruise’s action scenes. ‘Kokuho’ offers a genuine portrayal of Kabuki that only a film—not TV—can deliver.

Indeed, Terajima was excellent. She truly knows the world of Kabuki firsthand. Although the film’s protagonist is male, I believe it’s also a story about the women who have made sacrifices in the unique world of Kabuki. Her role as Ken Watanabe’s wife reflects that. Though their screen time is limited, actresses like Ai Mikami, Mitsuki Takahata, and Nana Mori also give excellent performances.”

Kokuho looks set to continue its success, but even those who have already seen it might find it interesting to watch it again with a focus on the women characters.