Japanese actor Ryo Yoshizawa attended the completion event for his upcoming film Kokuhō (directed by Sang-il Lee), held in Tokyo on April 23. He was joined by co-stars Ryusei Yokohama, Mitsuki Takahata, Shinobu Terajima, Nana Mori, Ai Mikami, Min Tanaka, and Ken Watanabe. The film is set to hit theaters on June 6.
Kokuhō is a cinematic adaptation of Shūichi Yoshida’s novel of the same name, which dives deep into the world of kabuki theater. Yoshizawa takes on the lead role of Kikuo Tachibana, a man born into a yakuza family who chooses to pursue the path of an onnagata—an actor who specializes in female roles in kabuki.
“I spent a year and a half training in kabuki to prepare for this role,” said Yoshizawa. “This film represents the culmination of my acting career so far. I poured everything I’ve learned into it. While I know my technique may not be perfect, I want people to see the raw spirit and determination I brought to the role.”
Ken Watanabe, who plays Hanjiro Hanai—a kabuki master and father figure to Kikuo—praised Yoshizawa’s performance after an early screening. “I thought, ‘This is going to be Ryo Yoshizawa’s signature work.’ The passion and determination he brought were incredible,” said Watanabe. Yoshizawa humbly responded, “Thank you. I truly hoped this film would become a defining piece for me.”
The film has already received international attention, having been selected for the Directors’ Fortnight section at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, running from May 13 to 24.
Ryusei Yokohama, who plays Kikuo’s rival Shunsuke—a fellow kabuki actor—expressed his excitement about the film’s Cannes recognition. “Cannes is a dream destination for any filmmaker. We poured our souls into this project, so I’m beyond thrilled,” he said. On his role, he noted, “Shunsuke is the opposite of who I am—he’s actually the type of person I struggle to understand. I hyad to start by learning to empathize with and even love him.”
Shinobu Terajima, who portrays Sachiko, Hanjiro’s wife, brought her real-life kabuki lineage to the production—she is the daughter of renowned actor Onoe Kikugorō VII. “When something on set didn’t feel authentic to me, I’d speak up and say, ‘Shouldn’t it be more like this?’” she shared.
Reflecting on the film’s portrayal of kabuki’s inherited traditions, Terajima admitted she had some reservations. “In reality, it doesn’t quite work that way. Kabuki is a hereditary art, so the idea of a master favoring an apprentice over his own son feels very unlikely. I kept thinking, ‘Why would he choose Kikuo over Shunsuke?’ That just wouldn’t happen. Yoshida-san really wrote something daring with this story.”