How surprise mega-hit Kokuho could make Japanese live-action movies global contenders
Kokuho, Japan’s record-breaking cinematic triumph, is helping to redefine global perceptions of Japanese live-action film for modern viewers
In the world of Kokuho, the stomp of a foot can summon art into being. The blend of allegory and reality in the symbol-laden feature film continues to surprise months after its release, making it an unlikely new weapon in Sony’s Japanese content arsenal.
Japanese-Korean director Lee Sang-il’s three-hour epic is now Japan’s top-grossing live-action movie of all time, smashing a 22-year-old record, according to domestic distributor Toho.
The film, an adaptation of a two-volume novel by Shuichi Yoshida, has now been shortlisted for the 2026 Academy Awards’ international feature film category, as well as for make-up and hairstyling. The nominations are slated to be announced on January 22, with Kokuho headed for a wider North American roll-out in February.