The 68th Essay: Kokuho (2025, Japan)
Ryoden Kouki Engineering Co., Ltd.
Company Newsletter Series: “How about Taking a Short Break?”
The film Kokuho tells the tumultuous life story of Kikuyuki Tachibana, a young man born into a yakuza family who enters the world of Kamigata Kabuki and devotes himself to mastering the art of onnagata, the performance of female roles.
Shunsuke is the privileged heir, born into a family lineage that seems to guarantee his future in Kabuki. Kikuyuki, on the other hand, lacks the advantage of family connections but possesses extraordinary natural talent. As rivals, the two young men continually challenge and inspire each other, honing their skills along the way.
However, their lives take a dramatic turn when their master must decide who will succeed him.
Talent and hard work. Bloodline and ability. Joy and despair. Trust and betrayal.
Set against the world of Kabuki, one of Japan’s traditional performing arts, the film explores human jealousy and envy while inviting us to reflect on what it truly means to devote oneself to mastering an art.
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