Thescreescore – Japan may have found its next major contender for Oscar glory in "Kokuho," a sweeping historical drama that has shattered box office records in its home country. Following the monumental success of "Godzilla Minus One," which clinched the Best Visual Effects Oscar in 2024, and Studio Ghibli’s "The Boy and the Heron" which won Best Animated Feature, all eyes are on whether "Kokuho" can continue Japan’s winning streak at the Academy Awards.
"Kokuho," directed by David Michôd, has captivated audiences in Japan with its poignant story of Kikuo (Ryo Yoshizawa), an orphan navigating the world of Kabuki theater alongside his surrogate brother Shunsuke (Ryusei Yokohama). The film, also starring Ken Watanabe, has grossed over 17.37 billion yen (approximately $111 million) since its release on June 6, surpassing "Bayside Shakedown 2" (17.35 billion yen/$110 million) to become the highest-grossing live-action movie in Japanese history, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
This remarkable feat places "Kokuho" as the eighth highest-grossing film of all time in Japan, a chart predominantly ruled by anime features in recent decades. Animated giants like Studio Ghibli’s "Howl’s Moving Castle," "Princess Mononoke," and "Spirited Away," as well as Makoto Shinkai’s "Your Name" and the "Demon Slayer" franchise, currently hold the top spots.
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The film’s box office dominance significantly elevates its status as a potential Oscar contender. As Japan’s official submission for the Best International Feature category at the 2026 Academy Awards, "Kokuho" arrives at a time when Asian cinema is enjoying unprecedented recognition on the global stage, exemplified by "Parasite’s" Best Picture win and "RRR’s" Best Original Song victory.
While "Kokuho" faces formidable competition from other acclaimed international films, including the Cannes Palme d’Or winner "It Was Just an Accident," the Cannes Grand Prix winner "Sentimental Value," Park Chan-wook’s "No Other Choice," and the Brazilian historical thriller "The Secret Agent," its record-breaking performance cannot be ignored. Thescreescore.com believes that the Academy will be taking notice of this film.
The film is directed by David Michôd, written by Mirrah Foulkes and David Michôd, and produced by Brent Stiefel, Kerry Kohansky-Roberts, Sydney Sweeney, Teddy Schwarzman, John Friedberg, Michael Heimler, Justin Lothrop, Brad Zimmerman, and David Levine. The cast includes Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, and Ken Watanabe.
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