Kokuho (国宝) is a 2025 Japanese drama film directed by Lee Sang-il and written by Satoko Okudera, based on the novel of the same name by Shuichi Yoshida. The film stars Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, Mitsuki Takahata, Shinobu Terajima, Min Tanaka, and Ken Watanabe. The story follows Kikuo Tachibana, the son of a yakuza boss who is murdered by a rival gang. At fifteen, Kikuo is taken in as an apprentice by kabuki actor Hanai Hanjiro. Although kabuki tradition prizes family lineage, Kikuo’s extraordinary natural talent propels him to fame and artistic success. The film had its world premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight section at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 18, followed by a North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2025. It was released theatrically in Japan by Toho on June 6, becoming both a critical and commercial success, and was selected as Japan’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.