Kabuki Drama Unfolds: Onnagata Actors Captivate Audiences in Riveting Saga

In October 2025, a captivating documentary titled "Kokuho" is set to captivate audiences with its exploration of the rarefied world of kabuki theater in Japan. The film, which takes its title from a recent work of fiction, spans five decades from the mid-1960s, blending backstage melodrama, succession saga, and the making of an artist.

At the heart of the story are two aspiring actors, one born into the kabuki tradition and the other an outsider determined to climb its ranks. Played with exquisite depth by Ryo Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama, the characters navigate the challenges and triumphs of the onnagata tradition – the male actors who have played female roles in kabuki since the 17th century.

The film, directed by Sang-il Lee and adapted from a novel by Shuichi Yoshida, pays tribute to the hard work and artistry of these onnagata performers. As the characters face struggles, triumphs, and reversals, the movie offers a glimpse into the vanity and dedication of actors, as well as the esteem in which their craft is held.

With its operatic intensity, visual poetry, and a superb cast, "Kokuho" is a riveting exploration of the kabuki tradition, blending backstage drama and the making of an artist into a captivating cinematic experience.