Kokuho: A Portrait of Cultural Dedication

The sixth day of the 20th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF20) was marked by one of the most eagerly awaited Japanese screenings of this year’s festival: Kokuho (Sang-il Lee, 2025). Anticipation translated swiftly into action, as tickets for the screening sold out almost immediately after they went on sale—particularly among Asian audiences, including those from Indonesia.

Kokuho is presented within the Panorama program, a section dedicated to carefully selected titles that have traveled across, and left their mark on international festival circuits. The film weaves rich cultural elements into an intimate visual language and a layered, personal narrative, offering a nuanced portrayal of Kabuki, Japan’s traditional theater form known for its stylized performance, striking makeup, elaborate costumes, and symbolic gestures.

The film follows Kikuo, a boy born into a Yakuza family whose striking beauty sets him apart. After his father’s death, Kikuo is taken in by Hanjiro Hanai, a renowned Kabuki actor, and trained alongside Hanjiro’s only son, Shunsuke. As Kikuo dedicates his life to the art of Kabuki, obstacles and sacrifices become the inevitable price of devotion—one that ultimately leads him to be recognized as a living national treasure, or kokuho.

The struggle depicted in the film—Japan’s submission for the Academy Awards—resonated strongly with festival audiences. One viewer, Mulya (23), spoke of being deeply impressed by the film’s intricate construction, while acknowledging the effort required to fully engage with it. “For a beautiful film, there is a price to be paid. The personal conflicts in this film are very complex,” he shared.

More than an introduction to a fascinating cultural tradition, Kokuho stands as a cultural conduit that reveals the long and demanding dedication behind artistic excellence. On the JAFF20 screen, its refined cinematic visuals speak of immeasurable effort—of sweat, tears, and an entire life committed in pursuit of perfection.