Photo/Illutration A scene from “Kokuho” ((c) Shuichi Yoshida, Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc., (c) 2025 “Kokuho” production committee)

“Kokuho” (National Treasure) has now generated 17.37 billion yen ($111 million) in box office revenue, breaking the record gross for a Japanese live-action film, distributor Toho Co. said Nov. 25.

The previous record was held for 22 years by the 2003 film “Bayside Shakedown 2: Save the Rainbow Bridge,” with 17.35 billion yen.

“Kokuho” was directed by Sang-il Lee and is based on a novel of the same title written by Shuichi Yoshida, which was serialized in The Asahi Shimbun.

The story follows Kikuo, played by Ryo Yoshizawa, who becomes a Kabuki actor and Living National Treasure despite being born into a yakuza family. Opposite him is his rival Shunsuke, played by Ryusei Yokohama, a son of a prestigious Kabuki family.

When the film opened on June 6, it placed only third in the box office rankings for the weekend of June 6 to 8.

It then surpassed its previous weekend’s box office earnings for four consecutive weeks, and remained in the top 10 for audience numbers for 21 straight weeks.

After 172 days in theaters, it had attracted 12.31 million viewers by Nov. 24.

“Normally, box office revenue declines steadily after its release,” film journalist Hiroo Otaka said. “Kokuho’s opening weekend revenue was about 340 million yen, and films with similar figures usually settle around 2 billion yen.

“The explosive speed at which word-of-mouth spread on social media was one reason for this extraordinary hit.”

In recent years, Japanese films surpassing 10 billion yen in box office revenue have mostly been anime, such as “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba--The Movie: Infinity Castle--Part 1: Akaza Returns” and “One Piece Film Red.”

Otaka said the background to the huge success of “Kokuho” lies in its “shared elements with anime.”

The film frequently inserts Kabuki scenes featuring Kikuo and Shunsuke, who come from different backgrounds.

“These scenes are crafted so audiences can overlay the characters’ personalities and life journeys, making them as thrilling as anime duel scenes,” Otaka said.

Such highlights appear repeatedly, allowing the film to depict traditional Kabuki while captivating younger audiences familiar with anime, he said.

Another notable feature was the buzz around the cast’s performances from the start.

The Asahi Shimbun analyzed about 320,000 randomly selected posts on X, formerly Twitter, about the film from June 1 to Sept. 7. The posts were provided by data analytics firm User Local Inc.

About 32 percent of the posts mentioned either “Yoshizawa” or “Yokohama,” the two stars of “Kokuho,” indicating their acting left a strong impression on many viewers.

Film critic Sachiko Watanabe also noted that their performances captured the hearts of filmgoers.

“They brilliantly portrayed the transformation into dazzling actors onstage after grueling effort,” Watanabe said. “Even as a Kabuki fan, I could tell from their performance in the stage scenes that they underwent substantial training.”

She also praised Lee’s direction.

“The hand movements during dances and the disarray of kimono hems after dancing were meticulously crafted to evoke elegance,” she said. “It’s a rare commercial film that fully captures such refined aesthetics and leaves audiences enchanted.”

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