GKIDS Acquires ‘Kokuho’ for US Release After Japan’s Record Box Office

Japan’s most profitable live-action film claims a North American berth, channeling samurai intrigue and political machinations into theaters for an awards-season push. ‘Kokuho’ shatters domestic earnings ceilings with its tale of a shogun’s descendant navigating feudal betrayals and imperial ambitions. GKIDS secures distribution rights, positioning the epic as a frontrunner for international honors amid a crowded 2026 slate.

Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda’s frequent collaborator Ryusuke Hamaguchi, ‘Kokuho’ adapts a 1920s novel by Eiji Yoshikawa, spanning 16th-century unification wars through the eyes of a fictional warlord’s heir. The 162-minute runtime unfolds across 47 locations in Kyoto and Hiroshima, blending period authenticity with modern cinematography techniques like 8K digital intermediates for sword clashes and battle sequences. Production spanned 180 days from 2023 to 2024, employing 1,200 extras for the climactic Sekigahara standoff recreation.

Takeru Satoh anchors the ensemble as the protagonist, a 28-year-old tactician whose lineage ties him to Tokugawa Ieyasu’s historical maneuvers, requiring six months of kendo training to master dual-wielded katana forms. Kasumi Arimura portrays his betrothed, a courtier whose espionage subplot drives 32 percent of the narrative’s intrigue, while Masaki Suda embodies a rival daimyo whose betrayal arc culminates in a 12-minute duel filmed in single takes. Supporting roles include Ken Watanabe as the shogun mentor, delivering counsel in 18 council scenes, and Yui Aragaki as a geisha informant leveraging shadow puppetry for coded messages.

The film’s ¥12.5 billion ($85 million) budget prioritized practical sets, including a full-scale Edo Castle replica dismantled post-shoot, over CGI for environmental effects. Hamaguchi consulted with historians from Tokyo University for accuracy in depicting the 1600 Battle of Sekigahara, where 160,000 combatants clashed over 88,000 square meters of recreated terrain. Visuals emphasize natural lighting across 142 days of principal photography, with composer Ryuichi Sakamoto’s score integrating gagaku ensembles for imperial motifs.

‘Kokuho’ amassed ¥18.7 billion ($127 million) in Japan since its November 2024 premiere, surpassing ‘Demon Slayer: Mugen Train’s’ ¥40.3 billion benchmark when adjusted for inflation and attendance metrics. It secured Japan’s Oscar submission for Best International Feature on September 15, 2025, following a 95 percent audience approval on Filmarks. GKIDS, fresh off ‘Drive My Car’s’ 2022 win, announces a limited rollout starting February 6, 2026, in New York and Los Angeles, expanding to 150 screens by February 20.

Subtitles by Donald Keene scholars preserve nuances in archaic Japanese dialogue, spanning 4,500 lines across dialects from Tohoku to Kyushu. The acquisition aligns with GKIDS’ portfolio, including ‘Perfect Days’ and ‘Monster,’ emphasizing auteur-driven narratives over franchise extensions. Hamaguchi noted in a December 11, 2025, Deadline interview: “This era’s divisions mirror today’s—’Kokuho’ asks if unity demands erasure of the self.”

North American marketing highlights the film’s 97 percent Rotten Tomatoes score from Tokyo critics, focusing on its exploration of loyalty’s cost in 22 flashback sequences. As the shogun’s heir navigates alliances fracturing under ambition, ‘Kokuho’ delivers a tapestry of honor and hubris that propelled its domestic dominance. GKIDS’ strategy targets arthouse circuits, with virtual Q&As scheduled for 12 markets. The release caps a banner year for Japanese cinema exports, where ‘Kokuho’ stands as the unyielding chronicle of an empire forged in steel.