Korean release set for November 19; director’s nationality under scrutiny.

The Japanese film Kokuhō, which has drawn 10 million admissions, is set to open in Korea on November 19 as its Korea release approaches. Attention around director Lee Sang-il’s nationality has intensified during this lead-up. The film is based on Yoshida Shuichi’s best-selling novel of the same name.

The story follows Tachibana Kikuo, a boy born into a Yakuza family who is adopted by a prestigious Kabuki house, and his close friend and rival Shunsuke Ogaki as they pursue a life dedicated to art and seek to rise to the rank of kokuhō. In Japan, Kokuhō has been a box-office sensation; nine weeks into its release, it surpassed 10 billion yen in gross, and by the fifteenth week it had drawn 10 million admissions. It has currently grossed approximately 16.65 billion yen, ranking 14th among live-action Japanese films.

The film’s market context notes that top rankings are usually dominated by animation, and it is rare for a live-action title to exceed 10 billion yen. The plot also explores how Kikuo’s social exclusion, caused by his Yakuza background, mirrors parts of his life. The director’s nationality remains unclear; while he uses a Korean name and some sources list him as Korean, it is not confirmed. He is described as a third-generation Zainichi Korean, with backgrounds including attendance at a pro-North Korea school and a father who was a teacher at a Chosun school, though these details are considered unlikely to define his nationality. The most likely nationality is Japan, given his birth and education there and his public career as a Japanese filmmaker. In interviews, he has suggested that changing to a Japanese name might become burdensome, should he consider doing so. The film adapts the eponymous best-seller by Yoshida Shuichi, and features Ryō Yoshida as Kikuo alongside Ryusei Yokohama, Ken Watanabe, Min Tanaka, and child actor Kurokawa Soya, signaling a high-caliber cast. Production credits highlight involvement from art directors and cinematographers associated with Kill Bill and The Blue Is the Warmest Color, sparking further anticipation. Kokuhō was invited to the Directors’ Fortnight at the 78th Cannes Film Festival and was selected as a contender for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. The film is scheduled to open in Korea on November 19.