GKids acquires Japan’s Oscar submission ‘Kokuho’

GKids has acquired all North American rights to Kokuho, Sang-Il Lee’s Japanese Oscar submission that stormed the local box office over the summer and gets its North American premiere at TIFF.

Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, and Ken Watanabe star in the story set in Nagasaki in 1964 as a 14-year-old boy is taken under the wing of a renowned Kabuki actor after his Yakuza gangster father dies.

The youngster trains and grows alongside the actor’s son for decades, performing on the biggest stages and weathering brotherhood, scandals and betrayal, until only one will become the greatest Kabuki master.

Kokuho is produced by Aniplex in association with Myriagon Studio, Amuse, Toho Co., Lawson, and Credeus. Pyramide handles international sales.

David Jesteadt negotiated the deal with Agathe Mauruc of Pyramide International. GKids will release Kokuho in North American theatres in early 2026. 

The film premiered in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and opened in Japan in June, going on to earn $79m by August 24. 

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