#1
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2026 9:27 am
Kabuki is an art dependent on the performer's ability to effectively hold traditional poses for long periods of time. Perched somewhere between opera, ballet and theater, it requires a unique balance of psychological and athletic prowess. It is a form of endurance as much as it is one of emotional manipulation. For Kikuo (Ryo Yoshizawa) to become a Kokuho, or a living national treasure, there is no limit to the amount of damage — to himself, or to others — that he is unwilling to endure or enact to become the greatest kabuki performer in Japan. It's a deal he literally tries to make with the devil.
Source: https://screenrant.com/kokuho-movie-review/