SATOKO OKUDERA

KOKUHO (2025)

Starring Keitatsu Koshiyama, Soya Kurokawa, Ai Mikami, Takahiro Miura, Emma Miyazawa, Nana Mori, Masatoshi Nagase, Kyûsaku Shimada, Mitsuki Takahata and Min Tanaka. Directed by Sang-Il Lee.

Nagasaki, 1964. After the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, gifted 14-year-old Kikuo is taken under the wing of famed Kabuki actor Hanjiro Hanai. Alongside the great performer’s only son, Shunsuke, he dedicates his life to the art form – a centuries-old Japanese theatrical tradition known for its costumes, elaborate makeup and innovative stagecraft.

Over the ensuing decades, against the backdrop of stunning stagings of classic Kabuki tales, the destiny of the two young disciples entwines and twists - from acting school to the most prestigious stages - and their hearts suffer as much yearning, scandal and glory as their on-stage alter-egos. Only one of them will become the master of the art.

BANGKOK REVENGE (2012)

Starring Mao Inoue, Jun Fubuki and Eiko Koike. Directed by Izuru Narushima.

Manit witnessed the murder of his parents when he was just 10 years old. The killers shot him in the head, but he miraculously survived, with damage to his brain leaving him unable to experience regular human emotion. After a martial arts master saves him and takes him in, Manit becomes an emotionless war machine, who returns to the scene of the crime, to exact revenge.