Japan's 7.47 Million Viewers and 10.5 Billion Yen Breakthrough 'National Treasure', Confirmed for Domestic Release in the Second Half of the Year... Directed by Lee Sang-il

The film 'National Treasure', directed by Lee Sang-il, which has caused a phenomenal box office success in Japan, has confirmed its domestic release in the second half of the year. This work, which combines the original novel written by Yoshida Shuichi, the direction by Korean director Lee Sang-il, and top actors including Yoshizawa Ryo, is raising expectations among domestic audiences ahead of its release.

Record-Breaking Achievement in Japan... 73 Days, 7.47 Million Viewers, Box Office 10.5 Billion Yen

Since its release in Japan in June, 'National Treasure' has surpassed 7.47 million viewers in just 73 days, recording a box office revenue of 10.5 billion yen (approximately 987.78 million won). This achievement ranks as the 3rd highest grossing live-action film in Japan's history, surpassing the record of 'Bayside Shakedown THE MOVIE' (1998) and rewriting the landscape of live-action films after 27 years. It stands shoulder to shoulder with the legendary box office hits 'Bayside Shakedown 2: A Rainbow Bridge to Block' (2003) and 'Antarctic Story' (1983), marking a peak of interest in Japanese theaters in 2025.

The Narrative of a Human Who Dives into the Path of Kabuki

The original work is the eponymous novel by Japan's representative author Yoshida Shuichi. The film depicts the process of the protagonist Tachibana Kikuo (Yoshizawa Ryo), born in the tumult of the high economic growth period, being taken in by a family of Kabuki actors and dedicating his youth to the path of 'life-risking training'. It captures the moment when an individual is 'born' as an artist, not as a romanticized tale of an artistic hero, but by confronting the realities of traditional art intertwined with bloodlines, succession, labor, and discipline.

Director Lee Sang-il's Perspective: Balancing Tradition and Modernity, Body and Mind

Director Lee Sang-il is a creator with a multi-layered identity as a Korean resident in Japan. He simultaneously gazes at the psychology and body of the character at the intersection of the formal beauty and discipline of traditional Kabuki and modern industrial logic. The camera respects the 'form' of the art while carefully illuminating the costs and solitude that must be paid to maintain that form. As a result, the film reveals both the genius of the individual referred to by the title 'National Treasure' and the structures of the era, system, and family that made it possible.

Elite Casting and World-Class Staff

Led by the starring Yoshizawa Ryo, actors such as Yokohama Ryusei, Watanabe Ken, and child actor Kurokawa Soya complete an explosive ensemble that transcends generations and realms. The production team includes staff who worked on the art of 'Kill Bill' and the cinematography of 'Blue is the Warmest Color', delicately expanding the boundaries between stage and everyday life. The mise-en-scène utilizing the dressing room, curtains, props, and the texture of shadows behind the scenes breathes life into the consciousness and physicality of Kabuki on screen.

Cultural Context and Gateway to Appreciation

Kabuki is not just a performance to be 'watched', but a 'living' art that is inherited by generations and families. The film translates this specificity into a universal narrative of growth. The audience witnesses how the protagonist creates his 'voice, breath, and gaze' through the training process of repeating the 'form' of the art. This leads to empathy regarding themes that are not unfamiliar to Korean audiences, such as 'the dignity of labor' and 'the ethics of art'. The question of the meaning of tradition in the present tense is why the work leaves a lasting impression beyond its box office success.

Domestic Release and Anticipated Effects

Based on its long-term success in Japan, 'National Treasure' has been confirmed for a domestic release in the second half of the year, and is being evaluated as a work that broadens the possibilities of serious drama centered on traditional art. In addition to the proven popularity in Japan, it is expected to provide a pathway for Korean audiences to contemplate 'the labor of art' and 'the ethics of artists'. After its release, events such as the cast's visit to Korea and collaborative events between traditional art and film are also anticipated to expand additional discourse.

Meanwhile, 'National Treasure' is scheduled to meet audiences in domestic theaters in the second half of the year. The exact domestic release date and screening information are expected to be announced sequentially through the distributor's notice.