Japanese Filmmaking Legends Yamada and Lee Share Stage at Tokyo Festival

Two giants of Japanese cinema, Yōji Yamada and Lee Sang-il, shared a celebrated stage. The event occurred at the Tokyo International Film Festival. It highlighted a profound mutual respect between the veteran and the record-breaking director.

Yamada received the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Lee was honored with the Akira Kurosawa Award. Their conversation offered a rare glimpse into the craft of two distinct but equally revered filmmakers.

Analyzing the Craft Behind a Box Office Juggernaut

Yamada immediately probed the dramatic structure of Lee’s hit film, Kokuho. He noted its unique focus on an irrational romantic force between two male leads. This element, he said, makes the film extraordinary.

Lee explained the tension comes from the source novel. He aimed to avoid simple jealousy or rivalry. His goal was a transcendent beauty emerging from shared suffering.

The film’s leads trained for a year and a half for their kabuki roles. Lee praised their incredible persistence and dedication. This work was essential to portraying the world of onnagata convincingly.

A Call for National Support and Cultural Revival

Yamada made an impassioned plea for more government backing of live-action films. He contrasted the global success of Japanese animation with live-action’s limited reach. This disparity, he argued, is a matter of cultural policy.

He recalled a time when Japanese cinema was internationally respected. Now, he sees Korea and China surging ahead. National support, like in South Korea, is crucial for a revival.

The dialogue between Yamada and Lee underscored a pivotal moment for Japanese cinema. It blended deep respect for tradition with a bold vision for the future. The success of Kokuho proves there is a hungry audience for sophisticated, homegrown stories.

Dropping this nugget your way

What is the film *Kokuho* about?

*Kokuho* tells the story of two kabuki actors bound by artistry and fate. It explores themes of homosexuality and rivalry within the traditional theater world. The film is Japan’s official entry for the best international film Oscar.

How successful has *Kokuho* been at the box office?

The film has earned over 16 billion yen, approximately $105 million. It is the biggest Japanese live-action box office hit in decades. Its success surprised many given its nearly three-hour runtime.

What is Yōji Yamada‘s connection to Tanaka Min?

Yamada cast Tanaka Min in his first major film role in *The Twilight Samurai*. Tanaka Min, a butoh dancer, plays the elderly kabuki master in Lee’s *Kokuho*. Both directors praised his unique, powerful presence.

How did Lee Sang-il approach adapting the novel for *Kokuho*?

Lee previously adapted two other novels by the same author, Shuichi Yoshida. He focused on the tension between bloodline and sexuality in the story. He avoided conventional melodrama to create a more transcendent narrative.

What was Yōji Yamada’s main criticism of the Japanese film industry?

Yamada lamented the lack of international success for Japanese live-action films. He called for more national support, similar to the backing seen in South Korea. He views this as a crucial cultural policy issue.