PRESS CONFERENCE
Oscar Nomination Spotlight: "Kokuho" and the Art of Kabuki
Lee Sang-il, "Kokuho" Director
Kyoko Toyokawa, Hair & Makeup
Naomi Hibino, Kabuki Makeup
Tadashi Nishimatsu, Kabuki Wig Master (Tokoyama)
11:00-12:00 Friday, February 27, 2026
Language: The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation.
The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan is pleased to welcome "Kokuho" director Lee Sang-il and the expert team behind the film's nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the upcoming Academy Awards — a significant first-time recognition for Japanese cinema in this category.
"Kokuho" follows the lives of two onnagata (male actors playing female roles), played by Ryo Yoshizawa and Ryusei Yokohama, who become friends and rivals in postwar Japan, devoting themselves to the rigorous and unforgiving world of Kabuki theater. Central to the film's power is its meticulous and expressive use of kabuki makeup, wigs and hairstyling to depict both the evolution of performance traditions and the changes in Japanese life across the decades.
Released in Japan last June, "Kokuho" became a cultural phenomenon and a historic box-office success. By November, it had surpassed the 22-year-old live-action box-office record for a domestic film. In January, its total gross had exceeded ¥19.3 billion ($125 million), and it continues to screen in Japan as the international rollout begins. It is the leading contender for the 2026 Japan Academy Film Prize — Japan's top film honors — with a Best Picture nomination and nods in 12 other categories, including Best Director and Actor.
While the film was not nominated in the Oscars' International Feature Film category after being shortlisted, its Academy Award nomination for Makeup and Hairstyling underscores the recognition of "Kokuho" for its transcendent visual artistry.
Joining director Lee Sang-il at FCCJ will be three key creators: Kyoko Toyokawa (hair & makeup), Naomi Hibino (Kabuki makeup) and Tadashi Nishimatsu (Kabuki wig master). Together, they will discuss the creative process, the challenges of adapting Kabuki aesthetics for film and the significance of this nomination for Japanese cinema and traditional performing arts on the world stage.
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 16 (Japan time).
How to attend: Please register by emailing front@fccj.or.jp with your name and the name of your media outlet. FCCJ members should also include their membership number. Doors will open 15 minutes before the event.
How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/yJPQxtAxeSMKDC7H9
TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event. FCCJ will limit live-streaming of FCCJ-hosted press conferences to Club members only. Non-members will no longer be permitted to live-stream these events. However, non-members may still film for reporting purposes and use footage after the press conference.
Professional Activities Committee