As part of Variety’s Screening Series, “ Kokuho ” production designer Yohei Taneda and producer Chieko Murata joined Variety’s co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton for a candid conversation about the making of the Japanese drama on Oct. 26 in Los Angeles.

Murata kicked off the conversation explaining what Kabuki theater offers Japanese audiences by having it as the film’s backdrop and discussed their desire to center a story about a young boy who, after his father’s death, develops into a gifted performer after being adopted by a famous Kabuki actor.

“For Japanese people, especially the younger audience, and a regular U.S. audience, it’s similar,” Murata began. “They have never seen Kabuki and don’t know that much about it. It’s a discovery. Also, they don’t think of it as a movie

See Full Page