As 2025 draws to a quiet close,
the film Kokuho (National Treasure) has become Japan’s top-grossing live-action film only six months after its release. The original novel follows fifty years of a man’s turbulent journey through the traditional, hereditary world of kabuki.
After a tragedy in the yakuza world, Kikuo, born into a yakuza family, is taken in by a renowned kabuki household. Within this new home, he slowly finds the path that will shape his life, and he devotes himself to the art with quiet determination.
The film doesn’t merely portray the beauty and depth of kabuki. It vividly shows the protagonist’s solitary way of life as he pursues a vista visible only from where he stands. Just as audiences are effortlessly drawn to the presence of one regarded as a national treasure, an earnest approach to one’s work has the quiet power to shift the views and aspirations of those around us. There are moments when talent finds an environment that allows it to grow naturally, much like cotton quietly absorbing water.
Reaching such a state is possible only through steady, daily discipline, and this truth resonates deeply with us in the world of recruiting. Now that AI can provide information in an instant, the individuals who continue to step toward challenges that cannot be resolved overnight stand out with a quiet and unmistakable strength.
These reflections stay with us as we look toward the coming year. We wish you a peaceful and fulfilling end to the year, and our sincere hopes for your continued health and success in the year ahead.