The film "National Treasure" (originally titled "国宝" in Japanese) has broken the historic box office record for live-action Japanese films, surpassing 20 billion yen in revenue, according to distributor Toho's announcement. Directed by Ryuichi Hiroki and based on the novel by Shuichi Yoshida that was serialized in Asahi Shimbun, the film tells the story of Kikuo, a Kabuki actor from a Yakuza lineage, as he competes with a scion of a prestigious Kabuki family, Shunsuke, on his journey to becoming a Human National Treasure. Since its release on June 6, the film has garnered a steady increase in weekend box office revenue and has attracted over 14.15 million viewers within 255 days of release.

In just five weeks following its debut, "National Treasure" saw its weekend box office earnings increase consistently, keeping it within the top 10 films at the box office, aside from a two-week period in October and November. It achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the previous record held by the 2003 film "Bayside Shakedown: The Movie 2 - Counterattack of the Rainbow Bridge," which had earned 17.35 billion yen, making "National Treasure" the highest-grossing live-action Japanese film to date. Out of the 10 films in Japan that have crossed the 20 billion yen threshold, several are animated films, including the top-grossing "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train" and several Studio Ghibli titles.

Moreover, in the context of international films, "National Treasure" is in the company of iconic movies such as James Cameron's "Titanic" and the first Harry Potter film, which have grossed 27.77 billion yen and 20.3 billion yen respectively. With its continued success, the film not only marks a significant achievement for Japanese cinema but also reflects the growing cultural importance of live-action storytelling in Japan, potentially influencing future productions and storytelling methods within the industry.