This paper presents a comprehensive structural analysis of the film "National Treasure" (Kokuho, 2025) directed by Lee Sang-il, employing the PlantUML C4 model as an innovative analytical framework. The study examines the intricate multi-layered human relationships, artistic inheritance systems, and social hierarchical structures within the kabuki world depicted in the film through the four abstraction levels of the C4 model, revealing the intrinsic structure of this cinematic work. The C4 model, originally developed for software architecture visualization, offers significant academic value when applied to film analysis by enabling integrated analysis from macro to micro perspectives, facilitating the visualization of complex narrative structures, establishing reproducible analytical methods, and promoting interdisciplinary approaches. This methodology bridges system engineering concepts with humanities research, providing unique insights particularly suited for analyzing films that reflect contemporary society's systematization and networking. The analysis proceeds through four hierarchical levels examining the film's context within post-war Japanese society, organizational structures of kabuki families and yakuza organizations, relationships among major characters including the adopted son Kikuo performing as onnagata and the legitimate heir Shunsuke performing as tachiyaku under strict master Hanjiro Hanai, and the internal psychological systems of each character. The analysis reveals that the film possesses a multi-layered structure spanning from social contexts to personal emotions, effectively expressing the universal theme of conflict between bloodline and talent. The lengthy narrative employs transformation rituals through makeup scenes and spans fifty years to address generational succession issues. The film's commercial success demonstrates its appeal through exceptional casting, universal themes, visual perfection of kabuki scenes, and positive word-of-mouth effects. This research demonstrates the applicability of the C4 model to film analysis while clarifying the artistic value and social significance of "National Treasure." The findings contribute to establishing objective, reproducible methods in film studies and suggest future directions for comparative analysis with other performing arts films and international reception studies.
| Published in | Languages, Literatures and Cultures (Volume 1, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.llc.20250101.12 |
| Page(s) | 6-15 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Film Analysis, PlantUML C4 Model, Kabuki, Structural Analysis, Lee Sang-il, Yoshizawa Ryo, Social Hierarchy
| [1] | Yoshida, Shuichi. Kokuho. Asahi Bunko, Asahi Shimbun Publications. |
| [2] | Film "National Treasure" Production Committee. Film "National Treasure" Press Sheet. 2025. |
| [3] | Toyo Keizai Online. "Background of the Big Hit of 'National Treasure' Starring Ryo Yoshizawa." June 2025. |
| [4] | Diamond Online. "Ryo Yoshizawa's Face That You Want to Keep Watching Forever." June 2025. |
| [5] | Yahoo! News. "Film 'National Treasure' Director Lee Sang-il Interview." June 2025. |
| [6] | Brown, Simon. The C4 model for visualising software architecture. Leanpub, 2023. |
| [7] | Brown, Simon. "The C4 Model for Software Architecture." InfoQ, June 25, 2018. |
| [8] | C4-PlantUML. GitHub repository. plantuml-stdlib/C4-PlantUML, 2024. |
| [9] | "C4 model." Wikipedia, accessed November 10, 2025. |
| [10] | Ryan, Michael, and Melissa Lenos. Translated by Yoichi Umemoto. Revised and Expanded Edition: Film Analysis - Introduction to Film Analysis. Film Art Inc., August 2025. |
| [11] | Uchida, Tatsuru. New Edition: Structural Analysis of Films. Shobunsha Library, May 2025. |
| [12] | Sasaki, Yusuke. "Introduction to Image Expression/Analysis (01) Introduction - Intrinsic Analysis and Extrinsic Analysis." note, May 2025. |
| [13] | Hashimoto, Yoshitaka (Interview). "One Piece and Hatsune Miku: Why Does Shochiku Create Innovative Kabuki?" Nippon Foundation Journal, March 2023. |
| [14] | Nagayama, Keiichi. "Successor Selection and Training System in Kabuki." Keio University, 2022. |
| [15] | General Incorporated Association for the Preservation of Traditional Kabuki (ed.). Kabuki Yearbook: Performance Records 2022. March 2023. |
APA Style
Okumura, O. (2025). A Structural Analysis of the Film "National Treasure (Kokuho)" Using the PlantUML C4 Model. Languages, Literatures and Cultures, 1(1), 6-15. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20250101.12
ACS Style
Okumura, O. A Structural Analysis of the Film "National Treasure (Kokuho)" Using the PlantUML C4 Model. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2025, 1(1), 6-15. doi: 10.11648/j.llc.20250101.12
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Download@article{10.11648/j.llc.20250101.12,
author = {Osamu Okumura},
title = {A Structural Analysis of the Film "National Treasure (Kokuho)" Using the PlantUML C4 Model},
journal = {Languages, Literatures and Cultures},
volume = {1},
number = {1},
pages = {6-15},
doi = {10.11648/j.llc.20250101.12},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20250101.12},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.llc.20250101.12},
abstract = {This paper presents a comprehensive structural analysis of the film "National Treasure" (Kokuho, 2025) directed by Lee Sang-il, employing the PlantUML C4 model as an innovative analytical framework. The study examines the intricate multi-layered human relationships, artistic inheritance systems, and social hierarchical structures within the kabuki world depicted in the film through the four abstraction levels of the C4 model, revealing the intrinsic structure of this cinematic work. The C4 model, originally developed for software architecture visualization, offers significant academic value when applied to film analysis by enabling integrated analysis from macro to micro perspectives, facilitating the visualization of complex narrative structures, establishing reproducible analytical methods, and promoting interdisciplinary approaches. This methodology bridges system engineering concepts with humanities research, providing unique insights particularly suited for analyzing films that reflect contemporary society's systematization and networking. The analysis proceeds through four hierarchical levels examining the film's context within post-war Japanese society, organizational structures of kabuki families and yakuza organizations, relationships among major characters including the adopted son Kikuo performing as onnagata and the legitimate heir Shunsuke performing as tachiyaku under strict master Hanjiro Hanai, and the internal psychological systems of each character. The analysis reveals that the film possesses a multi-layered structure spanning from social contexts to personal emotions, effectively expressing the universal theme of conflict between bloodline and talent. The lengthy narrative employs transformation rituals through makeup scenes and spans fifty years to address generational succession issues. The film's commercial success demonstrates its appeal through exceptional casting, universal themes, visual perfection of kabuki scenes, and positive word-of-mouth effects. This research demonstrates the applicability of the C4 model to film analysis while clarifying the artistic value and social significance of "National Treasure." The findings contribute to establishing objective, reproducible methods in film studies and suggest future directions for comparative analysis with other performing arts films and international reception studies.},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - A Structural Analysis of the Film "National Treasure (Kokuho)" Using the PlantUML C4 Model AU - Osamu Okumura Y1 - 2025/12/24 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20250101.12 DO - 10.11648/j.llc.20250101.12 T2 - Languages, Literatures and Cultures JF - Languages, Literatures and Cultures JO - Languages, Literatures and Cultures SP - 6 EP - 15 PB - Science Publishing Group UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20250101.12 AB - This paper presents a comprehensive structural analysis of the film "National Treasure" (Kokuho, 2025) directed by Lee Sang-il, employing the PlantUML C4 model as an innovative analytical framework. The study examines the intricate multi-layered human relationships, artistic inheritance systems, and social hierarchical structures within the kabuki world depicted in the film through the four abstraction levels of the C4 model, revealing the intrinsic structure of this cinematic work. The C4 model, originally developed for software architecture visualization, offers significant academic value when applied to film analysis by enabling integrated analysis from macro to micro perspectives, facilitating the visualization of complex narrative structures, establishing reproducible analytical methods, and promoting interdisciplinary approaches. This methodology bridges system engineering concepts with humanities research, providing unique insights particularly suited for analyzing films that reflect contemporary society's systematization and networking. The analysis proceeds through four hierarchical levels examining the film's context within post-war Japanese society, organizational structures of kabuki families and yakuza organizations, relationships among major characters including the adopted son Kikuo performing as onnagata and the legitimate heir Shunsuke performing as tachiyaku under strict master Hanjiro Hanai, and the internal psychological systems of each character. The analysis reveals that the film possesses a multi-layered structure spanning from social contexts to personal emotions, effectively expressing the universal theme of conflict between bloodline and talent. The lengthy narrative employs transformation rituals through makeup scenes and spans fifty years to address generational succession issues. The film's commercial success demonstrates its appeal through exceptional casting, universal themes, visual perfection of kabuki scenes, and positive word-of-mouth effects. This research demonstrates the applicability of the C4 model to film analysis while clarifying the artistic value and social significance of "National Treasure." The findings contribute to establishing objective, reproducible methods in film studies and suggest future directions for comparative analysis with other performing arts films and international reception studies. VL - 1 IS - 1 ER -
Independent Researcher, Tokyo, Japan
Figure 1. C4 Model Analysis - Level 1: Context Diagram.
Figure 2. C4 Model Analysis - Level 2: Container Diagram.
Figure 3. C4 Model Analysis - Level 3: Component Diagram.
Figure 4. C4 Model Analysis - Level 4: Code Diagram (Individual Internal Systems).
Figure 5. C4 Model Analysis - Level 4: Code - Shunsuke's Internal Decision Logic - Code Level Analysis Ontainer_Boundary(Shunsuke_Logic, "Shunsuke's Psychological System".
Figure 6. C4 Model Analysis - Level 4: Code - Bloodline and Talent Decision Logic.
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