‘The Makanai:Cooking for the Maiko House’ First Look Debut

Netflix shares first look images for ‘The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House’, the first Netflix series by acclaimed creator Hirokazu Kore-eda.

Set for global release on Netflix on January 12, 2023, acclaimed creator and Palme D’Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda will serve as showrunner, director, and writer for the nine-episode series, with Netflix, Story Inc., and BUN-BUKU Inc. co-producing.

The Makanai:Cooking for the Maiko House

The series is based on the manga MAIKO-SAN CHI NO MAKANAI-SAN by Aiko Koyama (Weekly Shonen Sunday). Set in the Geiko district of Kyoto, the protagonist Kiyo becomes a Makanai (person who cooks meals) at a house where Maiko (apprentice Geikos) live together. The story depicts the everyday life of Kiyo Maiko Sumire, her childhood friend who came with her from Aomori to Kyoto, amid a vibrant world of Geiko and Maiko courtesans and delicious food. The comic won the 65th Shogakukan Manga Award and is a best-seller with over 2.7 million copies sold.

The Makanai:Cooking for the Maiko House

Alongside Kore-eda, Genki Kawamura (Confessions, Villain, Your Name, MIRAI) will be producing. Up-and-coming directors such as Megumi Tsuno (Ten Years Japan), Hiroshi Okuyama (Jesus), and Takuma Sato (Any Crybabies Around?) are directing individual episodes

Nana Mori plays Kiyo, the Makanai at the Maiko House, Natsuki Deguchi plays Sumire, who comes from Aomori with Kiyo and is believed to be a “once-a-century talent” as a Maiko. Aju Makita plays Ryoko, the high school daughter of the manager of the Maiko House.

The Makanai:Cooking for the Maiko House

Keiko Matsuzaka plays Chiyo, the previous manager of the Maiko House who still plays a key role in its operation. Ai Hashimoto plays Momoko, the most popular Geiko. Mayu Matsuoka plays Yoshino, a former peer of Momoko who decides to return back to the path of the Geiko. Takako Tokiwa plays Azusa, the manager of the Maiko House and Ryoko’s mother.