Kore-eda Hirokazu, Japan’s best known auteur film director and a Tokyo International Film Festival regular, has unveiled a suite of images from “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House,”His first drama series on streaming giant Netflix.
Kore-eda (“Broker,” “Like Father Like Son,” and Palme d’Or-winning “Shoplifters”The show’s producer, showrunner, and co-writer is. He also directs some of its nine episodes.
Kawamura Genki (alongside Kore-eda)“Confessions,” “Villain,” “Your Name,” “Mirai”) is producing. Up-and-coming directors including Tsuno Megumi (“Ten Years Japan”), Okuyama Hiroshi (“Jesus”), and Sato Takuma (“Any Crybabies Around?”Individual episodes can also be directed by ( Sunada Maami, all four directors, also have screenwriting credits.
The manga is the basis of the series. “Maiko-San Chi No Makanai-San”Aiko Koyama (Weekly Shonen Saturday). In Kyoto’s Geiko district, Kiyo is made a Makanai. This means that she cooks meals in a home where Maiko (apprentice Geikos), reside. The story follows the daily life of Kiyo Maiko and Sumire, her childhood friend, who moved with her from Aomori, Kyoto to live in a lively world of Maiko courtesans, delicious food, and Geiko courtesans. This manga was nominated for the 65th Shogakukan Manuscript Award and has been a bestseller with more than 2.7 million copies.
Mori Nana plays Kiyo. Sumire, who is from Aomori along with Kiyo, is played by Deguchi Nasuki. “once-a-century talent”Maiko. Makita Akju plays Ryoko (high school daughter of Maiko House’s manager). Matsuzaka Kaiko plays Chiyo the former manager of Maiko House, who continues to play a crucial role in the operation. Hashimoto, a star and Tokyo festival ambassador plays Momoko. Matsuoka Maiu plays Yoshino. He is a former friend of Momoko and decides to follow the Geiko’s footsteps. Tokiwa Takako plays Azusa, the manager of the Maiko House and Ryoko’s mother.
Bun-Buku Inc. is producing the series for Netflix. The series will be released worldwide by the streamer on Jan. 12, 2023.
Scene from Netflix’s ‘The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House’ series.