Get Behind the Scenes of The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House'

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22 January 2023

GlobalJapan

Netflix shares the Featurette for The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House', the first Netflix series by acclaimed creator Hirokazu Kore-eda.

Released on January 12, the series has remained in Japan's TV Top 10 for six consecutive days. It also entered the Top 10 in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Israel, attracting attention not only in Japan but around the world.

Acclaimed creator and Palme D'Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda serves as showrunner, director, and writer for the nine-episode series, co-produced by Netflix, Story Inc., and BUN-BUKU Inc.

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 Geiko) live together. The story depicts the everyday life of Kiyo and 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 bestseller with over 2.7 million copies sold

Alongside Kore-eda, Genki Kawamura (Confessions, Villain, Your Name, MIRAI) served as a producer. Up-and-coming directors such as Megumi Tsuno (Ten Years Japan), Hiroshi Okuyama (Jesus), and Takuma Sato (Any Crybabies Around?) were involved 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. 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 to the path of the Geiko. Takako Tokiwa plays Azusa, the manager of the Maiko House and Ryoko's mother.

Project Details:

Based on the original graphic novel MAIKO-SAN CHI NO MAKANAI-SAN by Aiko Koyama, published by Shogakukan

Showrunner: Hirokazu Kore-eda

Produced by: Genki Kawamura

Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda, Megumi Tsuno, Hiroshi Okuyama, Takuma Sato

Screenplay: Hirokazu Kore-eda, Mami Sunada, Megumi Tsuno, Hiroshi Okuyama, Takuma Sato

Cast:Nana Mori, Natsuki Deguchi, Aju Makita, Kairi Jo, Momoko Fukuchi, Kotoko Wakayanagi, Kotona Minami / Lily Franky, Yukiya Kitamura, Toshinori Omi, Kanji Furutachi, Keiko Toda, Kayoko Shiraishi / Keiko Matsuzaka / Ai Hashimoto, Mayu Matsuoka, Arata Iura, Takako Tokiwa

Produced by: STORY inc.

Production Company: STORY inc., BUN-BUKU Inc.

The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House' is now streaming, only on Netflix.

LINK:	https://about.netflix.com/en/news/the-makanai-cooking-for-the-maiko-ho...
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