Come Get a Slice of This Life Full of Food, Friendship, and Family
“The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” drops on Netflix with comforting vibes and deep connections.
By Sharon Kim
“The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” drops on Netflix with comforting vibes and deep connections.
By Sharon Kim
Originally based off of the manga, “Kiyo in Kyoto” and an anime series, “Cooking for the Maiko House” premiered Jan. 12 on Netflix. The show is primarily a slice of life and explores Japanese dishes and culture through the everyday life of the girls that live in the Maiko house.
Maiko are typically young women that uphold Japanese traditions and culture through their “mai,” which are stories told through silent, nuanced dancing with instrumental and singing accompaniment. They follow a rigorous schedule and training, and sacrifice a lot for their profession. Those hardships are explored in the show, from giving up on love to maintaining their hair. But carrying tradition into the modern age isn’t always easy and that is explored through the story of Kiyo (Nana Mori) and Sumire (Natsuki Deguchi) along with the other people in their lives.
The show’s main protagonists are two inseparable friends who grew up together in the Aomori prefecture who move to Kyoto at sixteen to focus and become maiko together. However, as it turns out Kiyo doesn’t have the knack, skills or discipline to become a maiko and is turned away. As her dismissal approaches, a sudden spot opens for a cook. Kiyo steps up and offers to cook a meal, which impresses the attendants and dorm mother as they reconsider her position not as a maiko but as a makanai.
Kiyo has a big heart that loves to cook and is receptive to people’s wants and tastes. She may mess up, but she never gives up. That determined trait is shared with her friend, Sumire who practices and trains to be the best maiko. They both are very supportive of each other’s goals and dreams and it is such a heart touching and wholesome relationship.
One of the biggest motifs I noticed in the show was love. Not only romantic love but love in friendship, family, coworkers and for art. Food is used as a medium to express that love at times. When a person is feeling drained, happy, sick or conflicted, food was used to be comforting, nourishing and nostalgic. Each episode features a main plate and it was always exciting to see the reason and story that goes behind each dish being made.
Another lesson that resonated throughout the series was about passion. How the right profession for you won’t always be the first one. It might be hard and sometimes daunting to admit to yourself when something isn’t working after pouring years of your time. It takes even greater courage to change directions and move away from a comfort zone, but as long as you are picking your own path is all that matters.
Before you click the show expecting to see cooking 24/7, be aware that the cooking in the show is more of a side dish. The majority of episodes were mostly dedicated to the people that live around the two girls in their unique yet mundane daily lives. When I said slice of life, I really meant it. This show is slow paced and may even bore some audience members. There are no major plot twists to keep things interesting but you really just watch to enjoy the characters' presences and their distinct personalities. I’d recommend this series to anyone who has an interest in food, traditional Japanese culture, or just looking for a good comfort show.
“The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” is streaming on Netflix.
Maiko are typically young women that uphold Japanese traditions and culture through their “mai,” which are stories told through silent, nuanced dancing with instrumental and singing accompaniment. They follow a rigorous schedule and training, and sacrifice a lot for their profession. Those hardships are explored in the show, from giving up on love to maintaining their hair. But carrying tradition into the modern age isn’t always easy and that is explored through the story of Kiyo (Nana Mori) and Sumire (Natsuki Deguchi) along with the other people in their lives.
The show’s main protagonists are two inseparable friends who grew up together in the Aomori prefecture who move to Kyoto at sixteen to focus and become maiko together. However, as it turns out Kiyo doesn’t have the knack, skills or discipline to become a maiko and is turned away. As her dismissal approaches, a sudden spot opens for a cook. Kiyo steps up and offers to cook a meal, which impresses the attendants and dorm mother as they reconsider her position not as a maiko but as a makanai.
Kiyo has a big heart that loves to cook and is receptive to people’s wants and tastes. She may mess up, but she never gives up. That determined trait is shared with her friend, Sumire who practices and trains to be the best maiko. They both are very supportive of each other’s goals and dreams and it is such a heart touching and wholesome relationship.
One of the biggest motifs I noticed in the show was love. Not only romantic love but love in friendship, family, coworkers and for art. Food is used as a medium to express that love at times. When a person is feeling drained, happy, sick or conflicted, food was used to be comforting, nourishing and nostalgic. Each episode features a main plate and it was always exciting to see the reason and story that goes behind each dish being made.
Another lesson that resonated throughout the series was about passion. How the right profession for you won’t always be the first one. It might be hard and sometimes daunting to admit to yourself when something isn’t working after pouring years of your time. It takes even greater courage to change directions and move away from a comfort zone, but as long as you are picking your own path is all that matters.
Before you click the show expecting to see cooking 24/7, be aware that the cooking in the show is more of a side dish. The majority of episodes were mostly dedicated to the people that live around the two girls in their unique yet mundane daily lives. When I said slice of life, I really meant it. This show is slow paced and may even bore some audience members. There are no major plot twists to keep things interesting but you really just watch to enjoy the characters' presences and their distinct personalities. I’d recommend this series to anyone who has an interest in food, traditional Japanese culture, or just looking for a good comfort show.
“The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” is streaming on Netflix.