or


[01/06/22 - 02:01 PM]
Netflix Announces New Series "The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House" Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda
Set in the geisha district of Kyoto, the protagonist Kiyo becomes a Makanai (person who cooks meals) at a house where Maiko (apprentice geishas) live together.

[via press release from Netflix]

Netflix Announces new series "The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House" directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda

Tokyo,Japan- The Netflix Series 'The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House', a joint production between Netflix, Story Inc., and BUN-BUKU Inc., is set for global release on Netflix in 2022. Director Hirokazu Kore-eda will serve as showrunner, director, and writer for the eight-episode Netflix series drama adaptation of the original comic. This series will be the first Netflix production for the critically acclaimed creator to work on, who won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for his film "Shoplifters" in 2018 as the first Japanese director in 21 years to achieve this.

The series is based on Maiko in Kyoto: From the Maiko House, a popular comic by Aiko Koyama first serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday from 2016. Set in the geisha district of Kyoto, the protagonist Kiyo becomes a Makanai (person who cooks meals) at a house where Maiko (apprentice geishas) 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 geisha and maiko courtesans and delicious food. The comic won the 65th Shogakukan Manga Award and is a best-seller with over 1.8 million copies sold.

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?) take the helm in directing individual episodes.

Nana Mori is set to play 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 Geisha. Mayu Matsuoka plays Yoshino, a former peer of Momoko's who decides to return back to the path of the Geisha. Takako Tokiwa plays Azusa, the manager of the Maiko House and Ryoko's mother.

Netflixシリーズ「舞妓さんちのまかないさん」宣材組み合わせ

Hirokazu Kore-eda (Showrunner): "After receiving the offer from Kawamura, I actually visited Gion several times. There, I was surprised by how the people living in Maiko Houses were like a family without blood ties, and how the entire town felt like an organism connected by telephone wires. This is not the story of people left behind by the times, but rather one that might provide us with a hint for how we should live in a post-COVID world. With this in mind, I excitedly took on this production. For the role of the Maiko, I conducted repeated auditions of actresses on an even playing field, without any consideration of their careers, in order to make my decision. In addition to (Yohei) Taneda's large and detailed sets and (Nami) Iijima's meals, I believe that the greatest charm of this series is the perfect ensemble of actresses, including the house mother and senior geisha who surround the Maiko. We still have more to film, but I look forward to sharing the finished product."





  [january 2022]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· MAKANAI, THE: COOKING FOR THE MAIKO HOUSE (NETFLIX)





[10/13/25 - 01:30 PM]
"Last Lands," The Two-Part Documentary Series on the Battle to Protect the Health of the Planet, Streams on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu Beginning Thursday, Oct. 16
The gripping two-part documentary series, in partnership with Global Conservation, is hosted by award-winning ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff and spotlights conservation efforts to preserve Earth's most threatened ecosystems.

[10/13/25 - 11:21 AM]
Tubi's Wild New Adult Animated Comedy "Breaking Bear" Takes a Bite Out of New York Comic Con
Brendan Fraser, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Annie Murphy, and Elizabeth Hurley star in the animated comedy series, due in March 2026.

[10/13/25 - 09:31 AM]
Video: NBC Releases Official Trailer and Key Art for New Comedy Series "Stumble"
"Stumble" premieres Friday, November 7 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and will be available to stream the next day on Peacock.

[10/13/25 - 08:02 AM]
Video: "Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy" - Final Trailer - Peacock Original
When a teenager goes missing, it becomes clear that many young men and boys have disappeared at the hands of John Wayne Gacy, the prime suspect.

[10/13/25 - 08:01 AM]
Apple Original Films' "F1 The Movie" to Make Global Streaming Debut December 12
Since its wide theatrical release on June 27, 2025, "F1 The Movie" has broken records, debuting at No. 1 and surpassing $629 million at the global box office.

[10/13/25 - 07:14 AM]
TNT Sports' 2025 MLB National League Championship Series Coverage to Begin Tonight Starting at 7:30 p.m. ET
For the ninth consecutive year, Brian Anderson will provide play-by-play for the Championship Series coverage for TNT Sports.

[10/13/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Juan Gabriel: I Must, I Can, I Will" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Rare videos and exclusive interviews reveal the genius, sacrifices and duality between the public and private lives of iconic singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel.

[10/13/25 - 05:22 AM]
Video: "Taylor Swift - The Eras Tour - The End of an Era" - Disney+
On December 12, the streaming event of an era comes to Disney+.

[10/13/25 - 04:21 AM]
Video: "Bridgerton" Season 4 - Date Announcement - Netflix
Season 4 will arrive in two parts with Part 1 premiering January 29 and Part 2 on February 26.

[10/13/25 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Turn of the Tide: The Surreal Story of Rabo de Peixe" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In June 2001, hundreds of kilos of cocaine washed up in a Portuguese village. This gripping documentary reveals the long-lasting impact on the community.

[10/13/25 - 02:08 AM]
ITV Recommissions "Midsomer Murders" for Series 26
This four-episode commission will bring the number of episodes available to 148.

[10/13/25 - 01:02 AM]
Stories Set to Thrill, Move, and Entertain: Netflix Announces Six Tamil and Telugu Originals
South Indian stories like "Pushpa 2," "Amaran," "Leo," and "Devara" dominated the Global Top 10 Non-English lists, reflecting the growing demand for original stories from the region.

[10/13/25 - 12:31 AM]
Sky Exclusively Picks Up "Crystal Lake," The Highly Anticipated Prequel to the "Friday the 13th" Franchise
Produced by A24 and distributed by Peacock in the US, the series marks the first new project connected to the franchise since the reboot of the 2009 original film.

[10/12/25 - 05:02 PM]
Video: "STEEL BALL RUN JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" - Official Teaser - Netflix
The franchise's latest installment is only on Netflix, coming in 2026.

[10/12/25 - 05:01 PM]
"Grand Galaxy Hotel" Open for Business: Netflix Confirms Production and Cast
Only open in the middle of the night to provide top-class service and console the souls of the dead, the Grand Galaxy Hotel has a new owner, Eun-ha (Lee Do-hyun).