The Makanai series is all set to release on Netflix on this date; Trailer out

The Makanai--Cooking for the Maiko House, the upcoming Japanese series created by Hirokazu Kore-eda, will release on Netflix on January 12, 2023.  The nine-episode series is based on the manga (Japanese novel or graphic novel) MAIKO-SAN CHI NO MAKANAI-SAN by Aiko Koyama (Weekly Shonen Sunday).

Set in the Geiko district of Kyoto, the protagonist Kiyo (Nana Mori) 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 (Natsuki Deguchi), 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.

Alongside Kore-eda, who also wrote and directed the series, Genki Kawamura, is producing the series. Directors Megumi Tsuno (Ten Years Japan), Hiroshi Okuyama (Jesus), and Takuma Sato (Any Crybabies Around?) are directing individual episodes.