Highly acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda has come a full circle in his filmmaking career. The filmmaker began his career with television; moved to films and earned plaudits for his distinctive films like ‘Shoplifters’, ‘After Life’ and the recent ‘Broker’; and has now returned to TV, albeit on streaming TV, on streaming giant, Netflix. Hirokazu Kore-eda’s maiden streaming series ‘The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House’ has debuted on Netflix today to good reviews.
‘The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House‘ is a heartwarming Japanese drama, created and directed by the Cannes’ Palme d’Or-winning director Hirokazu Kore-eda. It follows the story of two best friends who move from the rural Japanese countryside to Kyoto to train as apprentice geishas (maiko). While Sumire (Natsuki Deguchi) becomes the rising star at the maiko house with her charm, grace and beauty, her friend Kiyo (Nana Mori) quickly realises that her calling lies elsewhere – in the kitchen of the house. The series brims with delectable shots of Kiyo cooking wholesome food in the kitchen of the maiko house, along with focusing on the issues plaguing its myriad residents. Food, friendship and ancient Japanese customs of geishas take centrestage in the series.
The series is adapted from Aiko Koyama’s manga Maiko-San Chi No Makanai-San. Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House stars Nana Mori, Natsuki Deguchi, Aju Makita, Keiko Matsuzaka, Ai Hashimoto, among others. Hirokazu Kore-eda has also produced the series, besides creating and directing it. Meanwhile, Hirokazu Kore-eda’s acclaimed South Korean film ‘Broker’ premieres in Indian theatres on January 20.
All nine episodes of Hirokazu Kore-eda’s ‘The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House’ are now streaming on Netflix worldwide. Have a look at the trailer of the series here –