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“The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” features the story of a young geisha in training who captures the hearts of her entire house because of her cooking. In this show, audiences will not just get new ideas for their next Japanese food cravings but also a heartwarming story between friends.
Enjoy Japan’s mouth-watering food and discover a glimpse of its culture. Find out where you can watch “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” in Canada.
Table of Contents
What is The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House All About?
“The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” follows the story of Kiyo, a young woman who goes to Kyoto to become a geiko, a local term for a geisha. She travels from her hometown in northern Aomori with her best friend Sumire to live in an all-female house full of geikos and maikos, who are geikos in training. Sumire was a natural in the field. On the other hand, Kiyo was not. Things don’t go smoothly for her as she’s often seen stumbling and has been deemed clumsy by the people in the house. Kiyo’s struggles made her superiors believe that she was unfit to be one of them, but things took. a turn when Kiyo starts cooking for them. Kiyo finds strength in her cooking skills and impresses everyone with them. Because of this, Kiyo becomes the in-house cook or the makanai.
The series features a warm friendship and a beautiful portrayal of Japanese culture through these entertainers.
Who Are in the Cast and Production of The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House?
“The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” was directed and written by Hirokazu Kore-eda based on the manga “Kiyo in Kyoto” by Aiko Koyama. It is produced by Bunkuku Story Inc. with Genki Kawamura as the show’s producer. As for the cast, great actresses portray the characters well, such as:
- Nana Mori as Kiyo
- Natsuki Deguchi as Sumire/Momohana
- Aju Makita as Ryoko
- Takako Tokiwa as Mother Azusa
- Keiko Matsuzaka as Mother Chiyo
- Ai Hashimoto as Momoko
- Mayu Matsuoka as Yoshino
- Momoko Fukuchi as Tsurukoma
- Lily Franky as Mr. Ren
What is the Rating for The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House?
The series is rated TV-14. Viewers aged 14 and above can watch “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” since there are scenes that parents might deem sensitive for their children. Parental guidance is advised.
How Many People Watch The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House?
The isn’t much data for the viewership of “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” as of the moment. However, considering that it involves an acclaimed writer and director who produced recognizable and critically praised movies, statistics should be promising. Additionally, those who are familiar with the manga will most likely be tuned in to the adaptation.
How Are the Reviews for The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House?
“The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” managed to capture the hearts of its viewers because of its gentle storytelling and inclusion of a lot of Japanese dishes that audiences were thrilled to learn about. The series also managed to capture the hearts of many critics, especially the work of the director and writer, Hirokazu Kore-eda. As for its ratings, it currently has a generally positive score of 70/100 on Metacritic. Some of the reviews for “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” says:
- “There is no violence nor betrayal, only subtle arcs and fake-outs. It seems like an entirely different sensibility from most television fare—and it’s a welcome one. … Can we accept the maiko/geiko path as legitimate high art when the connotation is that it exists purely for the male gaze? If we can take the characters at their words as we absorb the vivid, slow-mo sequences of food preparation, costuming, and rehearsal, as well as all of the ASMR-like sound design highlighting those rituals, then yes,” says Meredith Hobbs Coons
- “So light it could be blown over by the flutter of a fan, The Makanai: Cooking For The Maiko House is still as warm and comforting as nabekko dumpling soup. Gorgeous stuff,” says Ian Freer of Empire
Where to Watch The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House in Canada?
You can watch scrumptious cooking and beautifully written friendships featured in “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” on different platforms available in Canada.
Is The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House Available on Streaming?
Netflix
If you’re curious to see Sumire and Kiyo’s journey of finding their calling, you can stream the series on Netflix. Here are the plans that viewers can choose from:
| Plan | Price | Number of Simultaneous Screens | Streaming Quality |
| Basic with Ads | CAD$5.99 | 1 device | SD |
| Basic | CAD$9.99 | 1 device | HD |
| Standard | CAD$16.49 | 2 devices | HD |
| Premium | CAD$20.99 | 4 devices | Ultra HD |
You also gain access to other content available on the streaming platform, such as equally comforting content from Japan, including Studio Ghibli movies “Ponyo” and “Only Yesterday.” Whether you’re in the mood for a casual movie night or another series to binge-watch, you are sure to find something on Netflix.
Is The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House Available for Rent (VOD)?
Unfortunately, “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” is exclusively streaming on Netflix. The series is not yet available on any video-on-demand platforms in Canada.
Is The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House on Cable or Free TV?
“The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” is currently not airing or available on any free TV or cable networks in Canada.
Should I Use a VPN to Watch The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House?
You don’t need to use a VPN to watch the series. Once you subscribe to Netflix, you can watch “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” without any restrictions.
Good Food and Good Friendships
“The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” is a beautifully written tale about a friendship that blossoms even more as two women find their calling. With all the trials and tribulations that their friendship goes through, the constant support between them as they watch each other flourish individually is what makes for a heartwarming story. Not to mention, the food that Kiyo cooks is just as heartwarming, making any viewer crave a feast of Japanese food.
Overall, the series is a light-hearted and comforting must-watch for those who just want to unwind and feel relaxed. Find the value of friendship, family, and food by watching “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” on Netflix.
