Makanai (2023)

Be 100% you, wherever you are

The Makanai is a delightful and heartwarming coming of age drama about two teenagers who travel to Kyoto to train to become Maiko. The friendships and supportive atmosphere of the yakata will welcome you in and delight you with beauty and delicious food.

Close friends Kiyo and Sumire enter the world of the maiko at the age of sixteen. Sumire is a natural but Kiyo is not and is expelled. Fate as it does, plays a hand when the older cook of the house hurts her back and Kiyo steps in with her lovingly prepared meals and becomes the new makanai, fixing all the meals for the women. That is pretty much the whole plot, the story follows the two over the next year as they blossom and find their way in the world all while maintaining their friendship.

The drama does cover the lives of the “Mothers” who run the yakata and also the star geiko, Momoko. The women are supportive of each other as they face life choices, some choosing to stay and others to go. Answers to conflicts arrive as easily and gently as on a breeze. There is no hazing or jealousy, only a little friendly competitiveness and teasing. This is a glimpse behind the scenes and into the world of the maiko and those training to be one. Because one cannot be a married maiko or geiko, as the young women age, they are faced with leaving their art if they choose to marry.

More than focusing exclusively on the maiko tradition, the friendship is the heart of the drama. Kiyo and Sumire have a sismance that will inspire you. The young women are always happy, never depressed or sad living away from home. Everyone does their chores and lessons with a joyful attitude. It may not be entirely realistic but it does make for soothing viewing. The cooking and food prep is tantalizingly shot with great care. Be advised you may not want to watch this on an empty stomach as Kiyo’s dishes do look delicious!

Though the action is languorous, the scenes tend to be vibrant with conversations going on in both the fore and background. Laughter often fills the air in the cozy house. The acting is natural and approachable. This slice of life is an example of life being lived in the details.

With the exception of a boisterous and attention seeking geiko who returns after a failed marriage I found most of the main characters charming. The other exception to my enjoyment of this drama was a mai developed on Night of the Living Dead for a festival. But that’s my personal issue-I’m terrified of zombies even when portrayed by stunning maiko!

In a world that can be cold, this drama wraps you in its warm embrace and feeds you comfort food, giving you hope that your dreams can come true and that friendship can be for a lifetime.

1/14/23

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This is the type of jdrama that I love: cozy, domestic, homemade food-filled: those that feel like a warm hug coming home.

The lives of Maikos and Geikos have often been represented by external gazes, and they were done wrong many times by international eyes who saw in them what they wanted to see rather than what was there. This drama has the ability to showcase a traditional practice in a day-to-day setting, letting us see the domesticity, the relatable bits, the inner story of a Maiko house.

This is less about painting a grandiose image and more about showcasing daily lives, with the core of the story being two friends from Aomori (Kiyo and Sumire) who decide to move at age 16 to become Maiko. However, and very early on, Kiyo finds herself in a different journey, the one that gives the title to the drama: she discovers the role of a Makanai, a cook who prepares home-made meals for those who work in the house (and maybe also, through that, provides unconditional love and support).

With a masterful grace similar to dramas like Kinou Nani Tabeta? and Shinya Shokudo (and, less successfully, others like Lunch no Akko-chan or Ando Natsu), this drama is successful in writing the complex through simplicity and narrate a compelling story (in this case, a coming of age story) in a setting that is inviting, welcoming and that has inspiring cooking scenes.

The relationship in the center is the friendship between Kiyo and Sumire, which is incredibly refreshing to see. I'm very thankful for dramas that have come out of late which allow for more than just romance in its core. Still, there are a lot of characters with their own journeys (successful Geikos with life crisis, retired ones who deal with balancing their blood family and their work family, old apprentices who struggle, new apprentices who also do, retired Geikos who come back, family members of people in the house who don't share the traditions, etc.).

The only critique I'd give is that some elements of narrative tension, some thing that seemed would go somewhere, didn't quite have the space to develop. I can only hope that this is like Shinya Shokudo and we get more of it, but only time and people's engagement will tell.

If you're looking for a fast-paced, action-packed, tragedy-filled drama, this one isn't it. But if you're looking for a relaxing, domestic, coming-of-age drama with traditional elements and amazing food, a drama that you can come home to, then give this one a chance.

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You have to be in the right mood to enjoy this

If you're in the mood for something cosy and comforting, then you'll love this. It's ideal if you just want to relax and watch an easy slice-of-life show with delicious without worrying about any drama. The costumes, food and setting in general all look amazing.

However, there's also a risk that you'll be completely bored. There is essentially no plot in the show, over the course of nine episodes almost nothing happens. There is also no tension or conflict in the show, everyone is friends and they always agree with each other. There's never any barriers in their way or difficulties to be overcome. There's no suggestion that cooking for a large household is difficult or that you might ever have frustrations with your job or housemates (or even how Kiyo became as good as a professional chef). Instead, there's a level of constant smiling and laughing that you normally only see in propaganda.

Oddly enough, it doesn't show much about the life of a maiko, so it's vague about how they actually earn a living. How do they entertain these much older men? What if they have a difficult client or someone they don't enjoy talking to? Are there challenges with maintaining such a traditional lifestyle in the modern age?

The show would be much more interesting had it grappled with these questions instead of presenting it as an almost perfect world where everyone is always happy and nothing ever goes wrong. Success is most enjoyable when it feels earned.

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Oversweet nostalgia, very tastefully executed

More in the style of a fly on the wall documentary, this sensitively scripted and filmed piece follows two nascent young women into the world of the Maiko. It has an art-house style that favours snippets of ordinary conversation to create the ambiance and atmosphere of their life rather than “telling” any type of story.

It’s a piece to immerse yourself in and it creates a glimpse into a secluded world where time has attempted to stand still. A world of women which is gentle, ordered, bounded, protected and essentially safe. But it has a cost and one of the characters says, “I can’t imagine how us girls could ever live outside of this city”. The restrictions imposed are like the inhibiting clothing and hairstyles, superficially attractive but stultifying, requiring a real-life sacrifice from the participants which is featured in the story. Overall though, the drama puts a glaze over their experience, effectively creating something sugary and homely, much in keeping with the nostalgia that inhabits their profession.

There are minor frictions but don’t look for antagonists creating problems to solve. The characters are universally pleasant and even the more troubled teenager is hardly abrasive. So there is no real depth here and it suffers in my opinion from being overly sweet.

The drama does not seek to contextualise the profession in terms of modern society and virtually all of the paying clients are shown as Japanese middle-aged men, representing a staid conservatism that reflects the stated desire to preserve the past as cultural heritage. There is none of the modern catering for tourists here, even though the photo opportunities when the Maiko are out on the streets is highlighted. Neither is there any discussion or concern shown for the future of such an expensive pastime that services a very small, select clientele.

Food is used as metaphor within the show and each episode features a separate dish. It was a deliberate design feature as one of the main characters becomes the cook and the series is named for that role. As I am fairly ignorant of Japanese cuisine and culture in general, there were abundant occasions where I felt that I was missing the references which were not explained. This would point to the drama being written for a domestic market rather than international consumption.

The cinematography uses as close to natural light as possible often creating the feeling of cloudy days and dim interiors and keeps the modern world of bright lights and kitchen conveniences at bay. The colour palette is very muted and this lifts the contrasting brightness of the maiko’s clothing, emphasising their uniqueness and separateness from the world around them.

Although I did not personally fall in love with this drama, the quality is undeniable, hence the rating.

What my rating means: 8+ A great drama with interesting content and good writing, direction, acting, OST, cinematography. But didn’t quite have the requisite sparkle to bump it into my all-time fave list. Worth watching.

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Así se construye un hogar

"The makanai..." será probablemente uno de mis dramas favoritos por un largo tiempo, si no lo es para siempre. La belleza que encuadra en sus 9 episodios se debe a sus detalles más mínimos que lo vuelven un espacio lleno de cariño y calidez. Es un acercamiento a la cultura de una manera profunda, a través del crecimiento y la unión. Puede sonar cliché, incluso empalagoso, pero es la hermandad entre ese grupo de mujeres el elemento fundamental que logra que el drama funcione a la perfección. A pesar de ser de diferentes edades y enfrentar cosas tan distintas, todas tiran para el mismo lado y buscan dar lo mejor de sí, aprendiendo a convivir y estar juntas en el camino. Ninguna de ellas se siente más protagonista que la otra porque entre ellas crece, capítulo a capítulo, el cariño y el deseo por estar la una para la otra; atraviesan la pantalla, el aroma a comida y a hogar se impregna en el ambiente y te absorben las ganas de estar con ellas y sentir ese aprecio genuino por tenerse entre sí.

No hay mucho que destacar porque desde la primera escena es una obra prometedora. Gracias por traer algo tan bonito, genuino y hogareño, hacen falta cosas así de lindas para recordarnos que existe aquello por lo que vivir y mejorar día a día.

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É legal, e só

Parei no episódio 7 e não pretendo continuar. Talvez não fosse um drama para mim. Fique ansiosa quando vi que a Netflix ia lançar um drama sobre maikos e tal, mas quando comecei a assistir, achei tão sem graça. Pra mim é mais sobre a "vida", um drama calma, quase parado. Não sei se mais adiante o j-drama explique o motivo das protagonistas quererem se tornar maikos, é a única coisa que gostaria de saber.
Se você está procurando um drama leve e calminho, esse é para você.
Adorei a atuação, a trilha sonora, a fotografia... somente o roteiro ficou a desejar. Ele é uma adaptação de um anime/mangá, então se você gostar, vale a pena dá uma pesquisada.

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Sweet and Comforting

This was a sweet, bittersweet and comforting, slice of life drama. I just really enjoyed it and the cast is wonderful, especially the 2 young female leads, Mori Nana and Deguchi Natsuki.

Kiyo and Sumire leave their hometown to go to Kyoto to become Maiko, while Sumkre shines Kiyo struggles but she is a glass half full person and take things as they come. She ends up becoming the maikani of the house and she cooks for the girls.

I didnt even realize Meiko and Geiko could have boyfriends or that Geikco coud have children. I ended up Googling b/c I was curious and I learned a lot.

I originally didn't like the character of Ryoko but as the episodes went along, I understood her longing and what she was going through. My heart kinda broke for her too!.

Overall a really good series. Just a simple year in the life of these characters and it's quite enjoyable. I really liked how each episode built on the story. Loved the showcasing of food as well. Would love to try some of the dishes presented. Episode 6 was my favorite.

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A wholesome peek into the enigmatic Maiko House

The life of a Maiko is not easy and it is filled with learning and training from their mid to late teens. It is a vocation as well as a lifestyle that requires total dedication. As such, it is a fairly insular world that has a very public face as well as a private one as well.

This show gives us a peek into the inner workings of a Maiko house. It is a fascinating drama for anyone who is interested in this unique Japanese way of life. However, this is a double edged sword as the show really takes the slice-of-life aspect to its heart so from the get-go. It rarely pauses to explain anything about their training, lore and rituals. I would suspect some young Japanese will also feel a bit confounded. For foreigners, it can be downright bewildering which makes this an interesting choice for Netflix international distribution.

On top of that, there is a very strong foodie element. Not only are the dishes looks delicious and change with seasonal ingredients, they are also tailored to individual’s tastes. All power to the FL for being so skillful but I just can’t shake the fact that she is barely 17yo. Is it dramatic licence?

The storytelling is tropey and fairly old fashion. It is totally functional and engaging, just don’t expect any edgy social commentaries. The plots are low angst and a bit meandering. It skips around the timeline and tends to focus on key dates, festivals and milestones. There are hints of romances, and some tough decisions confront our protagonists. The narrative is ongoing so a sequel is quite possible. The pacing is leisurely. It can be almost meditative at times. Dedicating long minutes on some daily errands is part of the narrative. You just have to roll with it.

Acting is good across the board. The inhabitants of the Maiko House and their associated Geikos are the key members of the ensemble. The young female leads certainly pull their weight. The female cast carries most of the plots and have the most growth (although it is not consistent). The male cast is in support and fill the minor roles. The portrayals are not particularly deep and their behaviours are mostly predictable. You are left in no doubt that the sisterhood and their shared heritage is the foundation that the house is built on.

Your level of enjoyment and reward is really subjective. It is more enjoyable if you are familiar with the subject matter and can follow the ebb and flow of their rigid routines or conversely, you can treat this as a mindless filler and watch it casually. If you are somewhere in between then it can be confusing and frustrating to varying degrees. At the most fundamental level it is a nice show about a female only share house with a talented young live-in cook. However, that would be like describing Lord Of The Rings as a bunch of weird people wandering the wilderness. ;)

This review is relatively short because I don’t really have a lot to say about it. I personally loved this drama. It is like the dishes cooked and served in the show. Nothing fancy but so delicious and comforting. It sparks joy in you, and you just want more. BTW, there is a website that has all the recipes in the show. I’m game to try cooking some. Are you? ;)

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Beautiful slice of life

I teared up multiple times while watching this series and I still can't put my finger on why; I think it must be the simple beauty of the story, characters and setting.

This isn't a drama, the character arcs are very subtle and many things go semi-unresolved (such as Ryoko's unhappiness). However I think this adds to the zen-like experience of watching the series. I learnt so much about traditional Japanese culture through watching and I enjoyed every minute. It made me want to see a Geiko's performance IRL, they're so elegant yet expressive.

The acting was so natural at times it felt like a documentary. The OST was composed by the same woman who wrote for Cowboy Bebop and she did a fantastic job - the music perfectly reflects the beautiful simplicity of the story. I always kept the credits playing on Netflix just so I could listen to it!

I highly recommend this series to anyone interested in Japanese culture, and anyone who wants a chilled-out, easy to watch experience.

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Una historia tranquila sobre dos jóvenes amigas que buscan encontrar su lugar en el mundo como ‘maikos’, aprendices de artistas tradicionales japonesas.

Perfecta para abrir el apetito gracias a la dedicación de una de las protagonistas por la cocina. Imposible no quedarte con ganas de probar los platillos que prepara con tanto cariño.

Además de la comida, exalta la profesión de las geishas, incluidos los sacrificios que deben hacerse por el amor a su arte.

Es un drama relajante, sencillo y sin grandes conflictos; cuenta con amistades femeninas cálidas e inocentes.

Siento que me faltó sensibilidad artística y conocimiento sobre la cultura japonesa para poder valorarla bien.

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Warm and slow-paced slice-of-life

Kore-eda brings his signature warmth and humanistic focus to a story about two teenage girls making their way in the geisha world in Kyoto. This is a show for when you are in the mood for something super slice-of-life, warm friend group/family vibes, food, and fluff. There is no drama, tension, and conflict, which gets boring if you are not in the mood for it. The food portrayals never fail to make me hungry, and I loved the glimpses into the craft of being a geisha/maiko/geiko (e.g. the ichi-go-ichi-e phrase) and the glimpses of Japanese culture. It was also fun to spot Kyoto in the background.

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