The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House
The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House (舞妓さんちのまかないさん) is a Japanese television series about contemporary life in a geisha house in Kyoto, Japan. The series stars Nana Mori, Natsuki Deguchi, and Aju Makita, released by Netflix on January 12, 2023. Hirokazu Kore-eda served as director, writer, and showrunner, The Makanai being his first time directing a Netflix production.
Promotional release poster
Geisha (芸者), also known as geiko (芸子) or geigi (芸妓), are female Japanese performing artists and entertainers trained in traditional Japanese performing arts styles, such as dance, music and singing, as well as being proficient conversationalists and hosts. Their distinct appearance is characterised by long, trailing kimono, traditional hairstyles and oshiroi make-up. Geisha entertain at parties known as ozashiki, often for the entertainment of wealthy clientele, as well as performing on stage and at festivals.
Profile of a Miyagawa-chō geiko (geisha) Kimiha wearing a formal black kimono (kurotomesode) and a chū taka shimada-style nihongami wig
A shikomi (left) accompanying the maiko Takamari of the Kaida okiya in Gion Kobu
Minarai Katsunosuke wearing a short obi and a large, colourful set of kanzashi hairpins
Ukiyo-e scroll depicting a Gion geisha, 1800–1833