Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san: What is the appeal of this delicious food and heartwarming story?

"Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san": A comforting story depicting the charm of Kyoto and the warmth of its cuisine

"Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san" is a TV anime series that aired on NHK World-Japan in 2021 and is based on the manga of the same name by Aiko Koyama. The series depicts the daily lives of girls working at a maiko house in Kyoto, and provides viewers with warmth and healing by depicting their growth and bonds, especially through cooking. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal of this series, the background to its production, and recommended points.

Overview

"Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san" aired for a total of 10 episodes from February 25 to May 27, 2021. It aired every Thursday from 8:30 a.m., and each episode lasted about 25 minutes. Animation was produced by JCSTAFF and directed by Suzuki Yohei. Copyright belongs to Aiko Koyama, Shogakukan/NHK, NEP.

story

The protagonist Yoshino dreams of working at the Kyoto maiko house "Hananoya" with her childhood friend Sumire. However, while Sumire makes her debut as a maiko, Yoshino ends up working as a "makanai-san" (cook). As Yoshino cooks delicious meals for the maiko every day, she grows through her interactions with them. The story depicts the deepening of relationships through Yoshino's cooking and her challenge to achieve her own dream.

character

Yoshino

The main character, Yoshino, has a bright, positive personality and is a skilled cook. Although she has given up on her dream of becoming a maiko, she finds a new goal while working as a cook. Yoshino's cooking warms the hearts of the maiko and symbolizes her own growth.

violet

Sumire, a childhood friend of Yoshino, debuted as a maiko and is an elegant and beautiful maiko. She treasures her friendship with Yoshino and enjoys Yoshino's cooking. Sumire's presence supports Yoshino and plays a central role in the story.

Other characters

Various characters appear, including other maiko from the Hanano family and head chef Kiyoko-san. Each character has their own unique personality, and the story develops through their interactions with Yoshino.

Background

The original work of "Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san" is a manga by Aiko Koyama, which has been serialized in "Cocohana" (Shueisha) since 2016. The appeal of the original work is that it depicts a human drama through cooking, set against the backdrop of Kyoto's beautiful scenery and traditional maiko culture. In adapting it for anime, the atmosphere of the original work was preserved, while efforts were made to bring out even more of its appeal by adapting it into a movie.

Director Suzuki Yohei respected the worldview of the original work while pursuing an expression unique to anime. He paid particular attention to the depiction of the cooking scenes, creating visually beautiful images. He also focused on the detailed depictions of Kyoto's scenery and the costumes of the maiko, making sure that viewers could feel the charm of Kyoto.

The appeal of anime

Description of food

A major attraction of "Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san" is the depiction of food. The food Yoshino makes is visually beautiful and whets the viewer's appetite. The details of how the food is prepared and the ingredients are selected are carefully depicted, making it especially enjoyable for viewers who love cooking. In addition, the emotions and relationships of the characters are depicted through the food, adding depth to the story.

Kyoto scenery

The beautiful scenery and traditional culture of Kyoto are depicted, allowing viewers to feel the charm of the city. The film is filled with the charms of Kyoto, such as the scenery of each season, the costumes of geisha, and traditional events. These depictions provide viewers with healing and comfort, and make them feel like they are traveling to Kyoto.

Character Development

The growth of characters such as Yoshino Yasumire makes viewers empathize with their lives and want to root for them. Yoshino's growth through cooking is particularly moving to viewers. In addition, the human drama depicted through her interactions with the maiko provides viewers with warmth and healing.

Recommended points

Recommended for cooking lovers

Viewers who love cooking will enjoy the depiction of the delicious food Yoshino makes. The detailed instructions on how to prepare the food and how to select the ingredients are carefully drawn, allowing viewers to deepen their knowledge of cooking. Another appealing aspect of the show is the human drama depicted through the cooking.

Recommended for Kyoto lovers

The beautiful scenery and traditional culture of Kyoto are depicted, making it a particularly enjoyable work for viewers who love Kyoto. The show is filled with the charms of Kyoto, such as the scenery of the four seasons, the costumes of maiko, and traditional events. These depictions provide viewers with healing and comfort, and make them feel like they are traveling to Kyoto.

Recommended for those who seek healing

"Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san" provides viewers with warmth and healing through food and the scenery of Kyoto. The characters' growth and human drama are also part of its appeal, making viewers empathize with the lives of the women and want to root for them. It is a heartwarming work for those seeking healing.

Related information

original work

The original manga is Aiko Koyama's "Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san," which has been serialized in "Cocohana" (Shueisha) since 2016. The appeal of the original is that it depicts a human drama through cooking, set against the backdrop of Kyoto's beautiful scenery and traditional maiko culture. In adapting it for anime, the atmosphere of the original was preserved, while efforts were made to bring out even more of its appeal by adapting it into a movie.

Production Staff

JCSTAFF was in charge of animation production, and Suzuki Yohei served as director. Director Suzuki Yohei respected the worldview of the original work while pursuing the unique expression of animation. He paid particular attention to the depiction of the cooking scenes, creating visually beautiful images. He also focused on the detailed depiction of Kyoto's scenery and the costumes of the maiko, making sure that viewers could feel the charm of Kyoto.

Broadcast information

"Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san" aired a total of 10 episodes from February 25 to May 27, 2021. It aired every Thursday from 8:30 a.m., and each episode lasted about 25 minutes. It was broadcast by NHK World-JAPAN, and the copyright belongs to Aiko Koyama, Shogakukan/NHK, NEP.

summary

"Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san" is a soothing story that depicts a human drama through cooking, set against the backdrop of Kyoto's beautiful scenery and traditional maiko culture. The protagonist Yoshino grows as she works at a maiko house, and the way she deepens her relationships through cooking provides warmth and healing to viewers. This is a particularly enjoyable work for those who love cooking, Kyoto, and those who are looking for healing, so be sure to give it a watch.