(QR) Jdrama Maiko san Chi no Makanai san (2023)
The Plot
Kiyo and Sumire are childhood friends from Aomori Prefecture who move to Kyoto to become maiko. During their training, Sumire is praised for her talent and diligence. Kiyo, meanwhile, has difficulty learning the basic skills and is eventually expelled. However, Kiyo's talent in cooking is discovered, and she is hired as the new cook of the maiko house. Kiyo is happy with her new role: supporting Sumire and the other maiko through her cooking.
The drama was based on a manga with the same title by Koyama Aiko. The anime was available with 12 episodes broadcast in 2021-2022.The title was a bit different, Kiyo in Kyoto: From the Maiko House.
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| The manga cover |
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| The anime poster |
I didn't realize that my eyes were teary after watching the series. How beautiful their friendship is.
To be honest, I didn't know anything about what maiko and makanai were before watching the series. What I saw, the maiko was like a geisha. But after watching the series, I got a little picture of what they are. I didn't get the difference between a maiko and geiko, though, even until the end of the drama. LOL.
The series captured my attention since it has Mori Nana as the main lead, since I like her a lot. Adn the drama doesn't have any romance tag, so I'm sure that the plot would all about their dreams and friendship. I love it.
The story didn't only focus on the two girls who came to Kyoto to pursue their dreams-to become a maiko, but also other characters that pertained with them, in the house where they stay. It also told about a non married-women in the house. The mother kept her unrequited love to a Kabuki actor, Mother Azusa had a platonic relationship with one of the customers, Momoko turned down her boyfriend invitation to go to Tokyo (maybe to get married?), Yoshino returned to the house after leaving her husband.
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| Another live action poster |
From all of the female characters there, I'm interested in Ryoko. She was Mother Azusa's daughter and lived in Maiko house for her life, but it seemed that she didn't take any interest in becoming a maiko. As soon as Sumire and Kiyo arrived at the house, she gave them warning about becoming a maiko. She kept her cynical attitude and words, but she was just being honest to others and to herself. I took pity on her when she looked at how close Kiyo and Sumire, and how she longed for to having someone like them in her life.
Watching the drama will make you hungry to see how enticing Kiyo's foods. It will also make you see how complex to be a maiko, not to mention they way they get dressed and put on makeup. I wonder how the ladies stay fair without being jealous towards each other. Momoko said something about jealousy but what I found she stayed supportive to all the maiko in the house.
Over all, I think I could watch the drama forever, not only after Sumire became Momohana, or Kiyo became a n amazing makanai. The stories of Mother and Mother Azusa could be interesting to discuss.
Don't forget about Kenta, Kiyo and Sumire's childhood friend in their hometown. He can be the love of either Kiyo or Sumire. (Spoiler alert, Sumire seemed to have a crush on him).
The trailer
My rating:
Story: 10/10
Acting/ cast: 9,5/10
Music: 10/10
Re-watch value: 9/10
😍😍
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