Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: The caterer at the Maiko Manor, Kiyo in Kyoto: From the Maiko House, The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House

Japanese: 舞妓さんちのまかないさん

Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 30

Chapters: 327

Status: Finished

Published: Dec 28, 2016 to Jan 22, 2025

Genres: Award Winning, Gourmet, Slice of Life

Themes: Iyashikei, Performing Arts

Demographic: Shounen

Serialization: Shounen Sunday

Authors: Koyama, Aiko (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 7.99¹ (scored by 1,508 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #798²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #3100

Members: 7,496

Favorites: 137

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7.99

Ranked #798Popularity #3100Members 7,496

MangaShounen SundayKoyama, Aiko (Story & Art)

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Volumes: /30

Chapters: /327

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Synopsis

Kyoto is home to many districts where young women work as geisha: entertainers who perform traditional songs and dance. Kiyo Nozuki is a teenager living in a small manor where a group of maiko—apprentice geisha—reside. She has always admired the geisha and originally moved to Kyoto in hopes of becoming a maiko. However, Kiyo discovers that she is not cut out for the job. Not letting it upset her too much, she decides to help her troupe using her strongest suit instead—become a caterer and cook them delicious meals to support them in their everyday lives!

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Background

Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san was adapted into a live-action TV series in 2023.

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Characters

Nozuki, Kiyo

Main

Herai, Sumire

Main

Nakanowatari, Kenta

Supporting

Tsurukoma

Supporting

Kiyo's Grandma

Supporting

Sensei

Supporting

Cooking Auntie

Supporting

Big Brother

Supporting

Ichi's Mother

Supporting

Momoko

Supporting

Reviews

May 11, 2025

olokinprime

Recommended

This manga had an anime adaptation and a live series, but it never seemed to garner enough buzz to be considered to be translated into an English edition.

"Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san" or translated as "The Caterer at the Maiko Manor" is the title of this manga. A delightful series about two friends, one is a cook of a maiko house, and the other is a maiko or geiko apprentice.

The two main characters of this manga, Kiyo and Sumire, are childhood friends from Aomori who move to Kyoto to become geiko (or geisha, as they are known in Kyoto) apprentices or maiko. However, this was not ... to be as Kiyo was not gifted with the physical coordination to be one of the graceful "women of art" of the flower district. Rather than be separated from Sumire, who continues on her own path as a maiko, Kiyo supports her friend as the house cook.

Kiyo and Sumire's friendship is the heart of this series. Kiyo knows she doesn't have what it takes to be maiko, but she knows that Sumire has to the potential to be one of the best. When she was dismissed from her apprenticeship, she did not go home. Instead, she took on the role of the being the house cook. She does this because she genuinely wanted to support her friend Sumire. Sumire too, knows that having Kiyo by her side, she's able to bear the loneliness of being away from her family and be with her childhood friend. This gives her the strength to take on her dream of being a geiko.

Why read this manga?
1. A glimpse into the lives of the maiko of Kyoto's flower district.
Anybody interested to learn about geisha or geiko should read this series. This series taught me that in Kyoto, a geisha is actually geiko. It reveals what it takes to start as a geiko apprentice or maiko, and the training they undergo to be part of Kyoto's geiko industry.

2. The friendship bonds of Kiyo, Sumire, and Kenta
The friendship of the three is the emotional heart of the book. It actually started with two friends, in Kiyo and Sumire, but eventually, their other friend, Kenta joins them in Kyoto. However, theirs is not sole relationship that supports this series. You have Kiyo and her grandmother, Sumire and her mentor Momoko, Kenta and his senpai. There's also another important friendship living in the maiko house, Glasses big sister (Tsurukoma) and her kouhai little sister (Koma Emi).

3. The food.
As much as it is a slice of life set in the heart of geisha district in Kyoto, it's a memoir of comfort food for the author relating each recipe to a personal memory. That is how food is viewed in this series, as comfort.

4. Delightful covers
The tankobon has delightful covers. Nuff said.

This is a series that is wonderfully crafter in story and art. It is one of those comforting and relaxing reads that do without needless drama.

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May 1, 2019

SiriusTimeKeeper

Recommended

Preliminary (74/327 eps)

Geishas’ Slice of life/ Food/ Love, Friendship & Family

If you are looking for a subtly heartwarming manga that makes you crave for homemade food. Go read this manga right now! x)

*Slight Spoiler*
Story: 10

Without a doubt, the strongest suit of this manga is definitely Mangaka’s storytelling. While having this skill set, the Mangaka definite did a great amount of research regarding the life of Geisha.

As two childhood friends came to Kyoto to achieve the dream of becoming Maikos and eventually Geikos, their paths diverge as Kiyo failed to become a Maiko, while Suu became one of the most promising Maiko. Do not be worried! Kiyo, ...

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Mar 13, 2022

Axlmtrel

Recommended

Preliminary (196/327 eps)

It's one of the best slice of life you'll read and one of the best manga at giving a home vibe, story took place in a maiko house where our protagonist is the head chef in there despite being young. Though it in a sense took a very nice approach on realistic household chef where your cook needs to be consistently ok and not grand.

The true charm of this manga come from the character interaction with the MC, where although she is an airhead you can see she actually love her job and the people she work for. Though what sells me to gave ...

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Poll: Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san Chapter 327 Discussion LastLuminescence - Apr 14	2 replies	by alora »» May 21, 8:44 AM
Poll: Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san Chapter 309 Discussion LastLuminescence - Mar 3	0 replies	by LastLuminescence »» Mar 3, 9:01 AM
Poll: Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san Chapter 308 Discussion LastLuminescence - Feb 25	0 replies	by LastLuminescence »» Feb 25, 10:50 AM
Poll: Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san Chapter 300 Discussion LastLuminescence - Dec 16, 2024	0 replies	by LastLuminescence »» Dec 16, 2024 10:56 AM
Poll: Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san Chapter 297 Discussion LastLuminescence - Nov 22, 2024	0 replies	by LastLuminescence »» Nov 22, 2024 8:07 PM

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