Comparing Adaptations of “Kiyo in Kyoto”
The world of modern-day maiko in anime, manga, and TV
For many, the images of geiko (also called geisha) and maiko (girls in training to be geiko) are inseparable from Japan’s traditional culture and the beauty of Kyoto.
Unfortunately, in Western media the images of these highly skilled performing artists is often reduced to a stereotype. Even as recently as 2017, geiko have been inaccurately associated with prostitution in media. It is also worth mentioning that iconic media related to geiko such as Arthur Golden’s book, Memoirs of a Geisha, has been controversial due to its sexualized depictions of geiko.
To those who want to know more about what the world of geiko and their apprentice maiko is really like — particularly in modern-day Japan — I recommend the work of the manga artist Koyama Aiko.
In 2016, Koyama Aiko started publishing serialized chapters of a manga called Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san (Kiyo in Kyoto). The series follows the daily lives of teenage girls training as maiko in 21st-century Kyoto.
Now, Koyama’s story can be found in the form of manga, a limited-series anime, and a live-action drama. Each rendition takes a slightly different approach to telling the story, but each aims for both entertainment and education.
Story synopsis
Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san follows childhood friends Kiyo and Sumire. Upon graduating from middle school, they both move from the northern prefecture of Aomori to Kyoto, hoping to become maiko together.
While Sumire shows great promise in all of the performing skills required of a maiko, Kiyo does not have what it takes and is even told to return to Aomori. However, the friends are able to continue living in Kyoto together because Kiyo becomes the live-in cook for the house where Sumire and other maiko live.
What follows is a slice of life story steeped in friendship, food, and facts about life as a maiko.
The manga
To me, reading Koyama Aiko’s manga feels like watching a scene of cooking or cleaning in a Studio Ghibli movie. Not much is happening plot wise, but there’s a calming charm to the story that highlights the beauty of everyday life.
This is especially clear in the manga’s depictions of the food Kiyo makes.
Most chapters of the manga center around Kiyo’s cooking or feature food as a key item in the story.
For example, in one chapter a character named Riko is being interviewed because she wants to become a maiko. However, Riko is so nervous that she doesn’t speak until Kiyo brings her a cup of Wiener Melange (coffee with whipped cream, called ウインナーコーヒー, Wiener coffee, in Japanese). This relaxes Riko enough that she finds her voice.
The manga also makes it clear that food is an expression of care. Sumire, for example, is so dedicated to her work in becoming a maiko that she often skips meals intentionally or unintentionally. Noticing her friend is becoming more worn down by the day, Kiyo decides to cook comfort food from Aomori that she knows Sumire won’t be able to resist eating.
In addition to the stories about food, the manga has a lot to say about the world of maiko and geiko. When the story mentions a detail that someone who is not a maiko might not understand, a narrator explains the detail before moving on.
Thanks to this narrator, readers can learn how much dedication it takes to become a maiko or geiko. The rules Sumire and other maiko must live by include:
- Never using cell phones
- Avoiding public transportation or places like convenience stores when their hair is styled in a bun (which it always is except on their days off)
- Never eating strong-smelling foods such as garlic except on days off (to avoid smelly breath)
- Learning multiple performing arts such as dancing, playing instruments, and singing
These are just a few of the facts about maiko life mentioned in the manga.
Students of the Japanese language may find the manga particularly interesting because the Kyoto dialect is a major part of character dialogue. Almost everyone in Kyoto except for Kiyo herself uses expressions such as おおきに、すんまへん、and ～どす (instead of the standard ～です).
At the time of this writing, there is no official English translation of the manga, so it presents a unique language learning challenge.
The anime
NHK World Japan broadcasted a 12-part anime adaptation of Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san from 2021–2022.
The anime did not adapt every chapter of the manga, but besides that fact, the adaptation matched Koyama’s original storytelling style almost frame for frame.
The anime also largely focuses on food and maiko life, with little plot and a narrator that explains any details that might be unfamiliar to viewers.
One major difference between the anime and the manga is that the manga adds more information about the food presented. Each episode ends with a section called 今日のまかない (Recipe of the Day). This section features Kiyo, Sumire, and other characters discussing how to make foods that appeared in the episode as well as fun facts concerning the food.
Needless to say, watching the anime will probably make you hungry.
The anime first aired on NHK World Japan, but now online streaming services such as Crunchyroll carry an English-subtitled version of the anime.
The live-action drama
Netflix created a live-action version of Koyama’s story in 2023 called The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House (complete with English subtitles).
This is the most character-driven adaptation of Koyama’s story. The narrator from the manga and anime is absent. Instead, characters themselves provide exposition, and are generally more fleshed-out.
Also, overarching plot points are introduced to the story such as Sumire’s father being opposed to her working as a maiko.
The live-action adaptation also points out some of the double standards that geiko and maiko must live with. Namely, it’s revealed that while men in traditional performing arts such as kabuki can marry and have a family in addition to their careers, geiko who marry or have children are forced to quit the profession. I wouldn’t say such social commentary is the focus of the show, but it is one point unique to the live-action adaptation.
As of this writing, a season 2 for The Makanai has yet to be confirmed or denied. Personally, I hope it can be confirmed!
In conclusion
Each adaptation of Koyama’s story provides a slightly different experience, but all of them tell a story of friendship, food, and what the world of geiko and maiko is actually like. They are so much more than the stereotype media has built for them, and I hope Koyama’s story can become more popular and dispel this stereotype.
Sources:
- Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san, (manga) Koyama Aiko
- Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san, (anime) NHK World Japan and Koyama Aiko
- The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House, (live-action drama) Hirokazu Kore-eda
