# Event Details - **Event Name**: Movie & Bites | “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” - **Event Start and End Date**: Sun, 30 Aug, 2026 at 01:00 pm – Sun, 30 Aug, 2026 at 03:30 pm - **Event Description**: Join us for Movie & Bites, our popular event series celebrating the connection between Japanese food, film, and storytelling.About this EventFamilies and friends are invited to enjoy two episodes from Netflix’s “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” by acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda, followed by a talk and onigiri tasting experience by the show’s food stylist Nami Iijima.The series “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” traces the charming adventures of two friends who move to Kyoto to pursue their dreams through culture, community and food. It introduces the concept of makanai, the Japanese term for meals prepared by and for restaurant staff; traditionally simple, nourishing dishes made with seasonal or surplus ingredients and shared by the team before service. Rooted in hospitality and resourcefulness, they reflect the spirit of care that defines Japanese food culture, and the themes of the heartwarming series itself.Makanai meals are often unpretentious comfort foods, such as onigiri (Japanese rice balls), a beloved symbol of Japanese home cooking and childhood memories. Made with simple ingredients—rice, salt, a filling, and sometimes nori (seaweed)—onigiri reflect the Japanese appreciation for high quality and seasonal ingredients even in the most humble everyday dishes.Following the screening, renowned food stylist Nami Iijima, the creative force behind the culinary scenes in the series, will share her insights into the art of storytelling through food.As part of Iijima’s fireside chat, guests will enjoy handcrafted onigiri prepared by Nami Iijima herself—the same rice balls she has long shared as a beloved makanai meal on her film and television sets. This August, join us to experience the flavors behind the screen, and get inspired to channel the spirit of makanai in your own cooking.Program Schedule*Subject to change1:00 PM | Welcoming Remarks1:10 PM | Screening of "The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House"2:30 PM | Fireside Chat & Onigiri Tasting3:15 PM | Q&A3:30 PM | Closing Remarks"The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House" https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/1482a9b0-a373-11f1-9988-bfc638c33a5a-rimg-w1200-h600-dc486848-gmir.png After graduating from junior high school, 16-year-old Kiyo leaves her home of Aomori and heads to Kyoto with her friend Sumire with dreams of becoming a beautiful maiko (apprentice geisha). However, she is told she is not suited to being one. As a tearful Kiyo is about to return to Aomori, her skill for cooking is discovered and she is hired as a makanai, a cook for a house where maiko live together. During this time, Sumire rapidly grows into a beautiful maiko and becomes famous along the streets of the traditional Gion town. The beautiful, fun, and delicious days of a makanai and a maiko start here.Episode 1 | ChangeKiyo and Sumire leave their hometown and head to Kyoto, where they will train as apprentice maiko entertainers.Episode 2 | Guardian SpiritKiyo receives some unfortunate news, but quickly finds her true calling when the Maiko sisters get tired of ordering takeout."The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House" streams exclusively on Netflix now.Based on the original graphic novel “MAIKO-SAN CHI NO MAKANAI-SAN ” by Aiko Koyama , published by Shogakukan Inc.© Aiko Koyama, Shogakukan / STORYTasting Menu https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/14967fd0-a373-11f1-9988-bfc638c33a5a-rimg-w1200-h412-dc486848-gmir.png Each guest will enjoy two handmade onigiri prepared by Nami Iijima.Classic Onigiri, featuring a savory blend of grilled salmon, umeboshi (Japanese pickled plum), sesame, and other carefully selected ingredientsChicken Mixed Rice Onigiri, featuring Japanese mixed rice with chicken, burdock root, fried tofu, shiitake mushrooms, and carrots, all simmered in a savory soy sauce-based seasoning.Please note that the menu is subject to change. Possible allergens include sesame, fish, wheat, and soy.About the SpeakerNami Iijima https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/14ac9fe0-a373-11f1-9988-bfc638c33a5a-rimg-w1200-h600-dc486848-gmir.png Born in Tokyo, Nami Iijima is a food stylist whose work spans television commercials, advertising, films, television dramas, food events, and menu development. With a thoughtful and authentic approach to food, she has brought Japanese cuisine to life on screen and collaborated with some of Japan’s most acclaimed filmmakers and creators.Her film credits include Kamome Diner and Megane, both directed by Naoko Ogigami; Our Little Sister, After the Storm, The Truth, and Sheep in the Box , directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda; Chef of South Polar (directed by Shuichi Okita); Under the Open Sky (directed by Miwa Nishikawa); Enemy (directed by Daihachi Yoshida); The Solitary Gourmet: The Movie (directed by Yutaka Matsushige).Iijima has also been responsible for food styling for numerous Netflix productions, including Midnight Diner, The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House, Asura, Call Me Chihiro, and Hirayasumi. She is scheduled to work on the upcoming sixth season of Midnight Diner, set to air in fall 2026.In addition to her work in film and television, Iijima has developed recipes for numerous projects and authored several acclaimed cookbooks.SPECIAL THANKS:ZOJIRUSHIAgenda?: 01:00 PMWelcoming Remarks?: 01:10 PMScreening of "The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House"?: 02:30 PMFireside Chat & Onigiri Tasting?: 03:15 PMQ&A?: 12:40 PMQ & A?: 03:30 PMClosing Remarks - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/los-angeles/movie-and-bites-the-makanai-cooking-for-the-maiko-house/100001996171142623 - **Event Categories**: entertainment, food-drinks, art, storytelling, performances, theatre, trips-adventures - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Age Limit: all_ages - door_time: 2026-08-30T19:30:00Z - Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes - Location: JAPAN HOUSE Salon | Level 5 - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 40, max: 40, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Los Angeles - **state**: CA - **country**: United States - **location**: JAPAN HOUSE Salon | Level 5 - **lat**: 34.1019754 - **long**: -118.3404204 - **full address**: JAPAN HOUSE Salon | Level 5, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Movie & Bites | “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/e2a0f996d6128a93bde5ebc0433954d9dddc35f1ca6ca7d3a69c6b79b984f4bd-rimg-w1200-h600-dc181818-gmir.jpg?v=1786085618 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Movie & Bites | The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House being held? - **A:** Movie & Bites | The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House takes place on Sun, 30 Aug, 2026 at 01:00 pm to Sun, 30 Aug, 2026 at 03:30 pm at JAPAN HOUSE Salon | Level 5, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Movie & Bites | The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House ? - **A:** Movie & Bites | The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House is organized by JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Movie & Bites | The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House is ideal for foodies, craft beverage enthusiasts, and festival fans looking for the best local flavors and experiences. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Los Angeles, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Movie & Bites | The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Movie & Bites | “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House”", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/e2a0f996d6128a93bde5ebc0433954d9dddc35f1ca6ca7d3a69c6b79b984f4bd-rimg-w1200-h600-dc181818-gmir.jpg?v=1786085618", "startDate": "2026-08-30", "endDate": "2026-08-30", "url": "https://allevents.in/los-angeles/movie-and-bites-the-makanai-cooking-for-the-maiko-house/100001996171142623", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "JAPAN HOUSE Salon | Level 5", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "6801 Hollywood Blvd.", "postalCode": "90028", "addressLocality": "Los Angeles", "addressRegion": "CA", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "34.1019754", "longitude": "-118.3404204" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Join us for Movie & Bites, our popular event series celebrating the connection between Japanese food, film, and storytelling.", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-07", "availabilityEnds": "2026-08-30", "validFrom": "2026-09-07", "lowPrice": "40.00", "highPrice": "40.00", "price": "40.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/los-angeles/movie-and-bites-the-makanai-cooking-for-the-maiko-house/100001996171142623" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/SoldOut", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-07", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-07", "url": "https://allevents.in/los-angeles/movie-and-bites-the-makanai-cooking-for-the-maiko-house/100001996171142623", "price": "40.00", "name": "General Admission" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/japan-house-los-angeles/22552536", "description": "JAPAN HOUSE is an immersion into portals for discovery that transcend the physical and conceptual boundaries, creating experiences of the best of art, cuisine, design, entertainment, fashion, and technology from Japan." } ] } ] ```