Joseph Luster
January 12, 2024 
A new cast member is here for The Apothecary Diaries, the anime adaptation of Natsu Hyuuga and Touko Shino’s light novel series that just kicked off its second cour this month. The latest is Kouki Uchiyama (Tomura Shigaraki in My Hero Academia), who’s getting in on the series as one of Lakan’s subordinates, Rikuson.
Pictured above alongside Uchiyama, Rikuson is especially skilled at facial memorization and recognition.
The anime is being made at TOHO and OLM, with Norihiro Naganuma, who worked on the first season of The Ancient Magus’ Bride, helming the project as director as well as taking on the scripts. Three different people are composing the music: Satoru Kousaki of Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-, Kevin Penkin of Made in Abyss, and finally Arisa Okehazama of ONIMAI: I’m Now Your Sister! Credit for character design goes to Yukiko Nakatani, who has worked on Go! Princess Precure, Tropical-Rouge! Precure.
The light novels are published digitally in America by J-Novel Club. The publisher gave this description for the plot:
“In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there.
Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That’s her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao’s façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor’s favorite consort… so she can taste the lady’s food for poison!”
Besides an anime adaptation, the series also has an ongoing manga adaptation. This is being published in America by Square Enix Manga & Books.
Via Crunchyroll News
