Rica Fukami Joins The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Cast
Don't miss Fukami's captivating performance as Shenmei in episode 43 this Friday! Stay tuned for an exciting episode filled with surprises.
Rica Fukami Joins 'The Apothecary Diaries' Anime as Shenmei
Character to Appear in Episode 43 on Friday
The official X/Twitter account for the anime adaptation of Natsu Hyūga and Touko Shino's light novel series, The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto), announced that Rica Fukami will voice Shenmei, described as a cold-hearted woman with a mysterious aura. Shenmei will make her debut in episode 43, airing this Friday.
Season 2 Update
The anime's second season, part two, began airing on April 4.
- The season started January 10 on Nippon TV's FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT programming block and will run for two cours (quarters).
- Crunchyroll is streaming both the Japanese version and the English dub.
Additional Cast Announced for Season 2
The second season introduces several new characters with the following voice actors:
- Asami Seto as Shisui
- Lynn as Ayla
- Yumi Hara as Aylin
- Natsumi Fujiwara as Kyō-u
- Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Lahan
Theme Songs
- Lilas Ikuta (known as YOASOBI's vocalist, ikura) performs "Hyakkaryōran" (Splendid Bounty), marking her first solo anime opening theme song.
- Dai Hirai sings the first ending, "Shiawase no Recipe" (The Recipe for Happiness).
- Mrs. Green Apple now performs the new opening, "Kusuhiki" (Mysterious).
- Omoinotake performs the current ending, "Hitorigoto" (Soliloquy).
About the Story
J-Novel Club publishes the novels digitally. Here is their synopsis:
In the East lies a land ruled by an emperor, where consorts and serving women live in the vast hougong, or rear palace. Maomao, a clever girl raised by her apothecary father, never expected to end up there—until she was kidnapped and sold into palace service. Hiding her deep knowledge of medicine, Maomao catches the attention of Jinshi, the perceptive head eunuch. He makes her the lady-in-waiting to the Emperor's favorite consort—specifically to taste the lady's food for poison!
Anime Background
- The first season premiered in October 2023 with three initial episodes and ran for two consecutive cours.
- Crunchyroll streamed both the original and English-dubbed versions.
- Part two of the first season started in January 2024.
Key Staff
- Norihiro Naganuma (The Ancient Magus' Bride S1) directed and supervised scripts at TOHO animation and OLM.
- Akinori Fudesaka served as assistant director.
- Yukiko Nakatani (Go! Princess Precure, Tropical-Rouge! Precure) handled character design.
- Shōji Hata acted as sound director.
- Music by Satoru Kousaki (Vivy -Fluorite Eye's Song-), Kevin Penkin (Made in Abyss), and Arisa Okehazama (ONIMAI: I'm Now Your Sister!).
Original Novel & Manga
- Natsu Hyūga began serializing the story online in October 2011.
- Shufunotomo started releasing novels with Shino's illustrations in August 2014.
- Nekokurage launched the manga in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan in May 2017.
- Square Enix Manga & Books is publishing both the manga and print novels in English.
Sources: The Apothecary Diaries anime's X/Twitter account, Comic Natalie
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, owns Anime News Network, LLC. Yen Press, BookWalker Global, and J-Novel Club are KWE subsidiaries.