The TV anime " The Apothecary Diaries " is based on a light novel by Natsu Hyuga, which was created on the novel posting site " Shosetsuka ni Naro ". In the 30th episode "Once Again, Crystal Palace" that aired on February 14th, the current emperor's wife and one of the four senior consorts, Princess Rika (Rifahhi), and the head maid, An (Shin), confront each other, and the relationship between the two becomes clear. We asked Yui Ishikawa, who plays Princess Rika, about the 30th episode while looking back on the first season.
◇ Aoi Yuki is perfect!
The light novel version of "The Apothecary Diaries" is published by Hero Bunko (Imagine Infos), and its comic adaptation has also become popular. The original series has sold over 38 million copies in total. The story is set in a glamorous harem on a certain continent, where a young poison taster named Maomao and a handsome eunuch Jinshi become embroiled in an incident that takes place in the harem, which is full of conspiracies and rumors. The first season of the TV anime aired on Nippon TV from October 2023 to March 2024. The second season is currently airing on Nippon TV's anime slot "FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT (Fura-ani)" every Friday at 11:00 PM.
The first season attracted a lot of attention for its beautiful visual expression, the delicate performances of the voice actors, and the dramatic developments, and became a work loved by people of all ages and genders.
"Even my relatives, who don't usually watch that much anime, contacted me to say, 'I'm watching it,' so I feel like a lot of people are enjoying it. The visuals are gorgeous, it's made with great care, and the story is really interesting. Maomao is aware of her status, but she still says what's important, and I think it's interesting that it's refreshing to watch."
He also said he felt that Aoi Yuki , who plays Maomao, was "amazing."
"She is truly amazing. I could go on and on about how amazing she is. Maomao seems like a really tough character. There are a lot of difficult words and a lot of monologues, but Ao-chan does it perfectly. I read the original work before it was made into an anime, but Ao-chan's performance made Maomao more three-dimensional and the character's image became clearer. Ao-chan has a great perspective. Her sense and empathy are outstanding. She brings out what fans think is best and goes beyond imagination. She stands out and doesn't go in a strange direction, but shows us exactly what is best. Everyone on set with Ao-chan is happy and lively. I feel like Ao-chan is bringing out the best in everyone."
◇The Difficulties of Princess Rika
Ishikawa's character, Princess Rika, is also known as the "Wise Princess." In the first season, she loses the Crown Prince to poisoning caused by lead, a poison contained in her face powder, and she herself is afflicted by the same disease and becomes weak, but recovers thanks to Maomao's care. She has high self-esteem and dignity, and in the first season, she regains her original appearance after recovering.
"When she first appeared in the first season, she had lost her child, was out of her element, and sometimes said inappropriate things. I'm not a mother, but if something like that happened to my child, I think that's exactly what I would do. I sympathized with her painful feelings. That's why, when she was given the strength to live by Maomao and was able to return to her former self, I really wanted her to do her best."
Regarding playing the role of Princess Rika, Ishikawa revealed, "I still find it difficult."
"Just as the title "Wise Empress" suggests, she is intelligent, elegant, and proud, like a flower that is out of reach. She is the complete opposite of me. The challenge is how to portray her elegance, so I am using plenty of breathing to try to express her generosity. When I'm acting, I somehow find that my posture improves. I'm constantly exploring how to portray her."
Rinka-hime also has a cute side, and says, "It's good that she's a little shy. She shows us many different sides to her, and I think the contrast is what makes her so charming. However, if she shows that side too much, it will lose her elegance, so I'd like to keep it in check and show a shyness that will make people's hearts skip a beat."
◇ Complicated feelings towards An
In episode 30, "The Crystal Palace Once Again," the relationship between Princess Rika and An becomes clear.
"As Princess Rinka becomes pregnant, she becomes stronger and you can see her resolve to try her best. I don't get the feeling that she hates An. She has complicated emotions, and in the final scene of episode 30, I felt Princess Rinka's own compassion and love. I tried to act in a way that didn't forget those feelings. She doesn't act in a fit of anger, and there are also calm parts. I think there are parts where she is acting as if she has to be strong. It was a really intense scene, and I felt it even more than when I was reading the script."
What are Rikahi's complicated feelings? Ishikawa's acting is likely to be a major highlight of episode 30. Finally, we asked Ishikawa, who is also a fan of the original work, about the highlights of episode 30 and the second season.
"With the help of Maomao, Princess Rika is trying to live with confidence. Now that she's pregnant, I want people to see her move on to the next step. As a fan, I'm looking forward to the whole of the second season. Jinshi's secret should also be revealed... I want people to pay attention to the relationship between Maomao and Jinshi. Personally, I'd like the two of them to get together."
