It has been revealed that Seto Masami will be playing a new character, Shisui, in the second season of the TV anime "The Apothecary Diaries," based on a light novel by Hinata Natsu, which was born from the novel submission site "Let's Become a Novelist." Shisui is a chatty and cheerful maid who loves insects, and Seto is pleased to be appearing in the series, saying, "It's a work that's full of things I love, such as the time setting of The Apothecary Diaries, the incidents that take place in the harem, Nekoneko's mystery solving, and Jinshi-sama's coolness... so I'm very happy to be able to take part as a voice actor." The latest PV featuring Shisui has also been released on YouTube.
Seto commented, "At the dubbing studio, I am always overwhelmed by Nekoneko's way of speaking. Depending on the episode, the set is sometimes filled with only women, like the harem, so when I'm there, I feel like I'm Kosui. She loves bugs and once she starts talking she can't stop, so she has a similar temperament to Nekoneko, and I hope you will pay attention to the interaction between the two of them and the natural growing closer they become."
It was also revealed that Rira Ikuta, who is also active as a member of the music unit "YOASOBI", will be in charge of the opening theme (OP) "Hyakka Ryoran". This will be Ikuta's first time in charge of a TV anime OP as a solo artist.
Ikuta commented, "I felt the positive response to the first season firsthand, so I am very honored to be in charge of the opening theme for the second season. I created the song with a sense of tension, wanting to deliver a song that would breathe new life into the world of the work, while also incorporating the excitement I felt as I became more and more absorbed in 'The Apothecary Diaries' and my love for the story and characters."
"I created "Hyakuhana Ryoran" to express the whimsical and charming side of the main character, Nekoneko, the glittering and luxurious world of the harem, and the mystery that unfolds there through the sound and melody of the song. I wrote the lyrics linking Nekoneko, whose world and scenery expand even further as she jumps into unpredictable developments, to my own experiences, so I hope people will pay attention to both the world of the work and the song. I would be happy if people love the song along with the work."
It was also announced that a preview screening of episodes 1 and 2 will be held at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) on January 5, 2025, prior to the first broadcast. Aoi Yuki, who plays Nekoneko, Takeo Otsuka, who plays Jinshi, and Katsuyuki Konishi, who plays Gao Shun, will be in attendance.
The light novel version of "The Apothecary Diaries" is published by Hero Bunko (Imagine Infos), and the comic adaptation is also gaining popularity. The total number of copies of the original series has exceeded 38 million. The story is set in the glamorous harem of a certain continent, where a young poison taster named Nekoneko and a handsome eunuch named 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 Television from October 2023 to March 2024. The second season will air on Nippon Television's anime slot "FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT (Fura-ani)" every Friday starting January 10, 2025. The first episode of the second season will air from 11:40 pm.
