By Kari Lane
UPDATE: The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 has been confirmed by The Apothecary Diaries X account. The next installment is in production, but no word yet for the release date.
Apothecary Diaries ended season 2 with many questions answered but many mysteries still remain. Fans packed the panel at Anime Expo which featured Yuki Aoi (Japanese voice actor of Maomao) and Seto Asami (Japanese voice actor of Shisui). We sat down with Aoi and Asami before their panel to talk about what it means to them to be at AX, the many layers of their characters, how they relate to their characters and more.
This interview was conducted with an interrupter and has been edited for clarity.
KARI LANE: Welcome to Anime Expo! How are you feeling and what does it mean to you to be here?
YUKI AOI: So, I really love watching western movies so to be actually here, in the US, in a western setting, it’s very very exciting. Also, that Apothecary Diaries is loved by so many around the world it means so much to me.
SETO ASAMI: Last year I was actually here at AX as well, and same thing as this year, I really feel so much love from anime fans here at the venue, which is so extraordinary. And I am so grateful to be here again this year for Apothecary Diaries.
LANE: The show is a slow burn romance but Maomao’s preferences are a bit vague in the show. There are hints of affection towards Shisui, there are moments that feel like Maomao does not care about intimate relationships, and she can be overwhelmed by Jinshi. How do you approach Maomao’s voice with so many layers going on?
AOI: So I’m not sure if this relates to US audiences, but when I play Maomao it’s almost like I am channeling my inner feline. So very free, you know, I’ll let you pet me sometimes if I want you to, or if I’m hungry, maybe I might come to you for comfort, but it’s with that persona it’s really hard to develop a full blown romance with somebody, like Jinshi for example. So for viewers watching, I would suggest maybe seeing Maomao as maybe a cat (laughs). Maybe it will help understand the relationship better, and how she goes about certain relationships in her life.
LANE: Speaking of layers, Shisui has all kinds of secrets and layers going on. What was it like getting to play with those layers and how your character interacts with others?
ASAMI: In season one, when I play Loulan, there are not many scenes she appears in, initially. But in season two, I got to really express myself more through Shisui and her bright character. So I actually planned a lot of my acting techniques around Shisui in fact and created the gap between the two characters since they are so different. And I think by creating that gap, the final reveal made it more dramatic for viewers.
LANE: Maomao can become quite fixated on her goals – one might say she gets obsessed. What is something that you get obsessed about?
AOI: So I love love love Marvel movies (laughs), and this is a strong reason why I wanted to come to the US. (laughs) So much so I even told the staff like, I need to go to AX. If I don’t go to AX, and I don’t go to America then I’m not going to do anything. (laughs) The staff was finally like, ok ok. But the dedication in making my dream come true in coming to the US, is kind of similar to the dedication that Maomao has for making her medicine and solving the crimes. (laughs)
LANE: Love that. That’s so cute.
LANE: Shisui has some fun hobbies, like drawing and collecting insects. Do you have any unique hobbies that people might not know about?
ASAMI: So right now, I am so obsessed with a computer FPS game, and I am super obsessed. So whenever I do have the time, I’m on it all the time. I actually play a lot with Aoi as well, we are super close. We will actually be connected through the game and speaking to each other while we play, but sometimes we play until the early morning. So that’s how much I am obsessed with this game.
LANE: Something interesting with the show, Maomao does not seem to care about attention, I think the cat comparison was really great, and fans love her. What do you think makes her an appealing character?
AOI: Maomao likes what she likes, and she likes it very well, and she is very focused on that, for the things that she enjoys and that she likes. She uses the knowledge that she gets from these hobbies for the better and for justice, and helping other people. So she may seem a little cool and maybe closed off, but she’s actually extremely passionate. And I think that passion really resonates and kind of cuts through the screen to people who are watching.
LANE: Shisui seems like she’s a really great friend and someone that would be fun to hang out with. If you could hang out with anyone in the world of the show for the day, who would you pick and why?
ASAMI: It’s hard to choose, there are so many great characters, but if I had to choose one it would be Maomao (AOI: Yata!) (both laugh) because as Aoi said earlier, she is just super passionate, and has a wealth of knowledge behind her hobbies. And I think that she’ll watch out for me as a friend. And she is super fun to talk to. I want to soak up everything that she has to teach me, when it comes to medicine, maybe the way she thinks. So I think if I had to choose it would be Maomao.
LANE: The outfits and the accessories on the show are absolutely stunning, and they are beautiful! If you could have any outfit or accessory from the show in real life, what would you pick and why?
AOI: So hard to say, there’s so much! (both laugh)
ASAMI: Maomao’s rather formal wear, it’s kind of casual but formal. You see her walking through the streets, with flowers on her head. It’s like a red ish-pink. [via the translator: That one in particular she loves]
AOI: Maomao’s dress from the moonlight dance with Jinshi (s2, ep5). It’s really cute!
LANE: Maomao is so nonchalant about the some wild things that have happened to her in the show. What is something you have faced in your own life, and how did you get through it?
AOI: My parents are very positive and forward looking, so when I am down and not feeling my best, they always give me great pointers on how to change my mindset about certain issues. So to think of a glass half full than a glass half empty. I think they have always been a great support system in feeding me that kind of knowledge to get through some tough times and I’m really grateful for such amazing parents. And I think Maomao also gets that kind of support from her adoptive father as well.
LANE: And Shisui also goes through quite a lot and makes some hard decisions. What motivates you when you have to make a tough choice?
ASAMI: When it comes to hardships in life, I always divide it into whether it’s work or private. And I think I deal with both of those very differently. For example, if it is a hardship at my job I don’t really think of it as a hardship, I just think of it more as a speed bump that I need to get over. So it’s not as emotional for me to get through, so I just need to find the answer and power through. However, when it comes to private matters, I think it is a little bit more emotional and different. I have to take time to reflect and really digest why I feel the way I do. So I think Shisui also deals with her issues in this certain way and I can relate to her in that sense.
LANE: The show has a lot of humor – it is very funny and a lot of that humor involves Maomao. What was the funniest scene to do in season 1 or 2, and what was one the funniest scene to watch?
AOI: The first part of the question, there are so many to choose from. When I reflect on all the recordings that I did, there are so many great moments but I think my favorite ones are the conversations between the head woman (old lady), grandmother, (laughs) in Maomao’s home and Maomao. Their conversations are always very blunt and comical. So I think when recording that, we actually recorded at the same time so both of us are in the studio, and even if the audio overlaps it’s very important that we record it, the banter at the exact same time. Even rewatching that, I often reflect and it still brings back a lot of memories and watching it in real life, you can feel that method worked very very well. And also rewatching s2, ep 46, Jinshi worked so hard. I think the episode portrays Jinshi’s journey and how hard he actually worked to be in that certain situation, but Maomao had no idea. She is completely oblivious to that fact. To see that in the episode and it all come together was a really funny moment for me.
LANE: Last question, what would you like to tell the fans?
ASAMI: I am indeed a cast member of The Apothecary Diaries but to me, it is a title that is very near and dear to my heart – the story, and the fact that I was able to play Shuisui and Loulan, I am just entirely grateful for the viewers that are watching the story unfold as well. I hope that the passion that we put into it, is also being portrayed onto the screen and through the characters we worked so hard to portray. We hope that, there is so much joy to the series itself, and the last reveal of Shisui’s was very sad, in my opinion. It’s unfortunate, but I think for those who are watching, we hope that it resonates deeply. And that it moved the hearts of many people.
AOI: The Apothecary Diaries is heavily focused on mystery, solving crimes. However, there is one mystery that will never be solved and that is portrayed very well within the series – is the hearts and emotions of others and the complexity behind the human emotion. And hopefully that will linger and live for a long time in people’s hearts. It’s a joy to feel that others feel the same way as we do and that it resonates just as much. The team, and all of us, we worked really hard and meticulously to make sure that this series came into fruition. So I’m really grateful to be part of the storytelling, the story of Maomao and the story of Apothecary Diaries. I hope through my acting and through my passion through Maomao that many people love the series for a long long time and feel the love that we put into this project.
LANE: Arigato gozaimasu
AOI and ASAMI: Arigato gozaimasu.
For more coverage on Anime Expo 2025 news, you can find it right here on the Anime Expo 2025 archive on The Beat!
