The Apothecary Diaries Stars Aoi Yuki and Takeo Otsuka Describe Maomao and Jinshi as “Owner and Cat” Ahead of a More Intense Season 3

The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 began airing on October 2 in Nippon TV’s FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT block. ORICON NEWS spoke with Aoi Yuki, who voices Maomao, and Takeo Otsuka, who plays Jinshi, about how their characters have changed across the first two seasons, what has remained constant between them, and why Yuki still describes their relationship as “owner and cat.”

Quick Summary

- Aoi Yuki describes Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship as “owner and cat,” even as trust between them continues to deepen.
- Takeo Otsuka says the boundaries of what the two allow from one another have gradually shifted over time.
- Yuki sees Maomao’s greatest appeal in her overwhelming steadiness, while Otsuka describes Jinshi as earnest but awkward.
- Season 3 airs in split cours in October 2026 and April 2027, with the series’ first anime film also scheduled for December 11.
- Yuki says Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship becomes noticeably more intense in Season 3.

Maomao and Jinshi Are Still “Owner and Cat”

The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 began airing on October 2 in Nippon TV’s FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT block, which airs every Friday at 11 p.m.

Across Seasons 1 and 2, Maomao and Jinshi have faced numerous incidents and challenges together.

Asked how she would describe their relationship as Season 3 begins, Aoi Yuki said she has consistently thought of them as “owner and cat.”

“I’ve always said that Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship is like ‘owner and cat,’” Yuki said.

“Their surroundings have changed after two seasons, and they’ve made more friends. Jinshi’s position has changed dramatically too. Even so, I really like the fact that their relationship itself doesn’t fundamentally change. I think what’s happening is that their sense of trust is gradually building up.”

Otsuka said that Jinshi may have undergone more visibly dramatic changes than Maomao, but that Maomao has also evolved little by little as she is pulled into events or chooses to involve herself.

“The relationship may be changing too, but I also feel there’s something between them that doesn’t change,” Otsuka said.

“As Yuki mentioned, it’s almost like how close they are. The line between what’s acceptable and what isn’t is gradually shifting.”

Maomao’s Appeal Is Her “Overwhelming Sense of Steadiness”

Asked what had made them grow more attached to their characters over time, Yuki pointed to Maomao’s grounded nature.

“In Season 2, she gets kidnapped, but even then she’s enjoying the local festival,” Yuki said.

“Even when something unexpected happens, she can still enjoy what’s right in front of her. She really has her feet on the ground.”

Yuki said she had always viewed Maomao as grounded, but seeing that quality emerge in more situations made her appreciate the character even more.

“There’s so much about her that makes me think, ‘Traveling with this girl would probably be fun,’” she said with a laugh.

Yuki also said that Maomao’s unusual moments of emotional instability therefore stand out more strongly.

“That’s why the way she was shaken in her interactions with Shisui left such a strong impression on me,” she said. “And maybe Jinshi is drawn to that same unshakable quality in her. I think that overwhelming sense of steadiness is one of Maomao’s greatest charms.”

Jinshi Is Earnest, Awkward and More Complex Than He First Appears

Otsuka said his understanding of Jinshi has deepened as the character has revealed more sides of himself.

“At the beginning of Season 1, I was wondering, ‘Who exactly is this person?’” Otsuka said.

“At first, he seemed less awkward and more skillful in the way he handled things, like someone who could constantly change his approach. But once you look beneath the surface, he’s actually extremely serious and has a lot of awkward sides.”

As the story moved through Season 2 and into Season 3, Otsuka said he increasingly came to see Jinshi’s straightforward nature as one of his strongest qualities.

“I’ve gradually come to feel more strongly that his earnestness is one of the best things about him,” he said.

“He really is a character who shows us many different expressions.”

“Someone Who Has Everything Has Both Hands Full”

Asked what they found lovable about each other’s characters, Yuki reflected on the restrictions surrounding Jinshi’s life.

“Jinshi is a character who isn’t allowed not to be involved with people,” Yuki said. “He has the burden of having to be there for others.”

She suggested that the longer people spend in working life, the more they may come to understand how constrained Jinshi feels.
“Someone who has everything also has both hands full,” Yuki said.

“That makes it incredibly difficult to reach out and take hold of something new. That has always been one of the painful things about him.”

She added that because Jinshi appears to possess so much, his difficulties can be hard for others to recognize.

“People tend to envy him,” she said. “But he makes you think, ‘Maybe having everything can actually be incredibly painful.’”

Yuki said Jinshi’s restrictions are so severe that he can even envy Maomao for the freedom she has despite appearing to possess very little.

“That’s one of the things that makes me want to root for him,” she said.

Otsuka Says Maomao Feels Deeply Human

Otsuka said what he finds compelling about Maomao is the humanity beneath her cool exterior.

“I really feel that Maomao is a person with blood running through her veins,” he said.

“On the surface, she comes across as cool, or to put it simply, somewhat curt.”

But as Maomao becomes involved in different incidents and follows her deductions toward the truth, Otsuka said she also draws clear moral boundaries for herself.

“She doesn’t just solve the mystery and leave it at that,” he said.

“She has this line inside herself where she thinks, ‘No, this part really isn’t acceptable.’”

According to Otsuka, that gives the character greater emotional depth.

“It makes her someone viewers can empathize with,” he said. “She feels so human that you almost find yourself projecting onto her.”

Yuki Plays Maomao Like a Stray Cat

Yuki said she approaches Maomao as if she were truly a stray cat.

“I really do perform Maomao thinking of her as a stray cat,” she said. “And stray cats can actually form surprisingly strong attachments.”

Yuki said Maomao has her own rules, almost like rules of the wild, and simply follows them.

“That means she does have warmth,” she said.

In Season 3, Yuki noted that Maomao comes to care deeply for Chou-u, whom she meets in the story, and even lives with him as a kind of younger brother.

“She says she doesn’t understand people’s feelings at all, but you want to say, ‘That’s not true,’” Yuki said.

“Because she was raised with love, she’s also someone who knows how to give love.”

Maomao’s Constancy Remains Central to Yuki’s Performance

Asked whether her interpretation or performance had changed over time, Yuki said Maomao’s lack of dramatic change is itself part of the series’ core.

“I think the fact that Maomao doesn’t really change is one of the central pillars of the story,” she said.

“So I always keep in mind: matter-of-fact inner monologue, matter-of-fact inner monologue.”

Yuki said she tries to make the dialogue easy to listen to while still moving through the world from Maomao’s own perspective.

“When someone who doesn’t change suddenly changes just a little, that’s when you can really feel her emotional warmth,” she said.

“So I try to find the right balance. Even in Season 3, I’m basically continuing to play her the same way.”

Otsuka Says the Key to Jinshi Is Sincerity

Although Jinshi has changed significantly over the course of the story, Otsuka said he has not consciously tried to force those changes into his performance.

“From Season 1, he’s shown many sides of himself, including the side of Jinshi he presented while acting as a eunuch,” Otsuka said.

“But all of those sides together are Jinshi. Everything about him is connected.”

He said the character’s changes naturally emerge through his relationships with Maomao and others, as well as through the progression of the story.

“If I stay close to who Jinshi is in each individual scene, I think those changes naturally come through,” he said.

“It may be the kind of character where viewers notice and think, ‘Oh, maybe he’s changed a little.’”

Otsuka said that while direction can sometimes shape how a scene should look, his central priority remains unchanged.

“For me, what matters most is how sincerely I can face Jinshi as a person,” he said. “That’s the most important thing when playing him.”

Season 3 Brings a More Intense Maomao and Jinshi Relationship

In a final message to viewers, Otsuka thanked fans for supporting the series through its first two seasons.

“The Apothecary Diaries received so much support through Seasons 1 and 2, and now we’ve finally reached Season 3,” he said.

“I really believe that’s entirely thanks to everyone’s support.”

He added that the world of the series will continue expanding not only through Season 3 but through other projects as well.

Yuki said Season 3 builds on the relationships, mysteries and expanding world established in the first two seasons.

“Many different things lead into even more interesting developments in Season 3,” she said.

“And of course, Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship also becomes noticeably more intense.”

Yuki encouraged viewers to watch how the two characters navigate a new environment together.

“I’d be very happy if everyone could see their new adventure for themselves.”

About The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 and Upcoming Film

The Apothecary Diaries follows Maomao, an apothecary’s daughter with an unusual fascination with poisons and medicine, and Jinshi, the Emperor’s younger brother, as they take on a series of difficult mysteries within the imperial court.

The original work is written by Natsu Hyuga and illustrated by Touko Shino.

The series has surpassed 57 million copies in total circulation.

Season 3 is scheduled as a split two-cour season airing in October 2026 and April 2027.

The franchise’s first anime film, The Apothecary Diaries: Bouhi no Hihou, is scheduled to open on December 11.

Episode 2 of Season 3, the 50th episode overall, will air on October 9.

FAQ

Q1. How do Aoi Yuki and Takeo Otsuka describe Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship?
A1. Yuki describes them as “owner and cat,” while Otsuka says the boundaries of what they allow from each other have gradually shifted as their trust and closeness deepen.

Q2. What does Aoi Yuki see as Maomao’s greatest strength?
A2. Yuki highlights Maomao’s overwhelming sense of steadiness and her ability to stay grounded even when she is caught up in dangerous or unexpected situations.

Q3. How does Takeo Otsuka describe Jinshi?
A3. Otsuka says Jinshi initially appeared highly capable and adaptable, but over time revealed himself to be extremely serious, earnest and awkward in many ways.

Q4. How does Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship change in Season 3?
A4. Yuki says their relationship becomes noticeably more intense, while the trust and familiarity built over the first two seasons continue to deepen.

Q5. When does The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 air?
A5. Season 3 began airing on October 2, 2026, and is planned as a split two-cour season continuing again in April 2027.

Source : ORICON NEWS