by The anime “The Apothecary Diaries” is a mystery-solving entertainment that depicts the adventures of a young pharmacist named Maomao. The first season aired from October 2023 to March 2024, and the second season is currently airing from January 2025.
The original work is a light novel that Hinata Natsu has been serializing since 2011 on the novel submission website “Let’s Become a Novelist,” which she edited and published herself. Since 2017, manga adaptations have been serialized in “Monthly Sunday GX” (Shogakukan) and “Monthly Big Gangan” (Square Enix).
In this article, we will introduce Shisho, who appears in the anime “The Apothecary Diaries.” Shisho is the father of a senior consort and a powerful official.
What is the popular anime “The Apothecary’s Notes”?
The story begins when Nekoneko, who was kidnapped, becomes a maid in the harem of a particular great country. Nekoneko, who works as a pharmacist in the red-light district, has a weakness for poisons and medicines and has no interest in getting promoted in the harem. She keeps her identity as a pharmacist a secret and waits for her contract to end, trying to avoid attracting attention.
One day, Nekoneko hears rumors of a string of suspicious deaths of the Emperor’s children, discovers the cause, and anonymously informs the concubines. This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome eunuch in charge of the harem, who selects Nekoneko to be a poison tester for the Emperor’s favorite concubine. After that, although she frowns at the troubles Jinshi brings to her one after another, Nekoneko solves the cases with her natural curiosity and insight.
Basic information about Kosho from “The Pharmacist’s Monologue”! Introducing the voice actor’s profile and more, Zi Chang is one of the high-ranking officials who appear in “The Apothecary’s Monologue.” Zi’s family is a powerful clan that governs Zi Bei Province, located in the north of the country. Zi Chang is the son-in-law of the king of Zi Bei Province.
Basic information about Kosho [Profile]
Although Zi Chang appears to be a gentleman, he is a problematic character. Although details such as his age and date of birth are unknown, he has served in the imperial court since the time of the empress. The mother of the previous Emperor and his daughter entered the court as a senior consort, so he is likely of a certain age.
Basic information about Kosho [Voice actor]
Cho plays the voice of Zi Chang. Cho, who previously performed under the stage names Shigeru Nagashima and Yuichi Nagashima, is also active as an actor. In addition to being the voice actor for Wanwan in the NHK Educational TV show “Inai Inai Baa!”, he also serves as the suit actor.
In addition to his role as Kosho, his other notable roles include Hiroshi Uchiyamada in “GTO” and Regro Burndead in “Mashle.”
What position did Zichang hold in the imperial court? A high-ranking official from the previous Emperor’s time.
Zi Chang is a powerful prime minister in the imperial court. He is the head of the long-established Zi clan and was favored by the empress, the mother of the previous Emperor, so the Emperor cannot look him in the eye. Since the military is in the east, Rakan is called the “Eastern Fox,” while Zi Chang, a devious civil servant, is called the “Western Raccoon.”
The senior consort, Loulan, was Zichang’s daughter.
Lou Lan, who entered the palace after Consort Ah Duo and became a senior consort, is Zichang’s daughter. Lou Lan comes from a wealthy family and enters the palace accompanied by over 50 attendants. She changes not only her clothes but also her hairstyle and makeup almost every day. Her real face, hidden by heavy makeup, is unknown to those around her, and Maomao also does not realize that the maid she has become friends with, who calls herself Zicui, is Lou Lan.
Suirei, who left the harem using an elixir of resurrection after attempting to assassinate Jinshi, was also Zichang’s daughter and Loulan’s half-sister.
Zi Chang’s wife, Shen Mei, was also a former senior consort.
Zi Chang’s wife, Shen Mei, was a senior concubine of the previous Emperor. Shen Mei was initially engaged to Zi Chang but ended up entering the palace. Later, Zi Chang gained the empress’s trust through political means and was bestowed the Divine Beauty upon her. Zi Chang had a child with his wife before he was awarded the Divine Beauty, named Cui Ling, and another child he had with Shen Mei was named Loulan.
What was the rebellion caused by the child’s family?
The Zi family inflated the price of grain, embezzled the difference, and secretly produced guns called Fei Fa. The fact that the senior concubine Loulan had escaped from the harem was also a serious crime worthy of capital punishment. All of these events were seen as treason by the Zi family.
Lou Lan and Cui Ling took Maomao and escaped from the harem, and at the same time, Zichang also disappeared. Luo Ban investigated the suspicious flow of embezzled money and iron and discovered that it was gathering in Zi Beizhou, uncovering the rebellion of Zichang and his family.
Summary of the anime “The Pharmacist’s Monologue” by Kosho
Zichang is the father of Senior Consort Ouran and is also the Lord of Zibei Province, a high-ranking official in the imperial court.
The episode recorded in the 4th volume of the original novel is also a significant incident that brings about a big change in the relationship between Nekoneko and Jinshi. It will likely be depicted in the 2nd season of the anime, so let’s look forward to the broadcast.
