by The TV anime “The Apothecary Diaries” exhibition will be held at the Matsuya Ginza 8th-floor event square in Tokyo from March 26 to April 14, 2025. This article introduces the exhibition’s highlights and interview comments from Aoi Yuki, who plays Nekoneko, and Takeo Otsuka, who plays Jinshi, who participated in the guest press conference held before the exhibition.
“The Apothecary Diaries” is a harem mystery-solving entertainment based on the novel series that has sold over 38 million copies and is currently being published by Natsu Hinata in “Hero Bunko” and is also being adapted into comics in “Big Gangan” and “Sunday GX.” Set in the medieval Orient, the story depicts the “poison taster” girl Nekoneko solving various complex cases that occur in the palace one after another. When the first season of the TV anime began airing in October 2023, it was consistently ranked high in the viewing rankings on various distribution platforms, and it won a special award at the “TVer Awards 2023”, becoming a hot topic. The second season, which will be aired for two consecutive seasons from January 10, 2025, has been expected to have an opening theme of “Hyakka Ryoran” by Ikuta Rira, and expectations were high even before the broadcast began. Work materials filled with the production team’s attention to detail In this exhibition, which Yuki praises as “you can feel the love of the staff,” materials overflowing with the production team’s attention to detail, from the director to the scenario, art, and color design, are generously displayed. Valuable setting materials for Nekoneko, Rikahime, and Gao Shun, as well as reproductions of original drawings for each character, are on display. Storyboards, which show the attention to detail in the drawings from the various instructions written in them, will also be on display.
In particular, the corner of the building setting materials, which Yuki was particularly surprised by, features the 3D layout production process and artboards. The attention to detail that went into the design was apparent from every corner of the documents. Yuki was shocked, saying, “I wonder if they could build it.” There was also an exhibition on color design, which is not usually available. It was clear that the colors were carefully adjusted to match the story’s content and the scenes’ atmosphere. The exhibition is an experiential exhibition that makes you feel like you’ve wandered into the work. The costumes of the characters, the rooms, and the props from the play are reproduced, and the attraction of this exhibition is that you can immerse yourself in the world of the work. There is also a set where you can experience the scene where Nekoneko says, “This is poison,” which is symbolic of the first season of the TV anime. Otsuka said, “You might want to bring a handkerchief when you visit,” in order to reproduce the scene faithfully. A space also reproduces Jinshi’s familiar office from the work. Life-size panels of Nekoneko are installed, and you can experience the feeling of being in the story. There is also a corner where you can relive the episode of Rakan and Housen, which Otsuka particularly likes from the first season of the TV anime. In addition to the original drawings and scene cuts that look back on the sad episodes of the two, there is also a mechanism that allows you to experience the vision of the Arhat, where human faces look like Go stones.
Regarding the fact that the only place off-limits to the public is the set that recreates the space where Arhat and Housen played Go, Yuuki passionately said, “That’s also good!” because it is a sacred place only for them.
A corner also displays hairpins, a key item in the first season of the TV anime. From the hairpin that Princess Gyokuba gave to Nekoneko to the hairpin that Jinji gave, each one is reproduced in detail, so Otsuka commented, “I think you will enjoy it more if you take the time to look at it carefully.” At the end of the route, there is a merchandise corner displaying various original goods. Yuuki recommends embroidered cloth goods, including “tote bags.”
The two were surprised that honey, one of the key items in the first season, was made into merchandise. Yuuki laughed, “Please don’t scoop it up with your fingers (like Jinji). Not!” A wide range of goods will be sold, including perfume paste and T-shirts with Nekoneko and Jinshi images. Finally, Otsuka said, “There’s a lot to see from start to finish, and the goods are all wonderful, so I hope you’ll come and enjoy ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ to your heart’s content.
I’m sure you’ll be more engrossed in the work than everyone else, so please come if you have time. Thank you.” Yuki said, “When you hear the word ‘exhibition,’ I think everyone thinks, ‘Well, it’s just a wall with things stuck on it,’ but I think your image will change when you come. It’s a very experiential and enjoyable content. It’s made with great attention to detail, and there are many things you can take photos of, so the more you think about it, the more you’ll enjoy it. It’s a fun space for your eyes and ears, so please come!” He sent a message to fans.
The TV anime “The Apothecary Diaries” exhibition will be held at the 8th-floor event square of Matsuya Ginza in Tokyo until April 14. Why not take this opportunity to visit and deepen your love and understanding of the work? TV anime “The Apothecary Diaries” exhibition Period: Wednesday, March 26, 2025 to Monday, April 14, 2025 *Date and time must be designated the day before Venue: Matsuya Ginza 8th floor event square Opening hours: 11:00 pm to 8:00 pm *Closed at 7:30 pm on Sunday, March 30, Sunday, April 6, and Sunday, April 13 Organizer: TV anime “The Apothecary Diaries” exhibition production committee Admission fee: 1,800 yen for adults, 900 yen for high school students, 700 yen for junior high school students, 500 yen for elementary school students, 3,900 yen with merchandise *All prices include tax (C) Natsu Hinata, Imagica Infos / “The Apothecary Diaries” Production CommitteeFinally, Otsuka said, “There’s a lot to see from start to finish, and the goods are all wonderful, so I hope you’ll come and enjoy ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ to your heart’s content. I’m sure you’ll be more engrossed in the work than everyone else, so please come if you have time. Thank you.” Yuki said, “When you hear the word ‘exhibition,’ I think everyone thinks, ‘Well, it’s just a wall with things stuck on it,’ but I think your image will change when you come. It’s a very experiential and enjoyable content. It’s made with great attention to detail, and there are many things you can take photos of, so the more you think about it, the more you’ll enjoy it. It’s a fun space for your eyes and ears, so please come!” He sent a message to fans. The TV anime “The Apothecary Diaries” exhibition will be held at the 8th-floor event square of Matsuya Ginza in Tokyo until April 14. Why not take this opportunity to visit and deepen your love and understanding of the work? TV anime “The Apothecary Diaries” exhibition Period: Wednesday, March 26, 2025 to Monday, April 14, 2025 *Date and time must be designated the day before Venue: Matsuya Ginza 8th floor event square Opening hours: 11:00 pm to 8:00 pm *Closed at 7:30 pm on Sunday, March 30, Sunday, April 6, and Sunday, April 13 Organizer: TV anime “The Apothecary Diaries” exhibition production committee Admission fee: 1,800 yen for adults, 900 yen for high school students, 700 yen for junior high school students, 500 yen for elementary school students, 3,900 yen with merchandise *All prices include tax (C) Natsu Hinata, Imagica Infos / “The Apothecary Diaries” Production Committee
