Following
today's episode, a new promotional video was revealed for the second
season of the currently airing anime " Kusuriya no
Hitorigoto ( The Apothecary Diaries )." The video
announces that the second part of the second season will begin with
the April 4 episode , and lists the new theme songs, which include:
- Mrs. GREEN APPLE will perform the new
opening theme song " Kusushiki ", while Omoinotake will
perform the ending theme song " Hitorigoto ".
The
statement also included a comment from both artists regarding their
participation in this production:
- Comment by Motoki Ohmori (Mrs.
GREEN APPLE): It's a great honor for us to have had the opportunity to
collaborate on "Kusuriya no Hitorigoto," a work beloved not only
in Japan but also abroad. Thinking about what we could contribute to the
series with our music, we created the song "Kusushiki." The
title "Kusushiki" comes from the ancient word "kushi,"
which is the root of the word "medicine." It refers to a
medicine that can help people, but can also be poisonous. The original
meaning of "kushi" is "mysterious" or
"wonderful," and we drew on that idea to develop the melody and
lyrics, thus expanding the atmosphere of the series. In the band's
signature sound, we also incorporated an oriental touch, typical of
"Kusuriya," into both the melody and the instruments, which
marks a new challenge for us as Mrs. GREEN APPLE. The song's theme is
about "a love that doesn't change in this life or the next," so
even though the song moves at a breakneck pace, we'd like listeners to
enjoy every line in tune with the story. The plot is set to become even
more exciting, so we hope you enjoy both the music and the upcoming
developments.
- Omoinotake's Comment: It's the end of an important
scene within the story. The direction of feelings changes with each
episode. What kind of song would fit with that? Although I can't say much
yet, it was what worried me most when creating it. As the story
progresses, different nuances are heard, as if it were a
"monologue." Although there are differences in values and
perspectives on life and death between reality and the world of
"Kusuriya no Hitorigoto," I believe we have managed to create a
song with a "universality" that doesn't change over time. In a
world filled with sadness, I hope we can share at least a small bit of
hope.
The
excitement of the second season continues, and if you're not up to date with
this franchise, here are the details so far:
- The work began as a light novel
series titled " Shoukoku no Maou " written
by Natsu Hyuuga and initially serialized on the website
" Shousetsuka ni Narou " in October 2011.
Later, the publisher Shufunotomo began publishing the
novels in physical format in August 2014, with illustrations by Shino .
The manga adaptation began in May 2017 under the direction of Nekokurage
in Square Enix 's Monthly Big Gangan magazine .
- The new voice cast
includes Asami Seto as Shisui, Lynn as
Ayla, Yumi Hara as Aylin, among others.
- The production team
includes Norihiro Naganuma as director, Akinori
Fudesaka as assistant director, Yukiko Nakatani as
character designer, Shouji Hata as sound director,
and Satoru Kousaki , Kevin Penkin ,
and Arisa Okehazama as music composers.
- The story centers on Maomao, a
young woman raised by her father, an apothecary, in an unremarkable
village. Her life changes when she is kidnapped and sold to the
hougong, the emperor's rear palace, where her medical knowledge and
cunning lead her to become a lady-in-waiting to the emperor's favorite
consort , investigating possible poisonings.
