Eyes Sparkling Even as a Hostage?! Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Episode 43: New Character Kamisabi is Called “Too Scary”
TV anime Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Episode 43, “Matsuri,” aired on May 23, 2025. The new character Kamisabi became a hot topic online for being “too scary.”
Note: The following text contains spoilers for Episode 43 of the series. Please proceed with caution if you have not watched it yet.
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto is a palace mystery entertainment series based on the novel by Hinatsu Natsu, published by Hero Bunko/Imagica Infos, with manga adaptations running in “Big Gangan” and “Sunday GX.” The series boasts over 38 million copies in circulation. Set in a fictional medieval East Asian-inspired world, it follows Maomao, a young woman serving as a “poison taster” in the imperial harem, as she unravels various difficult cases and mysteries within the palace walls.
The TV anime’s first season began airing in October 2023, quickly rising to the top of viewership rankings on various streaming platforms and even receiving the Special Award at the “TVer Award 2023,” garnering significant attention.
In the previous Episode 42, Jinshi finally uncovered the secret of Rouran-hi. His scene expressing fierce anger was widely praised online for being “too beautiful.”
And in this Episode 43, Maomao finds herself participating in a local festival, the “Matsuri,” in a hidden village deep within a forest, brought there by Suirei and Shikisui. All participants wear “fox masks.” Maomao’s mask is decorated in red, while Shikisui’s is green. As they head towards the shrine, the festival venue, Maomao observes that many other participants, particularly women, decorate their masks in red, while men favor green.
Along the way, Shikisui shares the local legends and the meaning behind the fox masks with Maomao. Amidst the tales, Maomao hears a piece of information that seems strangely familiar: “Many men in this village cannot distinguish colors. Some women also have this condition.” Shikisui’s mask, decorated in green, immediately makes Maomao realize that Shikisui likely falls into the category of “some women” who are colorblind.
That evening, upon returning to Shikisui’s home, Maomao successfully questions Suirei about the “revival medicine.” Suirei mentions that the medicine caused side effects, indicating it still requires considerable refinement through human testing. It’s at this point that Maomao’s eyes light up, declaring, “You can test it on me!” This scene prompted numerous reactions on social media, with viewers humorously pointing out, “Hey, you’re a hostage LOL,” “Maomao willingly volunteering to be a test subject LOL,” and “Her eyes areキラッキラ (kirakkira – sparkling) LOL!”
Also, the following day, Maomao asks about Suirei and Shikisui’s mother, hearing disturbing accounts: being hit if hair wasn’t tied properly, having hot water poured on them if massages weren’t done well, among other things. Maomao is told, “We don’t want you to have scary experiences, so please behave.”
However, Maomao is hardly one to simply sit still. She asks Kyouu to guide her and sneaks into the cabin believed to be where the “revival medicine” was being produced. There, she discovers not only evidence of medicine-making but also the manufacturing of *feihatsu*, the projectile weapons that were used to attack Jinshi during a hunting trip.
Just then, someone enters the cabin. Maomao and Kyouu quickly conceal themselves but are discovered by Kamisabi, a woman emanating a chilling aura of cold ruthlessness.
Kamisabi’s overwhelming intensity led to comments flooding social media like, “She’s too scary she’ll appear in my dreams,” “A character like a final boss has appeared,” and “Is Maomao going to be okay!?”
Episode 43 “Matsuri” is available for free streaming on ABEMA.
Broadcast Information
Broadcast every Friday night at 11:00 PM on the Nippon TV network as part of “FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT (FuraAni)” for simultaneous nationwide broadcast!
Sequentially available on various streaming platforms after broadcast!
*Broadcast dates and times are subject to change without notice.
Staff
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Original Work | Hinatsu Natsu (Hero Bunko／Imagica Infos) |
| Character Design Original | Shinotouko |
| Chief Director / Series Composition | Naganuma Norihiro |
| Director | Hodesaka Akinori |
| Assistant Director | Nakagawa Kou |
| Script | Kakihara Yuuko Chiba Misuzu Ogawa Hitomi |
| Character Design | Nakatani Yukiko |
| Art Director | Takao Katsumi (ARED) |
| Color Design | Aida Misato |
| CGI Director | Nagai Yu |
| Director of Photography | Suzuki Mayo (T2 studio) |
| Editing | Imai Daisuke |
| Sound Director | Hata Shouji (Sound Team Don Juan) |
| Music | Kousaki Satoru Kevin Penkin Okehazama Arisa |
| 2nd Cour Opening Theme | Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Kusushiki” |
| 2nd Cour Ending Theme | Omoinotake “Hitorigoto” |
| Animation Production | TOHO animation STUDIO×OLM |
| Production | “Kusuriya no Hitorigoto” Production Committee |
Cast
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Maomao | Yuuki Aoi |
| Jinshi | Ootsuka Takeo |
| Gaoshun | Konishi Katsuyuki |
| Gyokuyou-hi | Tanezaki Atsumi |
| Rika-hi | Ishikawa Yui |
| Rishu-hi | Kino Hina |
| Shaoran | Kuno Misaki |
| Shikisui | Seto Asami |
| Narration | Shimamoto Sumi |
(C) Hinatsu Natsu・Imagica Infos／”Kusuriya no Hitorigoto” Production Committee
《Yoneda Kaori》
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