The TV anime Kusuriya no Hitorigoto held an advance screening with a stage greeting for its third season on September 27, 2026, at TOHO Cinemas Roppongi in Tokyo. After episodes 1 and 2 of Season 3 were shown, Aoi Yuuki (Maomao), Ootsuka Takeo (Jinshi), Tachibana Ryuumaru (Basen), and Fujiwara Natsumi (Chouu) took the stage. The event was also live-viewed at cinemas nationwide.
Before the cast appeared, fans who had just watched the first two episodes on the big screen waited in anticipation. When the four voice actors entered, the venue erupted in applause.
Tachibana, who plays Basen, greeted the audience with a horse-themed line: “Everyone, konnichi-ba!”—a joke said to inherit the will of Gaoshun (Konishi Katsuyuki) and tied to the “horse clan.” He added with humor, “It felt like it kind of fell flat (laughs),” which set off laughter from the cast and audience.
Asked how she felt after watching episodes 1 and 2 with the audience, Aoi said, “After Season 2 ended, I had chances to meet everyone at various events, so it feels like, ‘Oh, somehow the new chapter has already begun!’ There are so many scenes I want everyone to see soon, so I’m incredibly excited right now! For us, Kusuriya no Hitorigoto has become a part of daily life, and I hope everyone will make it a part of their lives, too.”
Dubbing Studio Stories
Talk then turned to the dubbing studio. Tachibana praised Aoi’s leadership, saying, “Yuuki-chan’s team is wonderful! I want one Yuuki-chan per household!” Fujiwara, who joined from the second half of Season 2, agreed: “I joined midway, but when I entered the studio, Yuuki-san was chatting happily with everyone, so I could relax and record with peace of mind!”
Aoi and Ootsuka were also asked about differences between the Season 2 and Season 3 dubbing sessions. Ootsuka pointed to the increase in male cast members: “Until now, the setting was mainly the rear palace, but in Season 3 the setting shifts mainly to the pleasure district. Many people are joining the Kusuriya studio from Season 3, so there may be a fresh atmosphere.”
As the event continued with its own relaxed stories, the topic of Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship came up—something many fans are curious about. Aoi said, “The mysteries and incidents are gradually becoming too much for Maomao to handle alone. That’s exactly why there are many things they can’t face unless they cooperate, and in that sense their relationship develops.” Ootsuka added, “In Season 3, problems also arise that Jinshi must face as Jinshi. Maomao has returned to the pleasure district, so a distance is born where he can’t meet her unless he goes to see her, and their relationship changes a little. I actually think that distance might be a good thing.”
Season 3 will also spotlight the combination of Maomao and Chouu. Fujiwara described their relationship as “older sister and younger brother,” saying the sibling feel grows stronger in Season 3. Aoi responded, “Maomao also retorts, and Chouu will increasingly get chances to retort at Maomao. They’re a very good combo.” She continued, “I think Maomao feels somewhat relieved to see Chouu, freed from the loneliness he carried when he lived as Kyouu, living energetically, strongly, and childlike as Chouu. And because he is an important existence left by Shisui, Maomao likely wants him to grow freely and energetically in her own way, and treats him as she was treated herself. Thinking about that, I could really feel even the background of how Maomao herself was raised.”
Basen’s Role in Season 3
The cast also discussed Basen, who plays a bigger role in Season 3. Ootsuka commented, “He has many inexperienced parts and still doesn’t measure up to Gaoshun, but you can tell he’s doing his best in his own way, so Jinshi seems to watch over him. I think he’s a very loved person.” Tachibana followed: “He himself is still spinning his wheels, thinking he has to do something for Jinshi-sama no matter what—but that’s also lovable! Personally, I think that’s one of Basen’s good points.” He encouraged fans to watch Basen’s activities in Season 3.
New Characters and New Cast
The conversation also covered characters and new cast members appearing in Season 3. Fujiwara named Byakunyan as a character to watch: “She has a kind of magical, mysterious feeling, while also giving off a fairly suspicious atmosphere, as if she’s scheming in the shadows. I think it’s a part viewers should look forward to seeing how she connects later. She has an overwhelming charm—or rather, many suspicious characters have appeared in Kusuriya no Hitorigoto before, but she’s definitely different!”
Tachibana chose Rahan, saying, “I love the exchanges between Maomao and Rahan!” Aoi agreed: “The way their gears mesh as if they’re speaking at the same speed is so interesting, and it’s really fun to act! It’s a point I want everyone to pay attention to.”
About Rikuson, Ootsuka said, “He did appear from Season 1, but at that time he was only depicted as someone by Rakan’s side. From episode 2 onward, his personality will be depicted more and more. I hope viewers will watch it along with Maomao and Rikuson’s relationship.” Finally, Aoi spoke about Sanki: “Through the way her older sisters roughly dote on her as a younger sister, and her involvement with Chouu, you can see Maomao’s inner circumstances and human relationships. She’s a character who naturally expresses that.”
Episode 2, which was screened in advance, included a scene that conveyed a change in Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship. Asked about their future relationship, Aoi confessed, “When I was acting, I felt I was facing it as work, but when I watched the finished footage as Aoi Yuuki, that scene was super, super embarrassing (laughs).” Regarding “that scene,” Ootsuka meaningfully expressed a feeling only he could have after playing Jinshi through Seasons 1 and 2: “As long as she’s by my side, anything is fine.”
The event also touched on the opening video using YORUSHIKA’s “Kumo wo Nuke Kaze Shita e Watashi Dake” and the ending video using Eve’s “AIYOU.” Aoi praised them: “This time, too, they’re packed with expressions that make you surprised, like ‘So there’s that way of interpreting it,’ and the content hints at future developments—it filled my heart!” Ootsuka revealed his own routine: “Because the opening and ending are firmly linked to the work, I can enjoy the excitement of the story about to begin during the opening, and after the story ends, I can bask in the lingering afterglow while watching the ending.” The videos clearly raised expectations.
Final Comments from the Cast
At the end of the event, the cast shared words of gratitude. Fujiwara said, “Season 3 is a season where Chouu’s power is shown a lot, so please watch that closely, and also enjoy how the mysteries currently happening will be unraveled. Many characters are active, so please enjoy watching that as well.” Her affection for her character came through.
Tachibana said, “While enjoying the satisfying feeling of solving mysteries, the change of setting has scattered many new ways of presenting the story, so I hope you’ll enjoy this work from various perspectives.”
Ootsuka said, “Season 3 also has a big goal, and the small mysteries that build up toward it, the satisfying feeling when the charm unique to Kusuriya no Hitorigoto clicks into place, and the characters involved—so many elements connect to the appeal of the work.” He promoted the continuing appeal of the series in Season 3.
Finally, Aoi said, “Every time I touch it, I feel again what an amazing original work it is. Season 2 had a huge climax, so I think everyone is excited about what Season 3 will be like. Mysteries that arise because the setting has changed, and even bigger mysteries they must challenge—Maomao will have to face them. The art team, sound team, and of course the acting team are all working incredibly hard, so I hope you will enjoy Season 3 thoroughly. Thank you so much for gathering today.” The stage greeting ended in great success, with hopes for a strong start to Season 3.
Event Overview
| Date | September 27, 2026 (Sun), 14:50–15:35 |
|---|---|
| Venue | TOHO Cinemas Roppongi / Screen 7 (6-10-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, inside Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Complex) |
| Speakers (titles omitted) | Aoi Yuuki (Maomao), Ootsuka Takeo (Jinshi), Tachibana Ryuumaru (Basen), Fujiwara Natsumi (Chouu) |
| MC | Okuhama Reira |
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Season 3 Broadcast Information
| Broadcast start | October 2, 2026, every Friday at 11:00 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Network | Nippon TV network 30 stations, FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT, nationwide simultaneous broadcast |
| Streaming | Scheduled to stream sequentially on each platform after broadcast |
| Note | Broadcast dates and times are subject to change without notice. |
| Cour schedule | First cour: October 2026 / Second cour: April 2027 |
©Hinata Natsu・Imagica Infos／“Kusuriya no Hitorigoto” Production Committee
