‘The Apothecary Diaries’ “Eccentric Strategist” Lakan Voice Actor Takuya Kirimoto Makes First Event Appearance, Reveals He Played the Role with a Hint of a “Pervert” in Mind

A special retrospective screening event for Season 1 of the TV anime The Apothecary Diaries was held in Tokyo on the 15th, featuring voice actors Aoi Yuki (Maomao), Takeo Otsuka (Jinshi), and Takuya Kirimoto (Lakan). Marking his first appearance at an event for the series, Kirimoto opened up about how he approached playing Lakan—the brilliant yet notoriously eccentric strategist and father of Maomao.

As Kirimoto took the stage for the first time, Yuki cheered, “Yay! What should we ask him?” while Otsuka added with a grin, “This doesn’t happen very often.” Clearly aware of the rarity of the moment, Kirimoto smiled shyly and replied, “Please go easy on me.”

Known for his extensive work dubbing foreign films and overseas dramas, Kirimoto joked about the unexpected reach of The Apothecary Diaries. “I often do dubbing for movies and Western TV shows, so when I go back to my hometown, my grandparents usually haven’t seen my work,” he said. “But this time, even they told me, ‘We’re watching it! It’s that “apothecary” show, right?’” His comment drew laughs from the audience as he described how the series has resonated with viewers of all ages.

When asked which character he would like to play if given the chance, Kirimoto surprised fans by naming Madam (the sharp-tongued brothel manager known as “Yarite Baba” in Japanese). “For me, it’s Madam. I love her—she’s my favorite,” he revealed enthusiastically.

The conversation then turned to how he crafted Lakan’s distinctive personality. Kirimoto explained that his first impression of the character was straightforward. “I understood that he was a bit unusual—an eccentric. So I started building the role in that direction.”

However, a memorable misunderstanding on his first day of recording shifted his perspective.

“I must have been really nervous when I went into the studio for the first session,” Kirimoto recalled. “The director told me, ‘This character is very unusual—he’s a hentai.’”

The audience gasped—until Kirimoto clarified with a sheepish smile.

“I think the director probably said ‘henjin’ (eccentric),” he admitted. “But because I was so nervous, I heard ‘hentai’ (pervert).”

Since it was his first time working with the director, Kirimoto said he didn’t feel comfortable questioning what he’d heard. “It was our first time working together, so I couldn’t exactly say, ‘Are you sure that’s right?’ So I just kept it to myself,” he said with a grin. “From then on, in my mind, there were two pillars to the character: for me, he was a ‘hentai,’ and for the director, he was a ‘henjin.’ And in the end, it worked out just fine.”

He added that the director would sometimes encourage him by saying, “Go ahead and really go for it.” That, Kirimoto said, reinforced his interpretation. “I thought, ‘I see—since he’s a pervert, it’s okay.’ I was able to take that in a positive way,” he explained, noting that the misunderstanding unexpectedly helped him push the performance further.

About The Apothecary Diaries

The Apothecary Diaries is a mystery entertainment series set in an imperial court inspired by historical China. The story follows Maomao, a sharp-witted apothecary’s daughter with an obsessive fascination for poisons and medicine, and Jinshi, a mysterious and strikingly handsome eunuch. Together, they tackle a series of complex incidents unfolding within the palace walls.

Originally written by Natsu Hyūga with illustrations by Touko Shino for the light novel edition, the series has surpassed 45 million copies in circulation. The anime adaptation is currently streaming internationally, and production of a third TV season as well as a theatrical film sequel has been officially announced.

For more background on the series and its characters, see The Apothecary Diaries overview .

Source : ORICON NEWS