#Joka

[megumar]

[neo--queen--serenity]

Found family is such a huge theme in the Apothecary Diaries.

You have Luomen, raising Maomo from a young age, despite her being biologically his grandniece, but raising her anyway.

You have the Madame of the Verdigris House, who is Maomao’s maternal grandmother, but never tells her. She takes care of Maomao, helps raise her in the brothel the best she can, but tries not to show how fond she is of her.

You have Meimei, Joka, & Pairin, three famous courtesans at the Verdigris House who not only physically raised Maomao in her infancy (an imperfect process, as to be expected when one tries to collectively raise a baby in a brothel), but also breastfed her. These women staunchly refer to themselves as Maomao’s sisters, despite having been old enough to be her parents themselves.

You have Gyokuyou, who doesn’t have a good relationship with her own family, and actively distrusts them. She invests wholly in the women she instates as her ladies-in-waiting, treating them, instead, as her family, and as the only people she truly trusts. It’s for this reason that she asks for Maomao to return to her service over and over: because she trusts her, she loves her as a member of her own household. She shows defiance and even possessiveness when Jinshi’s involvement keeps Maomao from being her lady-in-waiting permanently, as truly trustworthy people are so hard to find, in her world.

You have Lakan, who adopted his nephew Lahan when Lahan’s own family rejected his genius and his potential for growth. Lakan, in general, tends to take in orphans and young children into his estate as servants, when he can tell they have specific talents that would be wasted when they grew older. One of his hobbies is fostering the talents of these strays he takes into his employ. Even if his motives are grey, he still drastically changes their lives for the better.

You have Chou-u, who Maomao indirectly adopted as her own (even though, age-wise, he’s closer to a brother figure for her). Since he’s lost his memories, Maomao is all he knows as a parental figure. She let him live with her, she tried teaching him medicine like Luomen did for her (even though it didn’t resonate with him). And when Maomao spends long stints away from the pleasure district, Chou-u experiences acute separation anxiety, though it slowly improves over time.

You have Ah-Duo, who acted as a surrogate mother to Lishu for both of Lishu’s tenures in the rear palace. Ah-Duo couldn’t have a normal relationship with her own child (Jinshi), so she doted on Lishu instead. This was a truly symbiotic relationship for them, as Lishu, for the longest time, had very few people she could trust or rely on as a friend when she was a consort.

And these are just the relationships I can think of at the moment!! The story has so many bonds like this. It’s one of my absolute favorite aspects of the series, and one that I think Natsu Hyuuga handles incredibly well.

[cosmicccowboy0]

Bros stick together💪

[landofanimes]

The Apothecary Diaries

Season 1 Blu-ray Full Illustrations

[ianime0]

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | Ep21 | Until my dad took me in, the ones who took care of me at the Verdigris House were the old lady and the Three Princesses. Pairin, who was able to lactate despite never having given birth, is almost like a mother to me. I don't know what her thoughts on the matter are, but... Thinking back on those days, I do think it's a bit of a waste. She's definitely lustful, but she's at least equally maternal.

[halfdeadhalfdrunk]

One of the nice things about Kusuriya/Apothecary episode 13 were all the glimpses we see about how the cast's backgrounds inform their expectations for and love towards Maomao, and how much those things cause friction with the person she actually wants to be.

The courtesans send her off as they would one of their own, and even when she stresses that she's not being redeemed as a wife or paramour (Jinshi fucking wishes), they still rationally point out that presentation matters in an environment as rarefied as the palace.

Dr. Papa Maomao has his own bitter history with the palace, and knows how dangerous it is to even look like you're stepping out of line. Even though he's the person Maomao identifies with the most, she doesn't get any sympathy when she tries to rock the boat. This is the guy who delivered the Emperor himself, and got banished and mutilated for his pains.

Then we come to Jinshi, and specifically a side of Jinshi that hasn't been much explored yet: an official who can share light drinks and heavy conversation with the Emperor. As funny as it is when he tries to glom onto the girl, it doesn't seem like he redeemed her for the pretty face. He has a plan or at least a goal that actually requires elevating her above her current position, and--

pffffahahahahah I love this girl so much. She really isn't quite what anyone wants her to be, but she is the best.

[senjo]

[elekilokal]

loitering

[sinisteredgirl]

The Apothecary Diaries Artbook

I finally got my copy of the Apothecary Diaries Artbook! I really adore Touko Shino's art and it's wonderful to see the light novel's art on such a big canvas.

It contains almost all light novel art, including two-page spreads of memorable moments like the Jinmao hug (Vol.12).

There are also additional portraits like this gorgeous Maomao art:

The stunning princesses of the Verdigris House:

And even this illustration for Pocari Sweat:

We also have various character designs (Jinshi, Maomao, Chue and the fearsome Taomei and Maamei):

Plus other assorted illustrations:

[devi-town]

Oh to be a Joka in love

[trevren21]

Wait... You don't even remember his face?

[realrosielol]

Maomao and her sisters

[prismalmelonman]

Kakyoin can't communicate

[hothotmiso]

[ianime0]

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | Ep12 | Three Princesses of Rokushoukan

[pfpanimes]

⌕ the apothecary diaries - joka.

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