For the evening performance, a special in-school radio program titled "HoaHoa Tea Time Tune" was presented. Planned by the student council to secure sponsors and cover activity costs, the radio show featured Gaoshun serving as MC alongside Gyokuyō and Jinshi. A variety of segments unfolded, including Shisui's pitched segment "One-Point Lessons on Being Popular," a training seminar led by discipline committee member Basen, and a student advice corner. There was also an unexpected twist in the segment "Student Council President Jinshi's Wall-Slam Live Report," in which Basen himself, of all people, ended up experiencing a wall slam. With Basen and Lahan making their first appearances at this event across both the matinee and evening performances, the venue was filled with the kind of lively, playful exchanges between characters rarely seen in the main series.

After the matinee stage reading, Seto reflected on the event-exclusive approach to her role: "It was different from the Shisui in the main series, so I performed while thinking about what kind of expressions she might make. Even though it wasn't in the same form as the main series, I was happy to play Shisui again!" When she asked the audience, "Did everyone enjoy it?" the venue responded with loud applause. Tachibana, who plays Basen, smiled about an exchange made possible only by this event — since Basen has no connection to Shisui in the main series — remarking, "I never imagined Basen would actually call out to Shisui."

The Season 2 live dubbing segment that followed began with the scene from Episode 25, "Maomao and Momo," depicting the meeting between Maomao and Shisui. Episode 35, "The Hunt," featured the exchange between Maomao and Jinshi in a cave, and Episode 39, "Ice Treats," showed Maomao, Xiaolan, and Shisui making ice treats together — moments that let the audience savor, through live performance, the relationships between the characters that had grown over the course of the story.

Next came tense scenes from Episode 41, "The Fox Village," and Episode 44, "The Fortress," in which each character's fate began to shift dramatically. The audience watched, holding their breath, as Otsuka's performance conveyed Jinshi's resolve as the emperor's younger brother. Then, from Episode 45, "Toad Basin," came the farewell scene between Maomao and Shisui. Following the memorable exchange in which Maomao calls out "Shisui," and Shisui replies, "Yes, what is it?," Maomao hands Shisui the hairpin she received from Jinshi as a good-luck charm and sees her off. During Yuki and Seto's live dubbing, sniffles could be heard from the audience, and the venue was filled with an emotional atmosphere.

Episode 46, "The Imperial Guard," followed with the confrontation between Jinshi and Loulan, in which Loulan conveys her two wishes. After the tense exchange, as Rimu Miyake performed the insert song "Inochi no Tomoshibi (Flame of Life)" live and animation of Loulan dancing played on the screen, the venue erupted in loud applause.

Finally, Episode 48, "The Beginning," moved to the reunion of Maomao and Jinshi, followed by the scene of Maomao, back in the pleasure district, reading a letter from Xiaolan. The letter described how Xiaolan had completed her term of service and left the rear palace, and expressed her wish to see Maomao and Shisui again someday and to eat ice treats together with them once more. As the animation showed the letters blurring with tears, the scene became a moving reminder of the time the three of them had spent together.

After the Season 2 live dubbing segment wrapped up, Seto reflected, "It's such an important scene, so performing it again like this really brought up a lot of emotion." Yuki also commented, "It brought back memories of recording it back then, and I feel like sharing this moment with everyone here made the scene even more memorable." Looking back once more on the characters' journeys, the cast shared the feelings they had poured into each scene.

Having thoroughly revisited the standout scenes from Season 1 and Season 2, the venue's excitement reached its peak, and toward the end of the event, a wave of long-awaited new information about the highly anticipated Season 3 and the film was unveiled one after another. Every time new information — including the Season 3 trailer — appeared on the screen, the audience erupted in cheers and applause. Precisely because they had just revisited the story so far, anticipation for the new story about to begin grew even stronger, and the venue reached a tremendous high.

With a bittersweet atmosphere in the air, the event moved to its closing remarks. Toyonaga, who plays Lahan, drew laughs from the crowd, joking, "The guys really let loose today, but I hope you'll watch it thinking, 'These funny people can actually put on a great performance.'" He then spoke with determination about what's ahead: "For Season 3 and the film, I'll keep putting my heart and soul into giving it everything I've got."

Tanezaki, who plays Gyokuyō, marveled at the event's one-of-a-kind stage, saying, "Even though it's content I know so well from watching it over and over, it felt like witnessing something special that existed only in that moment. The cast's focus, and the two artists' wonderful singing — it all had this 'only now, only this moment' feeling that was just amazing."

Next, Tachibana, who plays Basen, expressed anticipation for what's to come: "Basen has shown many different sides of himself throughout the story so far, but he'll show yet another new side in Season 3 and the film. I really hope everyone gets to see it soon."

Kuno, who plays Xiaolan, expressed her affection for the character: "Xiaolan is a character I was offered the chance to play directly, rather than through an audition, so she feels like a gift to me, and I'm truly grateful. I really feel that I'm lucky to have met Xiaolan."

Konishi, who plays Gaoshun, reaffirmed his feelings for the series: "The Apothecary Diaries really is amazing. Listening backstage, I was moved to tears, and it was also a moment where I felt truly grateful to be part of such a wonderful production." He closed with a touch of humor: "From here on, I'll leave everything to Basen and quietly watch over things from the sidelines."

Seto, who plays Shisui/Loulan, looked back on the moment the cast and audience became one: "During the recording, I felt this sense of really coming together with Ao (Yuki), and I was able to feel that same connection again on this stage. The fact that everyone in the audience received that, and that I could feel that sense of being moved even in this huge venue, was really wonderful."

Finally, Otsuka, who plays Jinshi, savored his joy: "The fact that The Apothecary Diaries has reached everyone, that you all enjoy it, and that we get to share it here together again — this time really made me feel happy." He also spoke about his hopes for what's ahead: "With Season 3 and the film coming, there will likely be new discoveries too, and it's shaping up to be a story with nothing but highlights, so I'd be delighted if you could support both."

Finally, Yuki, looking fulfilled, said, "An event where we get to fill almost the entire time with performances — what a luxury, and what a joy. It was truly a happy experience." She shared her feelings for the series: "I hope you'll continue to love Season 3, the film, and everything we've woven together up to now." With a smile, she added, "I've come to love The Apothecary Diaries even more," once again conveying her love for the series.

Summer Garden Party 2026 brought together 4,000 fans and the star-studded cast in one place. From the live dubbing that brought the standout scenes of Season 1 and Season 2 to life, to the event-original stage reading, live performances of insert songs, and the unveiling of new information about Season 3 and the film, it became a day packed with everything fans could want from The Apothecary Diaries. In this special space, where the cast and fans revisited the story built up so far together while sharing their anticipation for the new story about to begin, the event closed to loud applause and cheers, ending on a high note. The catch-up streaming of the evening performance was available through Sunday, August 30.

(C)日向夏・イマジカインフォス

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