[Complete version] The Pharmacist's Monologue - Is Nomura Kota really the right actor for the role? Why was he chosen for the role of Jinshi?

Nomura Kota has been chosen to play the role of Jinshi in the live-action film "The Apothecary Diaries." With reports that Ashida Mana will play Nekoneko, this nationally popular content, which has sold over 45 million copies, is moving to a new level. A detailed explanation of Nomura Kota's background, family structure, and reasons for being selected for the role.

table of contents

1. The full story of the live-action adaptation of "The Apothecary's Notes"

2. Who is Kota Nomura? (His career, family, and achievements)

3. The difficulty of the character of Jinji and the challenges of adapting it into a live-action film

4. Why was Nomura Kota chosen to play Mitsuji?

5. Reactions after the cast announcement and expectations for the film

6. Q&A: The 7 most important questions fans have

1. The full story of the live-action adaptation of "The Apothecary's Notes"

It has been announced that "The Apothecary Diaries," a series that has sold over 45 million copies, will finally be made into a live-action movie. The story is set in the fictional Chinese empire of Li. The story follows Maomao, a court lady with a knowledge of pharmacology, as she unravels incidents and conspiracies within the harem. The series has expanded in popularity across media, including novels, manga, and anime. In particular, after the anime aired, a culture of discussion grew rapidly, and the series has gained a strong fan base both at home and abroad, earning it the nickname "national content."

One of the things that drew attention about the live-action adaptation was the difficulty of casting. The unique worldview, the intricate pharmacology, the oppressive atmosphere of the harem, and the "quiet tension" between Nekoneko and Jinshi. Many fans are curious to see how much of this will be recreated in real life. Meanwhile, the selection of Mana Ashida (21) to play the main character Nekoneko, and the rapidly growing Nomura Kota (21), the second son of actor Ikki Sawamura, to play Jinshi, has caused quite a stir.

2. Who is Kota Nomura? (His career, family, and achievements)

Nomura Kota was born in Tokyo in 2003. He is active as an actor and model, taking advantage of his 184cm height and androgynous features. He made his acting debut in 2022, and gradually gained recognition after appearing in the drama "Silent." The following year, he won second place in the Men's Non-no model audition and was selected as an exclusive model, instantly expanding his presence.

Her family structure is particularly noteworthy. Her father is the popular actor Sawamura Kazuki, her mother is former fashion model Yosai Misao, and her brother is former Men's Non-no exclusive model Nomura Daiki. Growing up in a glamorous entertainment family, she has been exposed to a high level of visual and self-production sensibility since she was a child. Furthermore, she has a sports background, having served as vice-captain of the Maebashi Ikuei High School basketball team, and her athletic ability, beautiful manners, and posture are also put to good use in her modeling activities.

To summarize a bit, the basic information about Nomura Kota is as follows:

item	Content
name	Kota Nomura
date of birth	November 30, 2003 (21 years old as of 2025)
height	184cm
Affiliation	Kenon
family	Father: Kazuki Sawamura, Mother: Misao Yonishi, Brother: Daiki Nomura
Main appearances	"Silent," "Who is the sender?", "Perfect Proposal," and others
Features	Androgynous looks, quiet acting, and modeling experience

Since her debut, she has appeared at a rapid pace, with more leading roles to come between 2024 and 2025, and is well on her way to becoming one of the top young talents.

3. The difficulty of the character of Jinji and the challenges of adapting it into a live-action film

Jinshi is said to be the most difficult character in "The Apothecary's Notes." He is charming with his beauty and cold-heartedness, his elegance and cunningness, and his "exquisite pauses" that are full of hidden meanings that no one can fully understand. The contrast in tone between his conversations with Nekoneko is also a symbolic element of the story.

In addition, Mitsuji is said to be a beautiful woman who is called a "celestial maiden," and in the live-action version, he is portrayed with: - androgynous beauty - delicate facial expressions - a powerful presence - and a quiet performance
All of this is required.

Furthermore, a major challenge for the actor will be how naturally he can portray the multi-layered psychology of Jinshi, including the "secret about his true identity." This is the part that fans are most nervous about, so careful casting decisions have been required.

4. Why was Nomura Kota chosen to play Mitsuji?

There are several reasons why Nomura Kota was chosen for the role of Jinji. Firstly, he has an androgynous and handsome appearance. His appearance naturally matches Jinji's "genderless beauty," which is a rare strength among young actors. His height of 184cm does not detract from Jinji's presence, and he is able to bring out the beauty of his costume and posture to the fullest on screen.

In terms of acting, he is known for his style of captivating audiences in "quiet moments" rather than flashy theatrics, and excels at delicate expressions that show his feelings through eye movements and changes in breathing. This method of expression is highly compatible with the character of Jinji, who exudes intense sex appeal without having to express his emotions out loud.

Also, growing up in a family of entertainers, he has had the experience of seeing from a young age how to have a presence in front of the camera and how to approach a role. It is believed that the deciding factor was that while he inherited the "strong presence" of actor Sawamura Kazuki, he himself possesses a softer, more transparent beauty.

5. Reactions after the cast announcement and expectations for the film

After the casting news was announced, there was a lot of excitement on social media, with both positive and negative reactions. In particular, since it has been said that "it is impossible to recreate Jinshi in live action," the selection of Nomura Kota for the role has been praised as "the most convincing casting" by an increasing number of people.

On the other hand, recreating the details that support the work, such as how to recreate the worldview of the original work, the harem set, costumes, depictions of medicinal herbs, and sound, is extremely difficult, and the production team's ability will be put to the test. However, expectations are high that the popularity cultivated by the anime version and the soft presence of the two young leading actors will give the work a new appeal.

6. Q&A: The 7 most important questions fans have

Q1. Is it really decided that Nomura Kota will play the role of Mitsuuji?
A. This is based on a report by Bunshun, but it is highly reliable. An official announcement is expected in the future.

Q2. Is the visual accurate enough to recreate Jinshi?
A. He has the same height, androgynous beauty, and delicate aura, and many say that he is the closest to her among the younger actors.

Q3. Are your acting skills sufficient?
A. He is the type who impresses with his "quiet presence" rather than flashiness, and he is a good match for Jinshi's mysterious charm.

Q4. How is the balance with Ashida Mana?
A. Ashida's intelligent and stable acting will contrast with Nomura's static presence, which is expected to add depth to the relationship between the two characters.

Q5. How much of Jinshi's secret and the later developments will be depicted in live-action?
A. The structure of the film version has not been announced due to the progress of the original work, but the biggest point of interest is how much of the story will touch on Mitsuji's true identity.

Q6. Are there any elements to a successful live-action adaptation?
A. The unique combination of pharmacology and harem mystery is well suited to live-action footage. If successful, it has the potential to become the fourth hit medium.

Q7. When will it be released?
A. Filming is said to be about to begin, and although further information is pending on the official release date, it is expected to be after 2026.

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