Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Some are hating Maomao

February 24, 2024

“For tastes, colors” is an expression that highlights the futility of fighting over each person’s preferences. That is, “there are as many opinions as there are colors,” and science has shown that there are hundreds of thousands of colors from basic color combinations onwards. Why are we mentioning this? Well, it seems that a hate campaign has emerged on networks in Japan Maomaothe protagonist of “Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries)”.

The series has remained one of the surprises of the season since Fall-2023 (October-December), remaining at the top of the popularity rankings right next to “Sousou no Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End)”. However, as always happens in each season, people emerge on social networks who express opinions contrary to those of the majority.

This is what brings us together today, as a post on a popular comment forum criticized Maomao, the protagonist of the apothecary franchise, writing: «A girl who makes herself ugly on purpose just by putting on freckles. She gets upset when a tall, rich, beautiful man makes advances on her. That she’s scary when she gets angry and that she usually threatens women much taller and more powerful than her. The idea is too greedy to tolerate, anyone relate?».

Many of the aspects mentioned were what made Maomao one of the most popular female characters of her season, but what did they have to say about it?

«It’s like you’re watching a story created on Twitter. There is no reason for someone like Jinshi to fall in love with a woman who is ugly both physically and mentally.».
«I think she’s cute, so I can forgive her personality.».
«It seems like Maomao is the pinnacle of everything that’s wrong with women today.».
«I was able to tolerate her for the first few episodes, but after the freckles thing was revealed, I found her obnoxious.».
«Well, this was an anime originally intended for women. They can’t do anything about it».
«I don’t understand what the problem is with messing with women taller than you.».
«Just as you project yourself into harem protagonists, otaku women project themselves into Maomao.».
«I gave it up as soon as I came across the manga version. This is the kind of thing the fujoshi are promoting».
«Even though he has a lot of erotic knowledge, he is still a virgin and is very popular among unmen.».
«You have the sensitivity of a primary school child».
«In the opinion of otaku women, she is the ideal woman they aspire to become.».
«Animes aimed at weak men are usually just as unpleasant».
«I was interested in the mystery theme, but it eventually became a women’s fantasy.».