{"rewrite":{"id":"r_19fc17c98736f029305b18ce","clusterId":"c_30e560cb08ee77fa349888c1","slug":"mana-ashida-on-playing-maomao-greatest-happiness-says-live-action-lead","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Mana Ashida On Playing Maomao: Greatest Happiness, Says Live-Action Lead","summary":"At Prime Video Presents Tokyo on September 3, 2026, Mana Ashida, who plays Maomao in the live-action adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries, said, 'Being able to play a beloved character is the greatest happiness.' The event also featured cast and creators from Bless, Jinko Glico, Please Save My Earth, and The Silent Fleet, with Prime Video announcing doubled investment in Japanese original works over the next two years.","whyItMatters":"Ashida's comment ties the live-action Maomao to the affection fans hold for the original character, as Prime Video doubles down on Japanese originals.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eAt Prime Video Presents Tokyo, held September 3 at Fairmont Tokyo, Mana Ashida took the stage as the live-action Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries. Her words were simple: playing a character so many people love is the greatest happiness.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe appeared alongside casts from Bless, Jinko Glico, Please Save My Earth, and The Silent Fleet: Awaken, New York. Earlier, Prime Video Japan Country Manager Keisuke Oishi and Amazon MGM Studios Head of Japan Buddy Marini outlined growth plans, including doubling investment in Japanese original works over the next two years.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBless\u003c/strong\u003e: Ryusei Onishi plays the lead, a protagonist aiming to become a makeup artist\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJinko Glico\u003c/strong\u003e: Live-action adaptation of Yugo Aosaki\u0026#39;s mystery novel, with co-leads Nana Mori and Aju Makita\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease Save My Earth\u003c/strong\u003e: Alice Hirose stars, directed by Takahiro Miki\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Silent Fleet: Awaken, New York\u003c/strong\u003e: Aya Ueto, Aoi Nakamura, and Kenjiro Tsuda appear\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Apothecary Diaries\u003c/strong\u003e: Mana Ashida plays Maomao\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","blueskyPost":"Mana Ashida, live-action Maomao in The Apothecary Diaries, at Prime Video Presents Tokyo: 'Being able to play a beloved character is the greatest happiness.' Prime Video says it will double investment in Japanese originals over two years.","twitterPost":"Mana Ashida on playing Maomao in live-action The Apothecary Diaries: 'Being able to play a beloved character is the greatest happiness.' Prime Video Presents Tokyo also teased doubled investment in Japanese originals.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"At Prime Video Presents Tokyo, Mana Ashida called playing Maomao in the live-action The Apothecary Diaries the greatest happiness. Prime Video also said it will double investment in Japanese original works over the next two years, with casts from Bless, Jinko Glico, and Please Save My Earth on stage.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Dengeki Hobby Web\",\"url\":\"https://hobby.dengeki.com/event/3147590/\",\"title\":\"Mana Ashida, Who Plays Maomao in the Live-Action 'The Apothecary Diaries,' Says 'Being Able to Play a Beloved Character Is the Greatest Happiness' - Report on 'Prime Video Presents Tokyo' with a Star-Studded Cast in Attendance!\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4692,"outputTokens":804,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":null,"createdAt":"2026-09-03T09:11:38.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-09-03T09:15:04.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-03T09:15:04.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_30e560cb08ee77fa349888c1","canonicalTitle":"『薬屋のひとりごと』実写ドラマ化に猫猫役の芦田愛菜さんは「大好きなキャラクターを演じられるのはこの上ない幸せ」――豪華俳優陣も登壇した「Prime Video Presents 東京」をレポート！","representativeArticleId":"a_14e88448ea84fcb3b3c4f5a7","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[\"The Apothecary Diaries\"],\"manga_titles\":[\"The Apothecary Diaries\"],\"work_titles\":[\"Nihon Sangoku\"],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"Mana Ashida\"],\"type\":\"event\",\"domain\":\"anime\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-09-03T08:15:39.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-09-03T08:15:39.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-03T09:15:03.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Dengeki Hobby Web","url":"https://hobby.dengeki.com/event/3147590/","title":"『薬屋のひとりごと』実写ドラマ化に猫猫役の芦田愛菜さんは「大好きなキャラクターを演じられるのはこの上ない幸せ」――豪華俳優陣も登壇した「Prime Video Presents 東京」をレポート！"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":["The Apothecary Diaries"],"manga_titles":["The Apothecary Diaries"],"work_titles":["Nihon Sangoku"],"studios":[],"people":["Mana Ashida"],"type":"event","domain":"anime","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":null}