What’s The Apothecary Diaries, Ep 19 song playing as Jinshi carries Maomao? What do lyrics mean?
Michelle Topham 
A new The Apothecary Diaries insert song adds incredible depth to Episode 19’s most touching scenes
The most powerful scenes of The Apothecary Diaries anime series so far are the last few minutes of Episode 19 – “Chance or Something More“.
Those minutes when, after rushing into the ceremonial hall to save “an important person” whose life may be in danger, Maomao discovers the person officiating at the ceremony, and the one whose life she has just saved, is Jinshi.
Battered, bruised and bleeding, Maomao then loses consciousness, only to have Jinshi, the Emperor’s brother, scoop her up in his arms and carry her down the long steps, past a stunned Lakan, and back to his home.
All while the blood dripping from Maomao’s leg leaves a trail behind them, and as every courtier and other high official bows to Jinshi as he passes by.
Accompanying that long walk, a somber insert song begins playing as, from the vantage point of the back of the dark ceremonial hall, we see Jinshi rise from the floor with Maomao in his arms.
It continues playing right up until the end credits begin.
What is that Apothecary Diaries insert song, and who sings it?
And even more importantly, due to the intensity it adds to those final scenes, what do those Japanese lyrics mean?
Who sings The Apothecary Diaries, Episode 19 insert song played as Jinshi carries Maomao?
The song is called ‘Blaze of Clear Sky’ or ‘Sōkū no Honō‘ (蒼空の炎 in Japanese), and is sung by singer and composer Daichi Takenaka.
The song lyrics are by Mashiro Uchida and while composer Satoru Kosaki wrote the music.
As for the lyrics of the song, you will find the full lyrics of ‘Blaze of Clear Sky‘ at Lyrical Nonsense, but the second verse translates to something like this:
Let me protect your strong heart
Let me illuminate the path you walk
This heat in my chest
Cannot be taken by anyone
In other words, clearly lyrics that are meant to express Jinshi’s feelings for Maomao, and the reason why he, the Emperor’s brother, carried that small, battered servant girl through the throngs of important people, paying no attention to any of them.
Only to her.
You can listen to Daichi Takenaka’s ‘Blaze of Clear Sky‘, The Apothecary Diaries, Episode 19 insert song in both the video of those final scenes, and via the Spotify player below.
The song was officially released today, February 18th, via Milan Records (a Sony Music subsidiary).
It is one of several insert songs in this stunning anime series and, alongside the earlier Episode 3 insert song played when Concubine Fuyou is given to the military officer, one of the prettiest anime tracks in a while.
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Steven Reynolds 
