The Apothecary Diaries
The Apothecary Diaries is a Japanese light novel series written by Hyūganatsu and illustrated by Touko Shino. Since 2011, it has been serialized online on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. In the following year, it was acquired by Shufunotomo, who initially published the series as a novel with a single volume in 2012 and then as a light novel series in 2014.
The series is set in a fictional country inspired by the Tang Dynasty of early medieval China and follows a girl named Maomao, who was trained from an early age by her apothecary father, and was sold as a servant to the emperor's palace while she secretly employs her pharmacologist skills in the service of the people of the palace.
It has been adapted into two manga series in 2017, with one published by Square Enix in Monthly Big Gangan, and another one published by Shogakukan in Monthly Sunday Gene-X. The light novel is licensed digitally in North America by J-Novel Club and in print by Square Enix. The manga illustrated by Nekokurage is also licensed by Square Enix. An anime television series adaptation produced by Toho Animation Studio and OLM aired from October 2023 to March 2024, while a second season aired from January to July 2025. A third season is set to premiere in October 2026. An anime film is set to premiere in Japan in December 2026.
Synopsis
Set in a fictional country based on Imperial China during the Tang dynasty, and often referencing knowledge closer to the late Ming dynasty, the series follows Maomao, a young girl working as an apothecary in a red-light district, who was kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace as an indentured servant. She still retains her curious and eccentric personality and plans to work there until her two years of servitude are over. After learning that the emperor's newborns and concubines are critically ill, she begins to investigate the cause. Using her experience as an apothecary, she successfully solves the mystery of their illness. Even though she intended to remain anonymous, her actions catch the attention of Jinshi, an influential eunuch. Then, consequently, she undertakes the solving of mysteries for the royal court.Characters
Main characters
;Maomao;Jinshi
Imperial Palace
The Emperor and his Concubines
; The Emperor; Gyokuyō
; Lihua
; Lishu
; Ah-Duo
; Loulan Shisui
Imperial Court members
;Gaoshun;Guen
;Jiaojiao
;Lihaku
;Xiaolan
;Hongniang
;Yinghua
;Basen
;Kanan
;Fengming
;Suiren
;Lakan
;Suirei
;Rikuson
;Shin
;Shenlu
;Taihou
;Anshi
;Haku-u Koku-u Seki-u
;Lahan
Verdigris House
;MadamThe Three Princesses
;FengxianOthers
;Luomen;Shishou
;Ayla
;Aylin
;Kyō-u Chou-u
;Shenmei
Media
Novel
Originally, the series was published by Hyūganatsu on the user-generated web novel site Shōsetsuka ni Narō in October 2011. The publisher Shufunotomo acquired the series and then published it on their Ray Books imprint as a novel with a single volume on September 26, 2012, illustrated by Megumi Matsuda.Light novel
In 2014, Shufunotomo began to publish the series again, illustrated by Touko Shino. This time, it was published as a light novel in their Hero Bunko imprint, which is mostly made of acquired Shōsetsuka ni Narō titles. Sixteen volumes have been released as of May 30, 2025. J-Novel Club announced in November 2020 that it had licensed the light novel series. In October 2023, Square Enix announced that it would release the light novels in print starting in May 2024.Manga
A manga adaptation by Itsuki Nanao and illustrated by Nekokurage began in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan on May 25, 2017. Square Enix has compiled its chapters into individual volumes. The first volume was published on September 25, 2017. As of November 25, 2025, 16 volumes have been published.In November 2019, Square Enix announced the English language release of the manga in North America and began publishing it in December 2020.
An alternative manga adaptation, titled The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao's Notes from the Inner Palace, illustrated by Minoji Kurata, began in Shogakukan's Monthly Sunday Gene-X on August 19, 2017. Shogakukan has compiled its chapters into individual volumes. The first volume was published on February 19, 2018. As of December 19, 2025, 21 volumes have been published. The manga has been licensed in Southeast Asia by Shogakukan Asia.
A spin-off manga centered around Xiaolan's point-of-view illustrated by Itsuki Nanao, titled The Apothecary Diaries: Xiaolan's Story, began serialization on Square Enix's Manga Up! manga service on March 23, 2025. The spin-off is also published in English on the Manga Up! Global website and app.
Anime
An anime television series adaptation produced by Toho Animation Studio and OLM was announced on February 16, 2023. It was directed and written by Norihiro Naganuma, with Akinori Fudesaka serving as assistant director for the first season and later replacing Norihiro as director of the second season. designed the characters, and Satoru Kōsaki, Kevin Penkin, and all composed the music. The two consecutive-cours series aired from October 22, 2023, to March 24, 2024, on Nippon TV and its affiliates. The first opening theme song is "Be a Flower performed by Ryokuoushoku Shakai, while the first ending theme song is "Aikotoba" performed by Aina the End. The second opening theme song is "Ambivalent" performed by Uru, while the second ending theme song is "Ai wa Kusuri", performed by.Following the conclusion of the first season broadcast, a second season was announced. It aired from January 10 to July 4, 2025, on the Friday Anime Night programming block on Nippon TV and its affiliates. The first opening theme song is "Hyakka Ryōran performed by Lilas Ikuta, while the first ending theme song is "Shiawase no Recipe" performed by. The second opening theme song is "Kusushiki" performed by Mrs. Green Apple, while the second ending theme song is "Hitorigoto" performed by Omoinotake.
Following the conclusion of the second season broadcast, a sequel to the anime series was announced. On the second anniversary of the anime's premiere, it was announced to be a third season that is set to premiere in October 2026. The season will run in two split cours, with its second premiering in April 2027.
Film
An animated film was announced in October 2025, and will feature a new story written by Hyūganatsu. The film is set to premiere in Japan in December 2026.International release
Crunchyroll is streaming the series worldwide outside Asia, in addition to the Middle East, the CIS, and South Asia. The first cours of the first season was released on Blu-ray on January 28, 2025, while the second cours was released on March 25, 2025. Netflix streams the series in select regions of Asia.Other media
An animation exhibition featuring 3D recreations of the famous scenes in the series, original drawings, storyboards, art settings, and other production materials, is set to run in various cities in Japan from March 2025 to January 2026. The exhibition is also set to travel throughout Asia, starting with Hong Kong in November 2025. From July 1, 2025, to January 4, 2026, Universal Studios Japan is set to host an attraction based on the series. An attraction will feature Maomao and Jinshi where participants help them solving the mystery behind a mysterious panacea.A browser game, titled The Apothecary Diaries Palace Chronicles, was announced in July 2025 on Japanese browser games platform G123, operated by CTW Inc. In the simulation game, players train Maomao and take on various cases around the palace. The game will be free-to-play and feature in-game purchases, and is playable on smartphone, tablet, or PC.
Reception
Sales
In Japan, The Apothecary Diaries was the sixth best-selling light novel series in 2019, with 461,024 copies sold; the fifth best-selling light novel series in 2020, with 527,950 copies sold; and the third best-selling light novel series in 2021, with 496,626 copies sold.By November 2023, the franchise had over 27 million copies in circulation. By January 2024, the franchise had over 31 million copies in circulation. By September 2024, the franchise had over 38 million copies in circulation. By November 2025, the franchise had over 45 million copies in circulation.
Critical response
In her review of the first novel for Anime News Network, Rebecca Silverman gave it an overall grade of B, writing: "It's an enjoyable read, one that gets better as it goes on, and if its pacing is a little too fast, it makes up for it in the way the characters interact and the story unfolds". However, she was more critical of it for lacking genre elements despite being a mystery story. Silverman also assigned the second novel a B grade, describing it as "still an engaging read" and calling Maomao a "wonderful, if at times abrasive, heroine who takes no garbage from anyone".In his review of the first volume of the manga adaptation for Anime News Network, Theron Martin gave it an overall grade of B+. He praised the art, characters and the use of historical details while noting several similarities with The Story of Saiunkoku. Silverman scored the second manga volume an A−. She described it as "excellent", praising the "beautiful" art, portrayal of Maomao as a legitimately strong female character, and overall continuity.
Accolades
In 2019, the manga adaptation by Nekokurage ranked ninth on AnimeJapan's "Most Wanted Anime Adaptation" poll. The manga adaptation won the Next Manga Award in the print category. It also ranked fifth on the "Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2020", a list compiled by surveying professional bookstore employees around Japan. In 2024, the light novel and manga adaptation by Nekokurage won the Piccoma Award in their respective categories. The manga adaptation by Minoji Kurata was nominated for the 70th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2024. It won the Japan Society and Anime NYC's second American Manga Awards for Best Continuing Manga Series in 2025.The anime ranked seventh in Anime News Network's "Top 10 Anime of 2024", with Caitlin Moore praising the series' plot and Aoi Yūki's voice acting. In 2025, the anime was nominated for 13 categories at the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, including the Anime of the Year. Aoi Yūki, for her work as Maomao, won its only award for Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese).
The anime was also nominated for Best Anime Series at the 5th Astra TV Awards. It won the 2025 Animages Anime Grand Prix with Maomao and Jinshi taking the first and fourth places in the Best Character category. Aoi Yūki and Takeo Ōtsuka took the first and fifth places in the Best Voice Actor category for their respective roles as Maomao and Jinshi.