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| DirectedBy = Mayu Tanimoto<br/>Jun Ōwada |
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| WrittenBy = Hitomi Ogawa |
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| Aux2 = Mayu Tanimoto<br/>Wataru Nakagawa |
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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|2|11}} |
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|2|11}} |
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| ShortSummary =After accompanying Jinshi to his destination, Maomao, as she is dressed fancily, refuses to blow his cover and heads home. Back home, She later awakens from a nightmare, which is actually a scene from her infancy. Her adoptive father, Luomen, sends her on an errand to the Rokushoukan, actually to tend to a woman at its annex. The woman is revealed to be Maomao's mother suffering from syphilis, and Luomen's medicines are their only treatment. It is revealed that the Rokushoukan faced shame in the past due to this situation. Lakan, a longtime customer, visits, and Maomao is told to stay hidden while Meimei distracts him. Back at the palace, Suiren gives Maomao an errand to the inner palace pharmacy, where she encounters Suirei, a court lady. Maomao wonders why is Jinshi performing a purification ritual, him "being a eunuch." Later, Lakan expresses interest in Maomao to Jinshi, causing tension as Lakan is out to get her, so as far as him issuing a veiled threat to Jinshi. He tells Maomao that an official named Lakan is to meet her sometime soon. He retracted his statement when Maomao shot her the angriest stare he gave him ever. Later, she wanders around the inner palace again and gathering medicinal herbs when Suirei catches her. It appears that she planted those medicinal plants, allegedly for a resurrection medicine, something Maomao desperately desires. |
| ShortSummary = After accompanying Jinshi to his destination, Maomao, as she is dressed fancily, refuses to blow his cover and heads home. Back home, She later awakens from a nightmare, which is actually a scene from her infancy. Her adoptive father, Luomen, sends her on an errand to the Rokushoukan, actually to tend to a woman at its annex. The woman is revealed to be Maomao's mother suffering from syphilis, and Luomen's medicines are their only treatment. It is revealed that the Rokushoukan faced shame in the past due to this situation. Lakan, a longtime customer, visits, and Maomao is told to stay hidden while Meimei distracts him. Back at the palace, Suiren gives Maomao an errand to the inner palace pharmacy, where she encounters Suirei, a court lady. Maomao wonders why is Jinshi performing a purification ritual, him "being a eunuch." Later, Lakan expresses interest in Maomao to Jinshi, causing tension as Lakan is out to get her, so as far as him issuing a veiled threat to Jinshi. He tells Maomao that an official named Lakan is to meet her sometime soon. He retracted his statement when Maomao shot her the angriest stare he gave him ever. Later, she wanders around the inner palace again and gathering medicinal herbs when Suirei catches her. It appears that she planted those medicinal plants, allegedly for a resurrection medicine, something Maomao desperately desires. |
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{{Episode list |
{{Episode list |
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Revision as of 02:15, 11 February 2024
| The Apothecary Diaries | |
 First light novel volume cover, featuring Maomao | |
| 薬屋のひとりごと (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama, mystery, romance[1] |
| Novel series | |
| Written by | Natsu Hyūga |
| Published by | Shōsetsuka ni Narō |
| Original run | October 27, 2011 – present |
| Novel | |
| Written by | Natsu Hyūga |
| Illustrated by | Megumi Matsuda |
| Published by | Shufunotomo |
| Imprint | Ray Books |
| Demographic | Female |
| Published | September 26, 2012 |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Natsu Hyūga |
| Illustrated by | Touko Shino |
| Published by | Shufunotomo |
| English publisher |
|
| Imprint | Hero Bunko |
| Demographic | Male |
| Original run | August 29, 2014 – present |
| Volumes | 14 |
| Manga | |
| Written by |
|
| Illustrated by | Nekokurage |
| Published by | Square Enix |
| English publisher |
|
| Magazine | Monthly Big Gangan |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | May 25, 2017 – present |
| Volumes | 12 |
| Manga | |
| Mao Mao no Kōkyū Nazotoki Techō | |
| Written by | Natsu Hyūga |
| Illustrated by | Minoji Kurata |
| Published by | Shogakukan |
| Magazine | Monthly Sunday Gene-X |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | August 19, 2017 – present |
| Volumes | 17 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Norihiro Naganuma |
| Written by | Norihiro Naganuma |
| Music by |
|
| Studio | |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | NNS (Nippon TV) |
| Original run | October 22, 2023 – present |
| Episodes | 17 |
The Apothecary Diaries (Japanese: 薬屋のひとりごと, Hepburn: Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, "Apothecary's Soliloquy") is a Japanese light novel series written by Natsu Hyūga and illustrated by Touko Shino. Since 2011, it has been serialized online since 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 modelled after Imperial China.
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, and the manga illustrated by Nekokurage is also licensed by Square Enix. An anime television series adaptation produced by Toho Animation Studio and OLM premiered in October 2023.
Premise
Set in a fictional country based on Imperial China,[2] the series follows Maomao, a young girl working as an apothecary in the red-light district, who is kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace as a servant. However, she still retains her curious and eccentric personality and plans to work there until her years of servitude are over, without drawing the attention of anyone. One day, after hearing rumors that the emperor's children are critically ill, she begins to investigate the cause, using her experience as an apothecary, and successfully solves the mystery of their illness. Even though she intends to remain anonymous, her actions eventually catch the attention of an influential eunuch, and soon finds herself solving various mysteries for the royal court.
Characters
- Maomao (猫猫)
- Voiced by: Aoi Yūki[3][4] (drama CD, anime) (Japanese); Emi Lo[5] (English)
- The plain-looking daughter of an apothecarist who lives on the outskirts of the city, she provides her services to a brothel in the capital and its courtesans. After being kidnapped by bandits who sell her to the Imperial Palace for profit, she is accidentally dragged into palace intrigue, using her knowledge of poisons, medicine, plants, and basic chemistry to become an unofficial forensic pathologist, in addition to becoming a lady-in-waiting and poison taste-tester for one of the Emperor's concubines. While Jinshi is in love with her, she does not reciprocate at all, often looking at him with disgust, resenting his ways of involving her in palace intrigue, and preferring to spend her time testing out different poisons and medicines on herself. Even so, she often helps him solve whatever mystery he brings to her attention.
- Jinshi (壬氏)
- Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai[3] (drama CD), Takeo Ōtsuka[6] (anime) (Japanese); Kaiji Tang[5] (English)
- A eunuch who runs most of the administration of the rear palace, where the Emperor's concubines and their respective staff reside. Both men and women alike are attracted to his visage, but he finds himself attracted to Maomao, the only person he has met who does not unconditionally love him. Behind his face lies a shrewd mind who tries to balance his duties to the Emperor while improving his own station within the Imperial Palace.
- Gaoshun (高順)
- Voiced by: Kenjiro Tsuda[3] (drama CD), Katsuyuki Konishi[7] (anime) (Japanese); Alex Hom[5] (English)
- Jinshi's loyal attendant, often supporting him and Maomao more quietly.
- Gyokuyō (玉葉)
- Voiced by: Yoko Hikasa[3] (drama CD), Atsumi Tanezaki[7] (anime) (Japanese); Molly Zhang[5] (English)
- One of the Emperor's concubines with bright red hair, and the mother of an infant daughter. She took Maomao as a Lady-in-waiting as thanks for warning her about the poisoned makeup. She is also one who supports Jinshi and Maomao.
- Guen (虞淵)
- Voiced by: Mitsuru Ogata[3] (drama CD), Mitsuaki Kanuka[7] (anime) (Japanese); Jim Foronda[5] (English)
- Guen is the palace's doctor, whom Maomao refers to at first as a quack. Though he was a bit hesitant around Maomao, he came to accept and befriend her later.
- Jiaojiao (嬌嬌)
- Voiced by: Mari Hino[3] (drama CD)
- Lihua (梨花)
- Voiced by: Yui Ishikawa[7] (Japanese); Trina Nishimura[5] (English)
- One of the Emperor's concubines with dark blue hair who gave birth to his heir. However, when she ignored Maomao's warning about her poisoned makeup, her infant son died and she herself nearly passed away. After Maomao later nursed her back to health, she became more friendly to her.
- Lishu (里樹)
- Voiced by: Hina Kino[7]
- Known as the Virtuous Consort, she is the youngest of the four leading concubines of the Emperor. Due to political reasons, she becomes the mother-in-law of the older Pure Consort. Due to her food allergies, her ladies-in-waiting think she is just picky with her food, making it a point of subtle bullying on her.
- Ah-Duo (阿多)
- Voiced by: Yūko Kaida[7] (Japanese); Monica Rial[5] (English)
- Known as the Pure Consort, one of the four leading concubines of the Emperor. She has a close relationship with Lishu. She would later leave the rear palace to live in a detached palace in the south.
- Meimei (梅梅)
- Voiced by: Megumi Han[7] (Japanese); Rebecca Danae[5] (English)
- One of "The Three Princesses" of the famous Rokushoukan, a super high-class brothel where Maomao once worked, and treats Maomao as a sister.
- Pairin (白鈴)
- Voiced by: Ami Koshimizu[7] (Japanese); Ciarán Strange[5] (English)
- One of the famous "Three Princesses" and the most popular courtesan of the Rokushoukan brothel who also acts like a sister to Maomao when she visits.
- Joka (女華)
- Voiced by: Hiroki Nanami[7] (Japanese); Monica Flatley[5] (English)
- The third of the famous "Three Princesses" of the ultra-exclusive Rokushoukan brothel.
- Madam (やり手婆, Yarite Baba)
- Voiced by: Kimiko Saitō[7]
- An old woman who owns the Rokushoukan brothel and offered Maomao a place to work, treating her like a daughter.
- Luomen (羅門)
- Voiced by: Hiroshi Yanaka[7] (Japanese); Stephen Miller[5] (English)
- Maomao's father. She later knew from court records that he is a former court doctor who was banished from the rear palace. He is revealed to be one of a rare few to have been sent abroad by the empire to study medicine.
- Lihaku (李白)
- Voiced by: Kenji Akabane[7] (Japanese); Seth Fuentes[8] (English)
- A soldier who happened to give Maomao a hairpin during the garden party. She requested him to escort her outside of the palace walls in exchange for time at the Rokushoukan, which caused misunderstanding on Jinshi's part.
- Xiaolan (小蘭)
- Voiced by: Misaki Kuno[7] (Japanese); Bree Han[5] (English)
- A servant at the rear palace who is Maomao's close friend. Whenever she and Maomao comes together, she sometimes share the latest gossip and intel from all over the palace.
- Fengming (風明)
- Voiced by: Noriko Hidaka[9] (Japanese); Sally Vahle[10] (English)
- Ah-Duo's lead lady-in-waiting whose family owns an apiary. Despite her showing as an exemplary and respected lady-in-waiting, there is a secret behind her, which could be the reason Lishu fears her, even on just the mention of her name.
- Lakan (羅漢)
- Voiced by: Takuya Kirimoto[11] (Japanese); Ricco Fajardo[12] (English)
- He is said to be a tactician of the emperor's army. This monocle-wearing official is the head of the La clan, to which Maomao belongs, as he is her biological father.
- Suirei (翠苓)
- Voiced by: Kaori Nazuka[11] (Japanese); Veronica Laux[13] (English)
- Suirei is a former court lady in the outer court. She is the first daughter of Shishou, Loulan's half-sister.
- Rikuson (陸孫)
- Voiced by: Koki Uchiyama[14] (Japanese); Charles Nguyuen[15] (English)
- A subordinate of Lakan who is sent to become Gyokuyou's aide.
- Fengxian (鳳仙)
- Voiced by: Houko Kuwashima[16]
Media
Novel
Originally, the series was only published by Natsu Hyūga 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.[17]
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. Since then, the series continued to get more volumes with the story continuing, unlike the previous novel version which had just only one volume. J-Novel Club announced in November 2020 that it had licensed the light novel series.[18] In October 2023, Square Enix announced that it will release the light novels in print.[19]
Volumes
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 29, 2014[20] | 978-4-07-298198-6 | February 14, 2021 (ebook)[21] May 14, 2024 (print)[22] | 978-1-71-836118-8 (ebook) 978-1-64-609272-7 (print) | ||
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| 2 | January 31, 2015[23] | 978-4-07-410821-3 | June 3, 2021[24] | 978-1-71-836120-1 | ||
| ||||||
| 3 | June 29, 2015[25] | 978-4-07-401176-6 | September 14, 2021[26] | 978-1-71-836122-5 | ||
| ||||||
| 4 | September 30, 2015[27] | 978-4-07-403100-9 | January 5, 2022[28] | 978-1-71-836124-9 | ||
| ||||||
| 5 | April 30, 2016[29] | 978-4-07-416947-4 | May 9, 2022[30] | 978-1-71-836126-3 | ||
| ||||||
| 6 | November 30, 2016[31] | 978-4-07-420788-6 | October 10, 2022[32] | 978-1-71-836128-7 | ||
| ||||||
| 7 | February 28, 2018[33] | 978-4-07-429772-6 | March 1, 2023[34] | 978-1-71-836130-0 | ||
| ||||||
| 8 | February 28, 2019[35] | 978-4-07-436884-6 | May 29, 2023[36] | 978-1-71-836132-4 | ||
| ||||||
| 9 | February 28, 2020[37][3] | 978-4-07-442420-7 978-4-07-441030-9 (LE) | October 9, 2023[38] | 978-1-71-836134-8 | ||
| ||||||
| 10 | January 29, 2021[39] | 978-4-07-447215-4 | January 18, 2024[40] | 978-1-71-836136-2 | ||
| ||||||
| 11 | April 30, 2021[41][42] | 978-4-07-448226-9 978-4-07-448440-9 (LE) | May 20, 2024[43] | — | ||
| 12 | July 29, 2022[44][45] | 978-4-07-452400-6 978-4-07-452386-3 (LE) | — | — | ||
| 13 | February 25, 2023[46] | 978-4-07-454379-3 | — | — | ||
| 14 | September 29, 2023[47] | 978-4-07-455775-2 | — | — | ||
Manga
A manga adaptation by Itsuki Nanao and illustrated by Nekokurage began in the 2017 6th issue of Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan, released on May 25, 2017.[48] Square Enix has compiled its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on September 25, 2017.[49] As of September 29, 2023, twelve volumes have been published.[50]
In November 2019, Square Enix announced the English language release of the manga in North America under the title The Apothecary Diaries, and began publishing it in December 2020.[51] The manga is also licensed in Indonesia by M&C!.[52]
An alternative manga adaptation, titled Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Mao Mao no Kōkyū Nazotoki Techō (薬屋のひとりごと～猫猫の後宮謎解き手帳～, lit. 'The Apothecary Diaries: The Palace Cloister Mystery-Solving Notebook of Mao Mao'), illustrated by Minoji Kurata, began in Shogakukan's Monthly Sunday Gene-X on August 19, 2017.[53] Shogakukan has compiled its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on February 19, 2018.[54] As of September 29, 2023, seventeen volume have been published.[55]
The Apothecary Diaries
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 25, 2017[49] | 978-4-06-388690-0 | December 8, 2020[56] | 978-1-64609-070-9 | ||
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| 2 | February 24, 2018[57] | 978-4-7575-5640-9 | February 9, 2021[58] | 978-1-64609-071-6 | ||
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| 3 | July 25, 2018[59] | 978-4-7575-5794-9 | September 21, 2021[60] | 978-1-64609-072-3 | ||
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| 4 | February 25, 2019[61] | 978-4-7575-5963-9 | December 28, 2021[62] | 978-1-64609-073-0 | ||
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| 5 | July 25, 2019[63] | 978-4-7575-6216-5 | July 12, 2022[64] | 978-1-64609-074-7 | ||
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| 6 | March 25, 2020[65] | 978-4-7575-6581-4 | September 13, 2022[66] | 978-1-64609-086-0 | ||
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| 7 | November 25, 2020[67] | 978-4-7575-6856-3 | December 13, 2022[68] | 978-1-6460-9120-1 | ||
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| 8 | May 25, 2021[69] | 978-4-7575-7271-3 | July 11, 2023[70] | 978-1-6460-9134-8 | ||
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| 9 | November 25, 2021[71] | 978-4-7575-7586-8 | August 15, 2023[72] | 978-1-6460-9135-5 | ||
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| 10 | June 23, 2022[73] | 978-4-7575-7985-9 | November 28, 2023[74] | 978-1-6460-9136-2 | ||
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| 11 | February 25, 2023[75] | 978-4-7575-8324-5 | March 5, 2024[76] | 978-1-6460-9252-9 | ||
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| 12 | September 29, 2023[50] | 978-4-7575-8813-4 | September 3, 2024[77] | 978-1-6460-9296-3 | ||
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Mao Mao no Kōkyū Nazotoki Techō
| No. | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 19, 2018[54] | 978-4-09-157515-9 |
| 2 | July 19, 2018[78] | 978-4-09-157533-3 |
| 3 | September 19, 2018[79] | 978-4-09-157543-2 |
| 4 | February 19, 2019[80] | 978-4-09-157560-9 |
| 5 | June 19, 2019[81] | 978-4-09-157564-7 |
| 6 | November 19, 2019[82] | 978-4-09-157580-7 |
| 7 | February 19, 2020[83] | 978-4-09-157586-9 |
| 8 | June 19, 2020[84] | 978-4-09-157597-5 |
| 9 | October 16, 2020[85] | 978-4-09-157608-8 |
| 10 | February 19, 2021[86] | 978-4-09-157622-4 |
| 11 | June 18, 2021[87] | 978-4-09-157639-2 |
| 12 | October 19, 2021[88] | 978-4-09-157652-1 |
| 13 | February 18, 2022[89] | 978-4-09-157668-2 |
| 14 | June 17, 2022[90] | 978-4-09-157680-4 |
| 15 | November 17, 2022[91] | 97-8-40-9157692-7 |
| 16 | February 25, 2023[92] | 978-4-09-157731-3 |
| 17 | September 29, 2023[55] | 978-4-09-157783-2 |
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on February 16, 2023. It is produced by Toho Animation Studio and OLM, with Norihiro Naganuma directing and supervising the scripts, and Akinori Fudesaka serving as assistant director. Yukiko Nakatani designed the characters, and Satoru Kōsaki, Kevin Penkin, and Alisa Okehazama composed the music.[93][4] The series premiered on October 22, 2023, on Nippon TV and its affiliates, and will run for two cours.[6][94] The first opening theme song is "Hana ni Natte" (花になって, "Become a Flower") by Ryokuoushoku Shakai, while the first ending theme song is "Aikotoba" (アイコトバ, "The Spell") by Aina the End.[7] The second opening theme song is "Ambivalent" (アンビバレント) by Uru, while the second ending theme song is "Ai wa Kusuri" (愛は薬, "Love is Medicine") by Wacci.[95] Crunchyroll licensed the series outside Asia, but included Middle East, CIS, and South Asia.[96][97][98] Netflix has licensed the series for streaming in select regions of Asia.[99]
Episodes
| No. | Title [100][101] | Directed by [b] | Written by [b] | Storyboarded by [b] | Original air date [102][c] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Maomao" Transliteration: "Maomao" (Japanese: 猫猫) | Akinori Fudesaka | Yūko Kakihara | Norihiro Naganuma | October 22, 2023[d] | |
|
Maomao, the daughter of an apothecary on the outskirts of the city, is kidnapped by bandits and sold to the Imperial Palace as a laundry woman, serving the Emperor's concubines, eunuchs, and respective staff in the Outer Palace. Three months later, Maomao notices a fight between two of the Emperor's concubines, Lihua and Gyokuyou, as rumors swirl around that both of their children are getting sick and dying from a curse. Maomao deduces the cause from the alleged symptoms, and leaves an anonymous message on the windowsill of each concubine to stop using their lead-based face-powder. Lihua ignores the message, and her son later dies. Gyokuyou reads and heeds the message, and her daughter lives. Jinshi, an attractive eunuch, finds out that Maomao was the savior, as she is the only one of the servant girls who is able to read his writing. Jinshi introduces Maomao to Gyokuyou to explain how the face powder was linked to why her daughter became sick, and Gyokuyou thanks her by making her a lady-in-waiting. | ||||||
| 2 | "Chilly Apothecary" Transliteration: "Buaisō na Kusushi" (Japanese: 無愛想な薬師) | Kentarō Fujita | Misuzu Chiba | Norihiro Naganuma | October 22, 2023[d] | |
|
Soldiers trying to pacify an outside village get poisoned while they eat and Jinshi is asked to help decide the fate of the village leader suspected of poisoning them. Maomao begins her new role as lady-in-waiting by meeting the others currently working for Gyokuyou, who take extra pity on Maomao for her bandaged arm and for being given the job of Poison Food Tester. Maomao takes to the task quickly but gets bored after the other ladies pity her and do her share of the chores. Jinshi later asks Maomao to solve the question of the poisoned soldiers, and from the context, Maomao deduces that the type of wood the soldiers burned for kindling gave off poisonous fumes, not the food. Later, Maomao is tasked by Jinshi with designing an aphrodisiac, gaining access to the court doctor's stock of medicines and ingredients. Maomao creates cocoa-based aphrodisiacs but gets distracted collecting medicinal herbs in the garden only to find that other ladies have eaten the chocolates she made out of the excess cocoa mixture ahead of time. According to Maomao, the aphrodisiac has three times the power of the usual tonic, making Gyokuyou tremble in fear when she tried asking her for some for the emperor. | ||||||
| 3 | "The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit" Transliteration: "Yūrei Sōdō" (Japanese: 幽霊騒動) | Kyohei Yamamoto | Hitomi Ogawa | Norihiro Naganuma | October 22, 2023[d] | |
|
Rumors swirl of a mad ghostly woman attacking others in the Outer Palace. Jinshi's attendant, Gaoshun, shows Maomao a mid-level concubine named Fuyou who appears to be dancing on the Eastern wall in the moonlight. She was originally brought before the Emperor, but then failed to impress him and lost his favor and she was then pledged to a General in the Emperor's army. Afterwards, she went mad and began dancing in the moonlight. The next day, Maomao relates a similar story to Gyokuyou and Jinshi, of a courtesan she knew who was about to be purchased by a wealthy client, but the deal fell through, leading to the woman becoming so stressed she began sleepwalking and having no memory of her actions the following day. The day Fuyou is to be sold off to the General, Maomao tells Gyokuyou the rest of the story: the courtesan pretended to be mentally ill so she could lower her own price and be sold to a different man who she actually wanted to marry. Fuyou discovered that the General she was pledged to be a man she loved from her hometown, so she did something similar to fall out of favor with the Emperor and was given to the General as his reward instead. | ||||||
| 4 | "The Threat" Transliteration: "Dōkatsu" (Japanese: 恫喝) | ChiiNa | Yūko Kakihara | ChiiNa | October 29, 2023 | |
|
The Emperor made a direct request for Maomao to take care of Lady Lihua, but repeated attempts to treat her are thwarted by her ladies-in-waiting and kicks her out of her room repeatedly. Jinshi notices Maomao's problem and decides to intervene, charming the ladies into allowing Maomao to treat Lihua without any interferences, starting with a special diet which aims to purge her body of the poison caused by the beauty powder her lead lady-in-waiting was secretly using. Maomao punishes the lead lady-in-waiting by slapping and pouring powder on her for carelessly using it, forgetting that it was banned for being poison and that is what killed Lihua's son. The said head lady-in-waiting is able to return to her post after being detained for awhile (Maomao took over as lead for the duration), declaring she will not repeat her mistakes, while the eunuch who was ordered to recover the banned powder got whipped as punishment. Maomao asks Jinshi to build a sauna, as she adds regular steam baths to Lihua's treatment regimen. Lihua fully recovers in two months. When Maomao is set to return back to Lady Gyokuyou, she taught Lihua a technique her brothel sisters taught her to gain back the Emperor's favors, as she has the "assets" to do it. As a result, the Emperor began to less frequently visit Gyokuyou, allowing her to take it easy. | ||||||
| 5 | "Covert Operations" Transliteration: "Anyaku" (Japanese: 暗躍) | Gaku Shiga | Misuzu Chiba | Akinori Fudesaka | November 6, 2023 | |
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As Maomao and Guen (the court doctor) enjoy some grilled matsutake mushrooms, someone comes into the clinic asking for a cure to a "curse." Maomao gives the patient some ointment to heal the rashes on the patient's arms. Jinshi calls her to ask her opinion on a few substances, as he is also on the hunt for what caused the "curse." The day of the garden party is fast approaching, and, this time, all of the Emperor's top-tier consorts will be attending, including Concubines Lihua and Gyokuyou. That also means Maomao has to attend as Gyokuyou's lady-in-waiting. When applying her makeup, which is something she tried to avoid, the other ladies-in-waiting reveals a secret, and Jinshi finds out: her freckles are her makeup, as a camouflage and deterrent against would-be rapists, since she did work around a brothel. He is also able to find more about Maomao's background. Jinshi is so enthralled by her looks that he even gives her one of his hairpins, which made Gyokuyou, who "marked" her earlier with a necklace, a bit jealous as "she is no longer hers alone." The garden party begins, but, unknown to everyone, a sinister force is lurking in the background. | ||||||
| 6 | "The Garden Party" Transliteration: "Enyūkai" (Japanese: 園遊会) | Wataru Nakagawa | Hitomi Ogawa | Wataru Nakagawa | November 12, 2023 | |
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Amidst the hubbub of the garden party, Maomao is caught in the proxy wars between the concubines' ladies-in-waiting, with one of Lihua's ladies talking smack about her, not knowing she is just infront of her. She also experiences getting two more hairpins, one of them is from Lady Lihua herself. She also learns of the supposed rift between the consorts Ah-Duo and Lishu, where, due to politics, the very young Virtuous Consort becomes mother-in-law to the way-older Pure Consort. Things rear its ugly head when Maomao finds Gyokuyou's soup poisoned, and a minister later falls due to the same poison. Jinshi sees her coughing up the poison and takes her to the infirmary. Asking about the poisoning, Maomao asks Jinshi for Lishu and her poison taste tester, where she finds that she is allergic to mackerel. Knowing that the rear palace prepared the food, the vinegar used in Lishu's dish may have gotten swapped with that of Gyokuyou's by accident. Maomao knows Lishu's lead lady-in-waiting may have had a hand, but preferred not to magnify it, giving her a list of the foods Lishu cannot eat instead. Jinshi notices it, though, and asks Maomao if Lishu is the target of the poisoning. | ||||||
| 7 | "Homecoming" Transliteration: "Satogaeri" (Japanese: 里帰り) | Tadao Ōkubo | Yūko Kakihara | Norihiro Naganuma | November 19, 2023 | |
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With the events following the garden party, namely the poisoned minister, Maomao had to rest (because she had some of the poison herself) until she gets bored and asks Gyokuyou if she could use the parlor. Gaoshun, on Jinshi's request, came by and brought that same silver bowl containing the poisoned soup, wrapped in cloth, taking care not to hold the bowl itself. Using a similar technique she used in her former workplace, Maomao dusted the bowl for fingerprints using powder, a cotton ball, and a brush. She finds four fingerprints, but sees another set, on the bowl's edge, which belongs to an outsider who may have poisoned the soup. This, adding to the fact about Lishu's clothes clashing with that of Gyokuyou, leads her to think Lishu is the victim of bullying, and by her own ladies-in-waiting, knowing that the rear palace is full of enemies. The poisoned soup was supposed to up the ante, but Lihua's taster swapped her bowl for that of Gyokuyou's, saving her from getting poisoned. Later, Maomao learns from Xiaolan about the significance of the hairpins—as a "ticket" to getting favors. She asks Lihaku, the soldier who gave Maomao a hairpin during the party, for an escort outside. Lihaku, not able to recognize her, is dismissive of Maomao, but he cannot resist her offer of meeting anyone of "The Three Princesses," the best courtesans at the Rokushoukan brothel (her former workplace), not to mention seeing that she has two more higher-ranking contacts, so he agrees. Maomao is then able to visit her father, who thinks her being employed at the rear palace is a twist of fate. | ||||||
| 8 | "Wheat Stalks" Transliteration: "Mugiwara" (Japanese: 麦稈) | Kentarō Fujita | Yuniko Ayana | Kentarō Fujita | November 26, 2023 | |
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Coming from a walk in their medicinal herb fields, Maomao sees a servant girl banging at their door who grabs her the moment she sees her and asks for her help. She is taken to a brothel where she arrives at the scene of a double poisoning incident involving a courtesan and a well-dressed customer. Maomao manages to rid both victims of the poison. Maomao asks the girl for her father, and, after decoding the scene, Maomao learned that it was tobacco poisoning that almost killed the victims in what appears to be a double suicide. Stepping out of the room where the brothel's madam met both her and her father, Maomao later sees the servant girl trying to plunge a knife down the well-dressed customer's chest, which she prevents as the girl is desperate to kill him. Maomao later finds out from another courtesan that the customer, the son of a wealthy merchant, is a sweet-talking liar who sent the courtesans in the brothel he tricked to ruin. One of them is the girl's older sister, and the courtesan who was with the customer and who poisoned him is a close friend of hers. Maomao pieces everything together even after the fact is done: it was an attempted murder, as, somehow, the courtesan tricked the customer into drinking a poisonous infusion made with tobacco leaves. What she did that day actually saved the brothel from humiliation after preventing the death of the influential merchant's son, hence the hush money and the luxurious snacks the madam gave them. After some "pampering" by Meimei at the Rokushoukan baths, Maomao visits a room at the annex of the brothel, where an unconscious woman is in bed. She heads back to the rear palace after three days, where a very agitated Jinshi welcomed her aside from Lady Gyokuyou and her ladies-in-waiting. Misunderstandings and Maomao's choice of words concerning Lihaku shocked Jinshi, much to Gyokuyou's amusement. | ||||||
| 9 | "Suicide or Murder?" Transliteration: "Jisatsu ka Tasatsu ka" (Japanese: 自殺か他殺か) | Akira Koremoto | Misuzu Chiba | Norihiro Naganuma | December 3, 2023 | |
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Jinshi is still sulking from the shock after Maomao's homecoming, though slowly recovering after knowing the truth from Gyokuyou, when a eunuch barged into his office reporting of Kounen, a high-ranking official, dying after a heavy drinking session during a party. After investigation, and after reading Kounen's lifestyle history, Maomao concluded that the excessive salt added to his drink, Kounen being mostly a serious sweet tooth, killed him. Salt that could have been placed by someone at the party out of pranking him or because they hated him. She dropped hints as to his killer, but does not want to hold responsibility for naming that person. Jinshi also scores payback on Maomao by teasing her about passing a law on underage drinking, which shocked the liquor-loving apothecary. Later, Guen asked Maomao to perform an autopsy on the body of a servant woman found drowned in the palace moat, but refused because it is taboo for her as an apothecary, as humans can become medicinal ingredients, too. She finds herself middling whether it was a suicide, given the bloody fingers on the victim (out of probably trying to scale the wall surrounding the moat); or a murder, given circumstances surrounding the wall, as it is impossible for a servant woman with wooden shoes and bound foot to scale the wall without tools. It is later ruled out as a suicide due to added evidence, the woman being at the garden party which killed a minister by poisoning. Here, as she collected her thoughts on how easy it was for the victims to pass away, combined with thoughts of her past, Maomao thought about what poison she would use when she dies, which put Jinshi off, and the more when she requests him that if he were to execute her for some reason, it would be by poison. Meanwhile, Jinshi gets a report on whoever else had burns on their arms, relating to the "curse" from two months ago. It was Fengming, Lady Ah-Duo's head lady-in-waiting. | ||||||
| 10 | "Honey" Transliteration: "Hachimitsu" (Japanese: 蜂蜜) | Erkin Kawabata | Hitomi Ogawa | Kazuya Nomura | December 10, 2023 | |
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Rumors circulate around the rear palace about the drowned servant at the Garnet Pavilion, who is accused of poisoning Concubine Lishu's food. Additional gossip suggests that Concubine Ah-Duo may lose her title to a younger concubine. Ah-Duo's complex history is unveiled, revealing her previous connection with the former emperor and her son. During a tea party between Concubines Gyokuyou and Lishu, Maomao observes subtle hints of bullying towards Lishu by her own ladies-in-waiting, seeing her reaction to the honey beverage served to her. Maomao later discovers that Jinshi is behind the tea party, which serves a purpose. Jinshi then sends Maomao to assist Ah-Duo without any specific instructions. After investigating, Maomao reports back to him, linking the events to Fengming's possible ability to send coded messages using colored text plates. Jinshi pranks Maomao with honey, triggering a realization connecting the recent incidents, including Lishu's allergies and the servant's suicide, and even Lishu cautiously walking around the Garnet Pavilion, until Gyokuyou steps in to intervene. Maomao questions Lishu about her allergies and notices her fear when mentioning Fengming, who, during Maomao's stint at her pavilion, seemed approachable and kind and an example to all. Lishu's ladies-in-waiting resist Maomao's probing, but she invokes Jinshi's authority to shut them down and continue. Maomao tasks Gaoshun with checking past records, uncovering information about the emperor's deceased son with Ah-Duo, delivered by a doctor whose name resembles that of Maomao's father, who is revealed to have been expelled. | ||||||
| 11 | "Reducing Two to One" Transliteration: "Futatsu o Hitotsu ni" (Japanese: 二つを一つに) | Yukihiko Asaki | Yūko Kakihara | Norihiro Naganuma | December 17, 2023 | |
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Maomao confronts Fengming about past events involving Ah-Duo's baby and the empress dowager's child. She discovers that Fengming had been giving Ah-Duo's son poisonous honey, though unaware at first. The death was covered up using the issue of the poisonous facial powder, which led to Maomao's father's expulsion, despite him having it banned. It was a young Lishu that accidentally discovered it, as she nearly died of the same. Fengming's loyalty to Ah-Duo drives her actions, including driving Lishu away from Ah-Duo after the previous emperor's death, and poisoning her during the garden party, whom she perceived as a threat, because she finds out the reason for the baby's death herself. Lishu's return and her closeness with Ah-Duo cause tension, but Fengming's motives are revealed out of guilt. Maomao helps Fengming reconcile her two motives, hoping to maintain Ah-Duo's status without revealing the truth about her son's death. However, Ah-Duo is already set to leave the rear palace, on the decision of the emperor. The night after Fengming's execution, Maomao, unable to sleep, encounters Ah-Duo atop the wall where the suicidal servant jumped, and a drunken Jinshi below. Ah-Duo hints at her son's identity, and Maomao inadvertently comforts a crying Jinshi. The next day, Ah-Duo surrenders her title before departing for the detached palace in the south, and, as Lishu bids her a teary goodbye, Maomao realizes that, seeing Ah-Duo and Jinshi face to face, her baby might have been swapped at birth, possibly leading to her father's expulsion for not noticing it. Later, as Jinshi obtains more information about Fengming and her family, his thoughts were also on the circumstances surrounding Maomao's arrival at the rear palace. | ||||||
| 12 | "The Eunuch and the Courtesan" Transliteration: "Kangan to Gijo" (Japanese: 宦官と妓女) | Mitsuyo Yokono | Misuzu Chiba | Norihiro Naganuma | December 24, 2023 | |
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With Fengming's execution, all of her assets were confiscated and family members, relatives and connections were meted varying degrees of corporal punishment. Meanwhile, Maomao is also included in the resulting mass layoffs. Jinshi is torn between keeping her and fearing it might tear them apart even more because he thinks she hated working at the rear palace. Maomao tried negotiating with Jinshi, since she has not fully paid the madam of the Rokushoukan of her debts (and might turn her into a courtesan) but to no avail. Jinshi came to regret his decision a week later, as all it required to keep her was his order (and he is guilt-tripped further by Gyokuyou), as Maomao returned to the brothel, working part-time as a courtesan. It is during a party thrown by a very rich person outside of the brothel where her sisters Meimei, Joka, and Pairin were requested—a rarity given that it is ludicrously expensive to hire even just one of them—that she meets Jinshi again, where their interaction is noticed by, and became the envy of, her three sisters. There he thought of buying her out of the brothel, which Jinshi did a few days later. Maomao has no idea of the events after also seeing Gaoshun in the same party, but it is implied that it is Gaoshun himself who helped throw the party, after asking Lihaku for help in contacting the Rokushoukan. | ||||||
| 13 | "Serving in the Outer Court" Transliteration: "Gaitei Kinmu" (Japanese: 外廷勤務) | Wataru Nakagawa | Yuniko Ayana | Wataru Nakagawa | January 7, 2024 | |
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Maomao returns to the palace, but this time to work in the outer palace, much to her surprise, as she thought she is returning to the rear palace. Gaoshun explained that, because of her being fired, they cannot just restore her former position. Jinshi asks her to keep using her freckle make-up. Gaoshun introduces her to Suiren, one of Jinshi's personal assistants. Suiren later shows her around Jinshi's residence, while Gaoshun later shows her the rest of the outer palace and the public and government offices. Jinshi intends to have her become a court lady, but she fails the required exams despite studying, making her Jinshi's personal assistant. She also has to contend with the jealous court ladies, which she is able to brush off. She still longs for her practice of apothecary, wanting a more suitable, more spartan quarters and workplace (for as long as she has access to a stove and water), which was denied. Later, as she wanders into the rear palace for medicinal herbs and getting scolded by a court lady with the scent of sandalwood mixed with another, distinctively bitter smell for entering a place she should not enter, someone rather mysterious has her in his watchful eye. | ||||||
| 14 | "The New Pure Consort" Transliteration: "Atarashī Yoshihi" (Japanese: 新しい淑妃) | Akira Shimizu Jun Ōwada | Hitomi Ogawa | Wataru Nakagawa | January 14, 2024 | |
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Maomao, on Gyokuyou's recommendation, is tasked with educating the new Pure Consort Loulan and Wise Consort Lihua on "serving" the Emperor. Jinshi formally assigns her the responsibility. The teaching sessions, attended by Gyokuyou and Lishu as well, focus on subject matter featuring materials from the Old Lady at the Rokushoukan. While Gyokuyou and Lihua handle the content well, Lishu (and Hongniang) are overwhelmed, and Loulan remains nonchalant and snobbish. That night, a fire breaks out in a palace building, and Lakan is at the scene to investigate. The next day, Maomao, wandering near the scene of the incident while being sidelined with getting medicinal herbs, impromptu investigates and suspects arson. She discovers an ivory pipe at the site and concludes that a smoldering ember from it caused the explosion in the food warehouse by igniting the floating wheat dust. She tells Lihaku, who is investigating the incident, to tell personnel not to smoke in the food warehouses. The expensive pipe, however, raises suspicions about the perpetrator's identity. | ||||||
| 15 | "Raw Fish" Transliteration: "Namasu" (Japanese: 鱠) | Kentarō Fujita | Yūko Kakihara | Kentarō Fujita | January 21, 2024 | |
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Gaoshun enlists Maomao's help in investigating a case involving a bureaucrat who falls into a coma after consuming raw fugu seasoned with vinegar, similar to an incident ten years ago. Every detail checks out, save for one, leading her to Gaoshun referring him to a man named Basen, who shows her the kitchen where the food was prepared. Despite interference from the bureaucrat's younger brother, Maomao finds the detail that interested her: the seaweed used in the dish, which was imported from the south. She concludes that it was not properly prepared to rid it of its poisons, causing the bureaucrat's coma. The focus shifts to the seaweed's importer, revealed to be the younger brother seeking revenge for ill-treatment in their household. Meanwhile, Jinshi reveals that the high military official Lakan comes complaining to his office about him appointing someone connected to the Rokushoukan as his servant. Lakan mentioned having an acquaintance at the Rokushoukan who, according to him, is a courtesan "who would sell her skills but never herself;" and whose attitude is kind of similar to Maomao's attitude towards Jinshi. And before he goes on, Lakan seeks Jinshi's help in a matter involving Maomao and her problem-solving skills. | ||||||
| 16 | "Lead" Transliteration: "Namari" (Japanese: 鉛) | So Toyama | Misuzu Chiba | So Toyama | January 28, 2024 | |
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Jinshi tasks Maomao with solving a case involving the will of a metalworker acquainted with Lakan who died unexpectedly, willing specific items to his three sons. The will states that the eldest received the metalworking shack, the second a chest with an inaccessible central drawer, and the youngest a glass fishbowl; and with a note about "continuing to do tea parties as usual." Maomao, accompanied by Basen, takes a look at the metalworking shack and, upon inspecting the inaccessible chest, discovers solder blocking the central drawer's keyhole. Using sunlight concentrated with the youngest's inherited fishbowl, she melts the solder and, after opening it with the key the second oldest has, finds another key inside, opening all the drawers to reveal items, including a bluish chunk of crystal. Initially dismissing it as a bad prank their father played on them, the siblings unite upon the youngest's plea. News later reveals that they continued running their father's metalworking business, with the youngest becoming the father's successor, the eldest handling bookkeeping and the second finding clients. Additionally, Maomao links the bluish crystal to the cause of their father's death, as he works with solder all the time, so, after asking a few more questions about their father's condition before his death, she advises the youngest to seek the help of a doctor, namely her father, just in case. That night, Jinshi asks Maomao if she can do makeup for him. | ||||||
| 17 | "A Jaunt Around Town" Transliteration: "Machiaruki" (Japanese: 街歩き) | Kurabu Kadomatsu | Yuniko Ayana | Kurabu Kadomatsu | February 4, 2024 | |
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Jinshi requests Maomao's help in disguising him to appear less attractive for an incognito stroll through town. Maomao employs various methods, including altering his appearance, scent, and voice, even dulling his hair and clothing to mask his muscular physique and overall identity, because he is too beautiful to hide his identity in a simple disguise. During their walk, Jinshi, going by "Jinka," observes Maomao's silence, leading to a conversation about her adoptive father, Luomen. Maomao reveals that Luomen studied abroad, suggesting privilege, revealing his eunuch status, made so due to the previous empress dowager. Jinshi, asking if she knows the regulars at the Rokushoukan, also asks how a courtesan's value decreases. Maomao, bound by confidentiality, hints at the brothel's workings and discloses two ways courtesans lose their value: losing purity halves their worth, while pregnancy reduces it to nothing, shocking Jinshi. | ||||||
| 18 | "Lakan" | Mayu Tanimoto Jun Ōwada | Hitomi Ogawa | Mayu Tanimoto Wataru Nakagawa | February 11, 2024 | |
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After accompanying Jinshi to his destination, Maomao, as she is dressed fancily, refuses to blow his cover and heads home. Back home, She later awakens from a nightmare, which is actually a scene from her infancy. Her adoptive father, Luomen, sends her on an errand to the Rokushoukan, actually to tend to a woman at its annex. The woman is revealed to be Maomao's mother suffering from syphilis, and Luomen's medicines are their only treatment. It is revealed that the Rokushoukan faced shame in the past due to this situation. Lakan, a longtime customer, visits, and Maomao is told to stay hidden while Meimei distracts him. Back at the palace, Suiren gives Maomao an errand to the inner palace pharmacy, where she encounters Suirei, a court lady. Maomao wonders why is Jinshi performing a purification ritual, him "being a eunuch." Later, Lakan expresses interest in Maomao to Jinshi, causing tension as Lakan is out to get her, so as far as him issuing a veiled threat to Jinshi. He tells Maomao that an official named Lakan is to meet her sometime soon. He retracted his statement when Maomao shot her the angriest stare he gave him ever. Later, she wanders around the inner palace again and gathering medicinal herbs when Suirei catches her. It appears that she planted those medicinal plants, allegedly for a resurrection medicine, something Maomao desperately desires. | ||||||
| 19 | "Chance or Something More" | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | February 18, 2024 | |
Reception
Sales
The Apothecary Diaries was the sixth best-selling light novel series in 2019, with 461,024 copies sold;[103] the fifth best-selling light novel series in 2020, with 527,950 copies sold;[104] and the third best-selling light novel series in 2021, with 496,626 copies sold.[105]
By November 2023, the franchise (including the light novel and its two manga adaptations) has 27 million copies in circulation.[106] By January 2024, the franchise had over 31 million copies in circulation.[107]
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", though she criticized it for lacking in mystery elements despite being of the mystery genre.[108] Silverman also gave the second novel a B grade, describing it as being "still an engaging read" and writing: "Maomao is a wonderful, if at times abrasive, heroine who takes no garbage from anyone, and watching her become more and more involved in the life of the court is interesting."[109]
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, and noted several similarities with The Story of Saiunkoku.[110] Silverman gave the second manga volume an overall grade of A−, writing: "The Apothecary Diaries' manga adaptation continues to be an excellent read. The art is beautiful, Maomao's the sort of female character who's actually strong rather than just being a Strong Female Character, and the story has nice continuity."[111]
In 2019, the manga adaptation won the Next Manga Award in the print category.[112] The manga adaptation also ranked fifth on the "Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2020".[113] In 2020, it ranked ninth in the AnimeJapan Most Wanted Anime Adaptation poll.[114]
Notes
References
- ^ "The Apothecary Diaries". Square Enix Manga & Books. Square Enix. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ 薬屋の時代背景について. Shōsetsuka ni Narō (in Japanese). Natsu Hyūga. August 16, 2018. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g 薬屋のひとりごと９ ドラマＣＤ付き限定特装版 (in Japanese). Shufunotomo. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ a b Pineda, Rafael Antonio (February 15, 2023). "The Apothecary Diaries Novels About Palace Intrigue Get 2023 TV Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Mateo, Alex (November 3, 2023). "The Apothecary Diaries Anime's English Dub Reveals Cast, Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ a b Mateo, Alex (July 7, 2023). "The Apothecary Diaries Anime's Teaser Video Reveals New Cast Member, October Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 1, 2023). "The Apothecary Diaries Anime's Main Promo Video Reveals More Cast, Theme Song Artists". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- ^ Fuentes, Seth [@sethfuentesvo] (December 2, 2023). "🌟 New @Crunchyroll Character!🌟 I'm honored to join #TheApothecaryDiaries cast as Lihaku! This show is stunning and hilarious, and I'm ecstatic to have worked with Kuya @ReadyKafka on Ep 6 & @StimacD on Ep 7. HUZZAH!! 🔥🍻" (Tweet). Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 8, 2023). "The Apothecary Diaries Anime Casts Noriko Hidaka as Fengming". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ Gann, Shawn [@ReadyKafka] (January 7, 2024). "Kanan is @_katlozano Fengming is #SallyVahle" (Tweet). Retrieved January 15, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 25, 2023). "The Apothecary Diaries Anime's New Video Previews 2nd Part, Reveals New Cast". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ Gann, Shawn [@ReadyKafka] (21 January, 2024). "Some fantastic voices have been added to the tincture: @KenneishaT as Suiren @V_LauxVA as Suirei And sharp ears may have caught @RiccoFajardo as a mysterious, Go-playing gentleman…" (Tweet). Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Twitter.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Laux, Veronica [@V_LauxVA] (21 January, 2024). "Delighted to be joining the cast of The Apothecary Diaries as Suirei 🪷 Looking forward to learning more about her, but for now keeping an eye on a suspicious new figure 🤨 #TheApothecaryDiaries" (Tweet). Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Twitter.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (January 12, 2024). "The Apothecary Diaries Anime Casts Kouki Uchiyama". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ Nguyen, Charles [@CharlesNguyenVA] (28 January, 2024). "Hey guys, what's goin' on?! I play Rikuson in episode 14 of the English dub of Apothecary Diaries! It's such a HUGE privilege to be a part of this awesome show! :D Special thanks to @ReadyKafka and @GoSay_Audio for having me!" (Tweet). Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Twitter.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (February 9, 2024). "The Apothecary Diaries Anime Casts Houko Kuwashima". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ 薬屋のひとりごと (in Japanese). Shufunotomo. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 14, 2020). "J-Novel Club Adds 5 Light Novels, 2 Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ Savill, Joel (October 20, 2023). "Square Enix announce license for Apothecary Diaries light novels". Comics Beat. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ 薬屋のひとりごと (in Japanese). Shufunotomo. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ "The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 1". Rakuten Kobo. J-Novel Club. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ "The Apothecary Diaries (LIGHT NOVEL), Volume 1". Square Enix. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ 薬屋のひとりごと２ (in Japanese). Shufunotomo. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ "The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 2". Rakuten Kobo. J-Novel Club. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ 薬屋のひとりごと３ (in Japanese). Shufunotomo. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ "The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 3". Rakuten Kobo. J-Novel Club. Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ 薬屋のひとりごと４ (in Japanese). Shufunotomo. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ "The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 4". Rakuten Kobo. J-Novel Club. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- ^ 薬屋のひとりごと５ (in Japanese). Shufunotomo. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ "The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 5". Rakuten Kobo. J-Novel Club. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ^ 薬屋のひとりごと６ (in Japanese). Shufunotomo. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ "The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 6". Rakuten Kobo. J-Novel Club. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
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External links
- Web novel at Shōsetsuka ni Narō (in Japanese)
- Light novel official website (in Japanese)
- Manga official website at Monthly Big Gangan (in Japanese)
- Manga official website at Monthly Sunday Gene-X (in Japanese)
- Manga official website at Square Enix Manga & Books
- Anime official website (in Japanese)
- The Apothecary Diaries (light novel) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
Categories:
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- 2023 anime television series debuts
- 2012 Japanese novels
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