There’s never been a better time to be a fan of The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) and its eccentric main character, Maomao. Season 3 of the anime started airing last week. In December, the original film The Deceased Empress’ Treasure will arrive in Japanese cinemas. Maomao is also getting a video game adaptation from Gust, the developers behind the Atelier franchise (which, funnily enough, got an anime adaptation in Atelier Ryza).
Today on the J-List blog, we’re celebrating our love of all things The Apothecary Diaries with a Maomao cosplay. Let’s take a deeper look at this clever, beguiling poison tester!
It’s a very special time for us at J-List, because 30 years ago this week, we started the first anime and hentai shop selling to fans around the world. And we’ve been able to make it this far thanks to our wonderful customers. We’re celebrating with a huge 20% sale on all in-stock Japan products, through October 7th. Start browsing now!
What’s The Apothecary Diaries All About?
If you’re new to The Apothecary Diaries, then you’re in for an excellent adventure full of mystery. Inspired by Imperial China, the series mostly takes place in the ‘rear palace’ (inner court) of the Emperor.
Maomao works as a poison taster for the Emperor’s Consorts — convenient, given her, quite frankly, concerning obsession with chemicals and poisons! Her natural curiosity and medical knowledge drag her into the machinations of the Imperial elite, including Jinshi, the eunuch who administers the rear palace.
The slow-burn romance between Maomao and Jinshi doesn’t show any signs of speeding up soon, and we’re not sure how Jinshi manages it. Just look at how captivating Maomao is in these cosplays!
(Right) Anastasia Komori’s Maomao embodies the true beauty of Imperial China!
(Right) Pixie’s authentic cosplay transports us right into the Rear Palace!
What’s the Cat Say?
Maomao’s name is a constant source of lighthearted jokes and nicknames throughout the series. She’s skittish, people-shy, and fiercely independent — traits much like her namesake animal. Maomao famously dislikes cats, though…just like real cats!
In Japanese, her name is spelled with the kanji 猫猫 (nekoneko) and written in katakana as マオマオ, the onomatopoeia for a cat’s meow. For a fun language-learning fact, in Japan, a cat’s meow is spelled as nyaa or nyan, and “Cat Day” is celebrated on February 22 for three ni in a row (2/22).
Now — onto the cosplay that captures Maomao’s most catlike expressions and habits!
(Right) Maomao is definitely sampling a poison in Murrning_Glow’s cosplay.
The Success Behind Maomao (and Her Cosplay)
Who doesn’t love big numbers getting bigger? It works for freemium games and public valuations of AI companies, so why not blog posts?
The Apothecary Diaries has been such a commercial success that, as of August 2026, the light novel and its manga adaptations have a staggering 57 million copies in circulation. That makes it the second best-selling light novel series of all time, just behind That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. The series shifted roughly 12 million copies in the last year alone!
Clearly, The Apothecary Diaries is an unstoppable force at this point, from page to screen and beyond! And it’s easy to see why, with these devilishly attractive cosplays of Maomao. And if you’re looking for even spicier Maomao content, check out this Apothecary Diaries doujin, where Maomao gets her own much-deserved massage treatment!
(Right) This Maomao by izanamitan would steal the heart of any Emperor!
It’s Elementary, My Dear Jinshi
So, what do you think about Maomao and The Apothecary Diaries? Are you joining us as we explore the mysteries of the Imperial Court? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading!
Let’s Chat
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It’s a very special time for us at J-List, because 30 years ago this week, we started the first anime and hentai shop selling to fans around the world. And we’ve been able to make it this far thanks to our wonderful customers. We’re celebrating with a huge 20% sale on all in-stock Japan products, through October 7th. Start browsing now!
