Maomao is back! Fans of the series have had to wait since July 2025 for more of Maomao and Jinshi’s adventures, but the wait is almost over. For those new to the series, The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) is set in an ancient China-inspired setting where a cute girl with advanced medical knowledge solves murders. It’s a fun time for everyone, except the murder victims and their killers.
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The Apothecary Diaries News, Cast, Staff
Maomao begins her new case on October 2nd, 2026. Akinori Fudesaka serves as the director, Kazuharu Sato reigns as the writer, Yukiko Nakatani designs the characters, and Shoji Hata provides the tense anime music. yorushika performs the opening theme song “Kumo o Nukekazashimo e Watashidake” (I Am Alone, Breaking Through the Clouds Downwind).
The Best Girl healer, her main supporter, and the mysterious pale woman are as follows:
- Maomao — Aoi Yoki (Tsuyu Asui from My Hero Academia). Maomao is a skilled medicine woman and keen detective.
- Jinshi — Takahiro Sakurai (Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII). Jinshi is an influential eunuch who operates behind the scenes to safeguard the Emperor.
- Sotei — Reina Ueda (Sonia from Spy x Family). Sotei is a mysterious woman who purports to use magic.
Studio OLM will animate the anime adaptation, which has an official website and Twitter (X) accounts promoting The Apothecary Diaries. You can find more information about the series and the key visuals at those sites.
The Pale Woman Writes Her Entry into The Apothecary Diaries
For readers and watchers keeping track at home, Season 3 will cover light novel volumes 3 and 4, and manga volumes 8 through 15. That means I have a ton of catching up to do before Season 3 premieres. Seems like she’ll be dealing with biblical troubles from now on.
You saw the trailer: those look like locusts swarming the land and going after Jinshi. That’s the eighth plague right there. The pale woman might be the best version of Revelation 6:8, but she’s not on a horse, nor does she seem to wield a sword. Regardless, the anime has done a fine job of adapting the source material thus far, even after OLM took over for Toho. I really can’t wait to see what comes of that swarm of locusts.
A Closer Look at The Apothecary Diaries
The Apothecary Diaries novel summary:
In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there.
Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That’s her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao’s façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor’s favorite consort… so she can taste the lady’s food for poison!
Hyuganatsu released the original The Apothecary Diaries on the user-generated website Shosetsuka ni Naro on October 27th, 2011. Megumi Matsuda provided the art for the novel adaptation, which debuted on September 26th, 2012. Shufunotomo published this iteration in the Ray Books imprint. Touko Shino provided the art for the light novel adaptation, which debuted on August 29th, 2014. Shufunotomo has published sixteen volumes in the Shufunotomo imprint.
Itsuki Nanao helped write, and Nekokurage provided the art for the manga adaptation, which debuted on May 25th, 2017. Square Enix has published seventeen volumes in Monthly Big Gangan. Minoji Kurata wrote and illustrated the Maomao’s Notes on the Inner Palace manga adaptation, which debuted on August 19th, 2017. Shogakukan has published 22 volumes in Monthly Sunday Gene-X. Itsuki Nanao provided the art for the Xiaolan’s Story manga adaptation, which debuted on March 23rd, 2025. Square Enix has published one volume in Manga Up!.
Toho Animation Studio’s anime adaptation premiered on October 22nd, 2023.
Will you watch the Season 3 premiere of The Apothecary Diaries in October? Have you read the manga or novel? Which imperial consort is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
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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!
