The Apothecary Diaries

Name: The Apothecary Diaries
Genre: Animation, Drama, Mystery
Released: 2023-10-22
Rating: 8.7
Cast: Aoi Yuki, Takeo Otsuka, Katsuyuki Konishi

RETURNING1 Season53 Episodes★ 8.7

The Apothecary Diaries is an animated drama series on Nippon TV that premiered in 2023, with 1 season and 53 episodes to date. The next episode, Season 1 Episode 53, airs on Oct 30, 2026.

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NetworkNippon TV

First AiredOct 22, 2023

Last AiredOct 23, 2026

GenreAnimation, Drama, Mystery

Runtime23 min

Original Title薬屋のひとりごと

LanguageJapanese

CountryJapan

ProductionOLM, TOHO animation STUDIO, TOHO

Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she's sold as a lowly servant to the emperor's palace. But she wasn't meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she's making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!

NEXT EPISODE

S1 E53The White-Snake ImmortalOct 30, 2026Airing now

WHERE TO WATCH

Some links may earn us a commission. Data via JustWatch / TMDB

Cast

Aoi Yuki

Maomao (voice)

Takeo Otsuka

Jinshi (voice)

Katsuyuki Konishi

Gaoshun (voice)

Seasons & Episodes1 season · 60 episodes

0% complete

E1Maomao

Oct 22, 202323m★ 7.8

After being kidnapped and forced to work as a servant in the rear palace, former apothecary Maomao inadvertently draws the attention of the higher ranks when she investigates what's causing the emperor's infant heirs to fall mysteriously ill.

E2Chilly Apothecary

Oct 22, 202323m★ 7.2

Maomao tries to settle into her promotion to lady-in-waiting and food taster, but struggles to fend off both boredom and the overly-familiar Jinshi. That is, until she gets an assignment of her dreams: to concoct an aphrodisiac.

E3The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit

Oct 22, 202323m★ 7.1

Tasked with investigating a ghostly woman dancing nightly on the palace walls, Maomao finds a sleepwalking Concubine Fuyou. But with no medicinal cure for sleepwalking, she's forced to dig deeper to find the real reason behind Fuyou's affliction.

E4The Threat

Oct 29, 202323m★ 8.0

Under direct orders from the emperor himself, Maomao tries to care for an ailing Concubine Lihua, but finds her work impeded by Lihua's own ladies-in-waiting.

E5Covert Operations

Nov 5, 202323m★ 7.5

A eunuch stricken by a curse comes begging for aid. Meanwhile, the rear palace buzzes with excitement as everyone prepares for the upcoming garden party, and Gyokuyou's ladies-in-waiting aren't about to let Maomao get away without dressing her up.

E6The Garden Party

Nov 12, 202323m★ 8.0

Maomao does her best to navigate the complex social situations at the garden party, including meeting the other Upper First rank concubines. But once she settles down to do her work as a food-taster, she discovers a surprise in a bowl of soup.

E7Homecoming

Nov 19, 202323m★ 7.5

Gaoshun goes to Maomao to get her help in resolving the events of the garden party. Later, Xiaolan explains the purpose of the hairpins Maomao was gifted, and Maomao makes a deal with Lihaku in order to finally visit home.

E8Wheat Stalks

Nov 26, 202323m★ 7.3

Maomao's peaceful morning at home is interrupted when she's called in to investigate an apparent double suicide at one of the local brothels.

E9Suicide or Murder?

Dec 3, 202323m★ 7.5

An older acquaintance of Jinshi's dies while drinking at a party. A servant's body turns up in a moat. Both deaths are written off as self-inflicted, but Maomao's keen observations tell her that there's more to both stories.

E10Honey

Dec 10, 202323m★ 8.0

A tea party hosted by Lady Gyokuyou puts the politics of the rear palace at the forefront, and Maomao learns something new about Lady Lishu. His true intentions unclear, Jinshi sends Maomao to work for Lady Ah-Duo.

E11Reducing Two to One

Dec 17, 202323m★ 7.1

Maomao confronts Fengming about the dark secret she's been hiding from her noble Lady Ah-Duo.

E12The Eunuch and the Courtesan

Dec 24, 202323m★ 6.8

Discovering that Maomao's kidnappers were connected to Fengming's family, Jinshi is faced with a choice between keeping Maomao in the rear palace where he can be near her or releasing her from her service.

E13Serving in the Outer Court

Jan 7, 202423m★ 7.5

To Maomao's surprise, Jinshi brings her directly to his house instead of taking her back to the rear palace, and tells her she's to work in the outer court. Not only is there much to learn, it seems there's many eyes on her as the new hire.

E14The New Pure Consort

Jan 14, 202423m★ 7.5

Ah-Duo's replacement has arrived in the rear palace, and Maomao is assigned to give a certain lecture to all four high concubines. Later, Maomao helps Lihaku investigate a warehouse explosion.

E15Raw Fish

Jan 21, 202423m★ 7.0

Gaoshun requests Maomao's help in solving an apparent poisoning case. Meanwhile, Jinshi deals with an unwelcome visitor who's taken to lingering in his office.

E16Lead

Jan 28, 202423m★ 7.3

A shack, a chest of drawers, and a fishbowl are all that a talented metalworker leaves to his three sons upon his death. Maomao is assigned to investigate how these strange inheritances all fit together.

E17A Jaunt Around Town

Feb 4, 202423m★ 7.8

Covering up Jinshi's otherworldly beauty is no easy task, but after Maomao takes the challenge head-on, she's surprised when she's also asked to don the disguise of a noblewoman and escort "Jinka" outside the palace.

E18Lakan

Feb 11, 202423m★ 7.8

Back at home, Maomao visits an annex building at the Verdigris House that hides one of the brothel's secrets. Lakan continues to antagonize Jinshi as his connection to Maomao becomes clear.

E19Chance or Something More

Feb 18, 202423m★ 8.2

A discussion with Lihaku about recent events leads Maomao to realize that the mysteries she's helped to solve are connected. As the final piece of the puzzle falls into place, she rushes to stop impending disaster.

E20Thornapple

Feb 25, 202423m★ 7.9

Maomao was able to stop the assassination attempt, but was heavily injured in the process. However, the injuries aren't enough to stop her curiosity, driving her to confront the culprit behind the incident.

E21How to Buy Out a Contract

Mar 3, 202423m★ 7.7

Back to work at the rear palace, Maomao listens to Guen talk about his family's business. Meanwhile, Lihaku hears a rumor that whips him into action.

E22Blue Roses

Mar 10, 202423m★ 7.8

Lakan challenges Jinshi to produce blue roses to present at the upcoming garden party, forcing Jinshi to turn once again to Maomao for her help.

E23Balsam and Woodsorrel

Mar 17, 202423m★ 8.0

No longer willing to keep running away from Lakan, Maomao decides to face off against him. She challenges him on his own turf, in a chess match.

E24Jinshi and Maomao

Mar 24, 202423m★ 8.1

Lakan must now choose a courtesan to buy out. As a high-ranking military official, he can afford to freely choose, even from one of the Three Princesses. Who will he choose? Who does Maomao really want him to choose?

E25Maomao and Maomao

Jan 10, 202524m★ 8.2

The spring garden party concludes without incident. Maomao returns to her regular life as Concubine Gyokuyou’s taster. Meanwhile, novels become popular in the rear palace. Maomao wonders how this came to be, as novels were typically considered low-class. But behind the scenes lies Jinshi and his goals as manager of the rear palace.

E26Caravan

Jan 17, 202524m★ 7.9

The caravan stirs up excitement in the inner palace. The merchants bring all kinds of goods. However, something gives Maomao a bad feeling.

E27Corpse Fungus

Jan 24, 202524m★ 7.6

A concubine passes away, and a woman goes missing. Jinshi sends Maomao to investigate - not these incidents, but mushrooms growing in the rear palace.

E28Mirror

Jan 31, 202524m★ 7.2

The special envoy from a foreign land gifts mirrors - a rarity in this country - to the high concubines. However, they bring mysteries as well.

E29The Moon Fairy

Feb 7, 202524m★ 8.2

In order to realize the seemingly impossible request from the foreign envoy, Maomao speaks to the “Moon Fairy” herself.

E30The Crystal Pavilion, for the Third Time

Feb 14, 202524m★ 8.2

The woman from the clinic finds out that Maomao knows a thing or two about medicine, and asks for her help.

E31The Shrine of Choosing

Feb 21, 202524m★ 8.1

Maomao directs her curiosity towards an old, oddly-shaped building.

E32The Empress Dowager

Feb 28, 202524m★ 8.1

Maomao's reputation for resolving conflicts reaches the empress dowager, who will ask for her help to unravel a mystery that won't leave her mind.

E33The Late Emperor

Mar 7, 202524m★ 8.5

Maomao's investigation of the "curse" reveals more about the late emperor than anticipated.

E34A Ghost Story

Mar 14, 202524m★ 6.8

Maomao joins some women exchanging scary stories on a hot summer night to provide chills.

E35The Hunt

Mar 21, 202524m★ 8.4

Jinshi goes on a hunting trip, and brings Maomao along. He seems ready to share his secret with her.

E36Ka Zuigetsu

Mar 28, 202524m★ 7.9

Maomao discovers Jinshi's secret. She wants nothing to do with whatever the politics behind it is.

E37The Baths

Apr 4, 202524m★ 6.9

Xiaolan's term of service is almost up, so she must find a new job. Maomao and Shisui decide to help.

E38The Dancing Ghost

Apr 11, 202524m★ 7.6

Concubine Lishu reports sightings of a ghost in the baths in her pavilion. Maomao goes to investigate.

E39Ice

Apr 18, 202524m★ 8.1

Xiaolan accidentally ruins an expensive block of ice. Maomao comes up with a delicious backup plan.

E40Festering Resentment

Apr 25, 202524m★ 8.2

Luomen returns to the rear palace. His observations trigger Maomao's curiosity.

E41The Fox Village

May 2, 202524m★ 8.1

Suirei smuggles Maomao and Shisui out of the rear palace. Jinshi begins to search for Maomao.

E42Lantern Plant

May 9, 202524m★ 8.5

Maomao has been missing for ten days now. Jinshi's investigations lead him to a forgotten graveyard.

E43Festival

May 23, 202524m★ 7.8

The village holds a festival. Maomao attends, and Shisui introduces some of the village's history to her.

E44The Stronghold

May 30, 202524m★ 8.2

Maomao is taken to a mountain stronghold, where many of the secrets of the Shi clan are revealed to her.

E45Taibon

Jun 6, 202524m★ 7.1

Maomao is accused of attempting to escape, and is tossed into an ancient method of torture and execution.

E46Royal Guard

Jun 13, 202524m★ 8.4

The royal guard, led by Jinshi, arrives, sealing the Shi clan's fate. Maomao wants to save her friend, Shisui.

E47The Shi Clan

Jun 27, 202524m★ 8.1

Jinshi and his forces infiltrate the stronghold, cornering the remaining Shi clan members.

E48The Beginning

Jul 4, 202524m★ 8.3

After the war, Jinshi's work piles up and Maomao returns to the pleasure district.

E49Locusts

Oct 2, 202624m★ 7.5

A locust plague is looming, and mysteriously, a book on insects belonging to the Shi clan appears.

E50The Fire-Rat Cloak

Oct 9, 202624m★ 7.5

An interesting cloak points Maomao's imagination towards international politics.

E51Let Them Eat Cake

Oct 16, 202624m★ 7.5

Maomao treats a sick girl, but food poisoning and malnutrition are not the true problems that need solving.

E52The Last Volume

Oct 23, 202624m★ 7.2

Trying to track down the missing final book, Maomao visits Suirei, who is now living with Ah-Duo.

E53The White-Snake Immortal

Oct 30, 202624m

Maomao's stepbrother Lahan takes her to a popular show that may be more than just entertainment.

E54

E54The Paper VillageUPCOMING

Nov 6, 2026

E55

E55Episode 55UPCOMING

Nov 13, 2026

E56

E56Episode 56UPCOMING

Nov 20, 2026

E57

E57Episode 57UPCOMING

Nov 27, 2026

E58

E58Episode 58UPCOMING

Dec 4, 2026

E59

E59Episode 59UPCOMING

Dec 11, 2026

E60

E60Episode 60UPCOMING

Dec 18, 2026

About The Apothecary Diaries

The Apothecary Diaries is an animation, drama, mystery series on Nippon TV. The show first aired on Oct 22, 2023 and currently has 1 season and 53 episodes. The Apothecary Diaries is currently airing; the next episode airs on Oct 30, 2026. It has a rating of 8.7/10 based on 693 votes. The cast includes Aoi Yuki, Takeo Otsuka, Katsuyuki Konishi.