A live stream celebrating the anniversary of the anime adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) revealed some exciting news, including a key visual and a teaser video.
It was announced that the second season of the anime will premiere on January 10, 2025, at 11:00 p.m. JST (9:00 a.m. EST) on Nippon TV’s FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT.
This season is set to air for two consecutive cours, meaning it will run for about six months. Fans can also look forward to streaming on Crunchyroll.
The first season of The Apothecary Diaries began airing in October 2023, starting with the first three episodes. It was also split into two cours, with the second part premiering on January 6.
Crunchyroll streamed the series as it aired in Japan and offered an English dub, making it accessible to a wider audience.
The popularity of the first season has set high expectations for the upcoming second season. The anime is directed by Norihiro Naganuma, who is known for his work on The Ancient Magus’ Bride season one.
He oversaw the script for the first season, ensuring the adaptation stayed true to the source material. Akinori Fudesaka served as the assistant director, while Yukiko Nakatani handled character design.
Sound direction was managed by Shoji Hata, and the musical score was a collaborative effort by Satoru Kousaki, Kevin Penkin, and Arisa Okehazama.
The Apothecary Diaries follows the story of Maomao, a seemingly ordinary girl raised in a small town by her father, who is an apothecary.
Her life takes a dramatic turn when she is kidnapped and sold into service in the rear palace, where the emperor’s consorts and serving women reside.
Despite her humble background, Maomao possesses a sharp mind and extensive knowledge of medicine, which she keeps hidden until she meets Jinshi, the head eunuch of the palace.
Jinshi quickly realizes Maomao’s intelligence and unique skills, leading him to appoint her as a lady-in-waiting to the emperor’s favorite consort.
Her main task is to taste the consort’s food for poison, which places her in a dangerous yet intriguing position within the palace.
The story explores themes of intrigue, power dynamics, and Maomao’s growth as she handles the complexities of her new life.
The light novel series was first serialized by Natsu Hyuga on the Shosetsuka ni Naro website in October 2011, gaining popularity before it was published in print by Shufunotomo starting in August 2014.
An ongoing manga adaptation by Nekokurage began in May 2017, with Square Enix Manga & Books releasing both the manga and the light novels in English.
This multi-platform success showcases the widespread appeal of The Apothecary Diaries and its engaging story.
