The Apothecary Diaries

Season 1
Season 2

1st Poster
2nd Poster
3rd Poster

Teaser
1st Poster
2nd Poster

Japanese

薬 (くすり) 屋 (や) のひとりごと

Rōmaji

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto

Title

Apothecary's Monologue

English

The Apothecary Diaries

Information

Genre

Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Historical, Medical, Mystery, Romance, Slice of Life, Thriller

Media

Anime

Author

Natsu Hyūga (Hero Bunko / Imagica Infos Publication)

Character Draft by

Touko Shino

Character Design by

Yukiko Nakatani

Screenplay by

Norihiro Naganuma

Directed by

Norihiro Naganuma

Studio

TOHO Animation Studio × OLM

Network

Nippon TV & Affiliates

Licensed by

Crunchyroll

Original Run

Season 1：October 21, 2023^[1] – March 23, 2024
Season 2：January 10, 2025 - ???^[2]^[3]

Blu-Ray Volumes

Season 1：4
Season 2：4

Episodes

Season 1：24
Season 2：24

The Apothecary Diaries (薬屋のひとりごと, Kusuriya no Hitorigoto^?), is an anime adaptation based on the The Apothecary Diaries light novel series of the same name written by Natsu Hyūga. It is directed by Norihiro Naganuma at TOHO Animation and OLM. Its first season premiered on October 21, 2023^[1] and ran for 24 episodes to March 23, 2024. On March 23, 2024 (airing of final episode of first season), a second season was announced to premiere via the official website and TOHO Animation's YouTube channel. On October 22, 2024, the second season of the anime premiered on January 10, 2025.^[2]^[3]^[4] The second season was expected to get at least an English dub at some point^[5] which turned out to start on January 24, 2025.^[6]

Staff[]

Director：Norihiro Naganuma^[ANN] (S1),^[7] Akinori Fudesaka^[ANN] (S2)^[8]
- Chief Director：Norihiro Naganuma^[9]
Series Composition：Norihiro Naganuma (S1^[7] & S2)^[8]
Script: Hitomi Ogawa^[ANN] (S1^[10] & S2),^[9] Misuzu Chiba^[ANN] (S1^[10] & S2),^[9] Yuniko Ayana^[ANN] (S1),^[10] & Yūko Kakihara^[ANN] (S2 ep 1)^[9]
Assistant Director：Akinori Fudesaka (S1),^[7] Wataru Nakagawa^[ANN] (S2)^[8]
Character Design：Touko Shino & Yukiko Nakatani^[ANN] (S1^[7] & S2)^[8]
Storyboard: Norihiro Naganuma (S1 OP1, ED2, & 11 ep);^[10] Katsuya Kikuchi^[ANN] (S1 ED1),^[10] Kyōhei Ishiguro (S1 OP2);^[10] individual episodes:^[10] China^[ANN] (S1 ep 4), Akinori Fudesaka (S1 ep 5), Wataru Nakagawa (S1 ep 6, 13, 19), Kentarō Fujita^[ANN] (S1 ep 8, 15), Kazuya Nomura^[ANN] (S1 ep 10, 23), Sō Toyama^[ANN] (S1 ep 16), Kurabu Kadomatsu^[ANN] (S1 ep 17), Mayu Tanimoto^[ANN] (S1 ep 18), Masako Sato^[ANN] (S1 ep 21), & Erkin Kawabata^[ANN] (S1 ep 22)
Art Director：Katsumi Takao^[ANN] (S1^[7] & S2)^[8]
Color design：Misato Aida^[ANN] (S1^[7] & S2)^[8]
CGI Director：Yū Nagai^[ANN] (S1^[7] & S2)^[8]
Director of Photography：Rumi Ishiguro^[ANN] (S1),^[7] Mayo Suzuki^[ANN] (S2)^[8]
Editor：Daisuke Imai^[ANN] (S1^[7] & S2)^[8]
Sound Director：Shōji Hata^[ANN] (S1^[7] & S2)^[8]
Music：Satoru Kōsaki^[ANN] (S1 & S2),^[9] Kevin Penkin^[ANN] (S1 & S2),^[9] Arisa Okehazama^[ANN] (S1^[7] & S2)^[8]

Dub Staff[]

Season 1 only, unless otherwise noted.

ADR Director：Shawn Gann^[ANN] (S1 & S2)^[6]
Producer：Susie Nixon^[ANN] (S2)^[6]
Assistant Producer：Colleen Clinkenbeard^[ANN]
ADR Dub Script：Clayton Browning^[ANN] (S1 & S2),^[6] Kieran Flitton^[ANN]
ADR Engineer：Katie Saltkill^[ANN], Tina Son^[ANN], August Cline (S2)^[6]
ADR Mix Engineer：William Dewell^[ANN] (S1 & S2)^[6]

Cast[]

Seiyuu/voice actor links are to Seiyuu Wiki (JP) or Anime Voice-Over Wiki and for Season 1 & 2 unless otherwise indicated.

Maomao:
- Aoi Yuki (JP)
- Emi Lo (EN)
Jinshi:
- Takeo Ōtsuka (JP)
- Kaiji Tang (EN)
Gaoshun:
- Katsuyuki Konishi (JP)
- Alex Hom (EN)
Gyokuyou:
- Atsumi Tanezaki (JP)
- Molly Zhang (EN)
Lihua:
- Yui Ishikawa (JP)
- Trina Nishimura (EN)
Lishu:
- Hina Kino (JP)
- Reshel Mae (EN)
Ah-Duo:
- Yuko Kaida (JP)
- Monica Rial (EN)
Meimei:
- Megumi Han (JP)
- Rebecca Danae (EN)
Pairin:
- Ami Koshimizu (JP)
- Ciarán Strange (EN)
Joka:
- Hiroki Nanami (JP)
- Monica Flatley (EN)
Madam:
- Kimiko Saitō (JP)
- Wendy Powell
Luomen:
- Hiroshi Yanaka (JP)
- Stephen Miller (EN)

Xiaolan:
- Misaki Kuno (JP)
- Bree Han (EN)
Guen (Quack Doctor):
- Mitsuaki Kanuka (JP)
- Jim Foronda (EN)
Lihaku:
- Kenji Akabane (JP)
- Seth Fuentes (EN)
Basen:
- Tatsumaru Tachibana (JP)
- Edward Escamilla (EN)
Lakan:
- Takuya Kirimoto (JP)^[wp]
- Ricco Fajardo (EN)
Suiren:
- Mika Doi (JP)
- Kenneisha Thompson (EN)
Fengxian
- Hōko Kuwashima (JP)
- Caitlin Glass (EN)
Shisui
- Asami Seto (JP)
- Suzie Yeung (EN; S2)^[6]
Hongniang
- Megumi Toyoguchi (JP)
- Giovannie Cruz (EN)^[6]
Ailan
- Misa Ishii (JP)
- Naya Moreno (EN)^[6]
Guiyuan
- Takako Tanaka^[wp]
- Kelly Greenshield (EN)^[6]
Yinghua
- Rie Hikisaka
- Kelsey Maher/Cruz (EN)^[6]

Lingli
- Atsumi Tanezaki
- Monica Piskor (EN)^[6]
Emperor
- Daichi Endō
- Alex Mai (EN)^[6]
Ukyou
- Yoshiaki Hasegawa^[ANN] (JP)
- Oscar Seung (EN; S2)^[6]
Ayla
- Lynn^[11] (JP; S2)
Aylin
- Yumi Hara^[11] (JP; S2)
Haku-u
- Satomi Satō^[12] (JP; S2)
Koku-u
- Hitomi Ueda^[wp]^[12] (JP; S2)
Seki-u
- Miku Itō^[12] (JP; S2)
Narration:
- Sumi Shimamoto (JP)
- Monica Rial (EN)

Visual introduction to notable characters[]

^e

Click [More] to see more info... →

From the official Twitter: @kusuriya_PR

Maomao (CV: Aoi Yuki)

She used to work as an apothecary in the red light district, but now works as a servant in the imperial palace.

She has an abnormal obsession with poisons and medicines.

Due to her natural curiosity and sense of justice, she becomes involved in a certain incident, which completely changes her fate.

Jinshi (CV: Takeo Ōtsuka)

An official with great power in the imperial harem.

If he were a woman, he would be so beautiful that he would be said to bring down a nation.

After a certain incident, he notices Maomao's "ability" and selects her as a maid to the emperor's consort.

Xiaolan (CV: Misaki Kuno)

She is a maid around the harem and is good friends with Maomao.

She likes to gossip and is very talkative.

She is not educated, but she has a strong desire to improve herself.

Lady Gyokuyou (CV: Atsumi Tanezaki)

She is said to be the most favored by the emperor.

She is one of the four senior consorts.

After a certain incident, she takes on Maomao as a maid.

Lady Lihua (CV: Yui Ishikawa)

The current emperor's consort and one of his four wives, the "Wise Consort."

She lost her son to a "curse" rumored to be in the harem, and has fallen ill herself.

She is haggard due to her illness, but she is actually a dignified woman, the polar opposite of Empress Gyokuyou.

Gaoshun (CV: Katsuyuki Konishi)

A military officer who keeps an eye on Jinshi.

He is diligent, considerate, and trustworthy.

He has a "healing type" personality.

In the harem, he works as an official, just like Jinshi.

Lady Ah-Duo (CV: Yuko Kaida)

The first consort of the current emperor and the oldest of the four senior consorts, she is known as the "Pure Consort."

She has an androgynous aura and behaves like a beautiful woman dressed as a man, making her popular within the palace.

She has had a relationship with consort Lishu since the time of the previous emperor.

Lady Lishu (CV: Hina Kino)

"Virtuous Consort" is one of the four consorts of the current emperor.

Because she is still young, she has little knowledge of the customs and practices of the harem, let alone how to behave herself.

As a result, she is looked down upon by her maids.

Songs[]

Season 1 music[]

^e

Opening Theme：
- 1st：Hana ni Natte by "Ryokuoushoku Shakai (aka "Ryokushaka")" ^(website) [from episode 1 to episode 12]
- 2nd：Ambivalent by "Uru" ^(website) [from episode 13 to episode 24]
Ending Theme：
- 1st：Aikotoba by "AiNA THE END" ^(website) [from episode 1 to episode 12]
- 2nd：Ai wa Kusuri by "wacci" ^(website) [from episode 13 to episode 24]
Insert Songs
- Omoi Kaze by "Yuiko Ōhara" [The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit (season 1, episode 3)]
- Ashita wo Tazunete by "XAI" [Suicide or Murder? (season 1, episode 9)]
- Setchūka by "Kanako Kishi" [The Eunuch and the Courtesan (season 1, episode 12)]
- Sōkū no Honō by "Daichi Takenaka" [Chance or Something More (season 1, episode 19)]
- Omoi Saku Toki by "Aoiema" [Jinshi and Maomao (season 1, episode 24)]

Season 2 music[]

^e

Opening Theme
- 1st：In Bloom^[13]^[14]^[15] by "Lilas Ikuta" ^(website)
Ending Theme
- 1st：Shiawase no Recipe^[16]^[17] by "Dai Hirai" ^(website)

Episodes[]

Anime premiered on October 21st @ 25:05 (aka., October 22nd @ 1:05 AM) in Japan, with first three episodes airing together as a special.

Crunchyroll is simulcasting episodes on streaming and showing the release date for subtitled episodes based on their Japanese style premiere date (night of, not morning of)
- For cour 1 (ep 1 to 12), Crunchyroll started releasing the dub for the first 3 episodes on November 4, 2023^[18] hoping with subsequent dub to release roughly 1 week after the initial batch, but it turned out to be closer to 2 weeks on average.

Season 1[]

^e

#	Title	Air Date (JP) (1:05 AM)	Dub Date (EN)	Blu-ray
1	*Maomao* (猫猫, Maomao)	October 22, 2023	November 4, 2023^[18]	Volume 1
2	*Chilly Apothecary* (無愛想な薬師, Buaisōna Kusushi)	October 22, 2023	November 4, 2023^[18]
3	*The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit* (幽霊騒動, Yūrei Sōdō)	October 22, 2023	November 4, 2023^[18]
4	*The Threat* (恫喝, Dōkatsu)	October 29, 2023	November 11, 2023^[19]
5	*Covert Operations* (暗躍, An'yaku)	November 5, 2023	November 18, 2023^[20]
6	*The Garden Party* (園遊会, En'yūkai)	November 12, 2023	December 2, 2023^[21]
7	*Homecoming* (里帰り, Satogaeri)	November 19, 2023	December 2, 2023^[22]	Volume 2
8	*Wheat Stalks* (麦稈, Mugiwara)	November 26, 2023	December 9, 2023^[23]
9	*Suicide or Murder?* (自殺か他殺か, Jisatsu ka Tasatsu ka)	December 3, 2023	December 16, 2023^[24]
10	*Honey* (蜂蜜, Hachimitsu)	December 10, 2023	January 6, 2024^[25]
11	*Reducing Two to One* (二つを一つに, Futatsu wo Hitotsu ni)	December 17, 2023	January 13, 2024^[26]
12	*The Eunuch and the Courtesan* (宦官と妓女, Kangan to Gijo)	December 24, 2023	January 13, 2024^[27]
13	*Serving in the Outer Court* (外廷勤務, Gaitei Kinmu)	January 7, 2024	January 20, 2024^[28]	Volume 3
14	*The New Pure Consort* (新しい淑妃, Atarashī Shuku-hi)	January 14, 2024	January 27, 2024^[29]
15	*Raw Fish* (膾, Namasu)	January 21, 2024	February 3, 2024^[30]
16	*Lead* (鉛, Namari)	January 28, 2024	February 10, 2024^[31]
17	*A Jaunt Around Town* (街歩き, Machiaruki)	February 4, 2024	February 17, 2024^[32]
18	*Lakan* (羅漢, Rakan)	February 11, 2024	February 24, 2024^[33]
19	*Chance or Something More* (偶然か必然か, Gūzen ka Hitsuzen ka)	February 18, 2024	March 2, 2024^[34]	Volume 4
20	*Thornapple* (曼荼羅華, Mandarake)	February 25, 2024	March 9, 2024^[35]
21	*How to Buy Out a Contract* (身請け作戦, Miuke Sakusen)	March 3, 2024	March 16, 2024^[36]
22	*Blue Roses* (青い薔薇, Aoi Sōbi)	March 10, 2024	March 23, 2024^[37]
23	*Balsam and Woodsorrel* (鳳仙花と片喰, Hōsenka to Katabami)	March 17, 2024	March 30, 2024^[38]
24	*Jinshi and Maomao* (壬氏と猫猫, Jinshi to Maomao)	March 24, 2024	April 6, 2024^[39]

Season 1 mini[]

These are "mini" (< 2 min) chibi episodes streamed on YouTube.^[40] ^e

Click [More] to see more info... →

#	Title	Release Date (JP)	Duration
1	"Powder" (おしろい, Oshiroi^?)	Oct 23, 2023	1:37
2	"Chocolate" (巧克力, Chokorēto^?)	Oct 23, 2023	1:29
3	"Cotton Rose" (芙蓉, Fuyō^?)	Oct 23, 2023	1:15
4	"Steam Bath" (蒸気風呂, Jōki Furo^?)	Oct 30, 2023	1:51
5	"Ginger and Tangerine Candy" (生姜と蜜柑の飴, Kyō to Mikan no Ame^?)	Nov 6, 2023	1:37
6	"Inedible" (食べられないも, Taberarenai Mo^?)	Nov 13, 2023	1:48
7	"Wakes You Up???" (眠気覚まし？？？, Nemukezamashi? ? ?^?)	Nov 20, 2023	1:49
8	"Charcoal" (炭, Sumi^?)	Nov 27, 2023	1:44
9	"Nandina" (南天, Nanten^?)	Dec 4, 2023	1:29
10	"Torikabuto's Flower and Nectar" (鳥兜の花と蜜, Torikabuto no Hana to Mitsu^?)	Dec 11, 2023	1:46
11	"Renge Azalea" (蓮華躑躅, Renge Tsutsuji^?)	Dec 18, 2023	1:36
12	"Corpse Fungus" (冬虫夏草, Tōchū Kasō^?)	Dec 25, 2023	1:32
13	"Pheromones" (フェロモン, Feromon^?)	Jan 8, 2024	1:32
14	"Flour" (小麦粉, Komugiko^?)	Jan 15, 2024	1:28
15	"Seaweed" (海藻, Kaisō^?)	Jan 22, 2024	1:28
16	"Lead" (鉛, Namari^?)	Jan 29, 2024	1:27
17	"Delusion" (妄想, Mōsō^?)	Feb 6, 2024	1:13
18	"Herbs" (薬草, Yakusō^?)	Feb 12, 2024	1:50
19	"Bezoar" (牛黄, Goō^?)	Feb 19, 2024	1:49
20	"Potato" (芋, Imo^?)	Feb 26, 2024	1:48
21	"Plum" (梅, Ume^?)	Mar 4, 2024	1:28
22	"Blue Roses" (青薔薇, Ao Sōbi^?)	Mar 11, 2024	1:37
23	"Balsam and Woodsorrel" (鳳仙花と片喰, Hōsenka to Katabami^?)	Mar 18, 2024	1:33
24	"Gossip" (噂話, Uwasabanashi^?)	Mar 25, 2024	2:01

Season 2[]

^e

#		Title	Air Date (JP) (11:40 PM)	Dub Date (EN)	Blu-ray
25	1	*Maomao and Maomao* (猫猫と毛毛, Maomao to Maomao)	January 10, 2025	January 24, 2025^[6]	Volume 1
26	2	*Caravan* (隊商, Caravan)	January 17, 2025	January 31, 2025^[41]
27	3	*Corpse Fungus* (冬人夏草, Tōjin Kasō)	January 24, 2025	February 7, 2025^[41]
28	4	*Mirrors* (鏡, Kagami)	January 31, 2025	February 14, 2025^[41]
29	5	*Moon Fairy* (月精, Gessei)	February 7, 2025	February 21, 2025^[41]
30	6	*The Crystal Pavilion, for the Third Time* (みたび、水晶宮, Mitabi, Suishōgū)	February 14, 2025	February 28, 2025^[41]
31	7	*The Shrine of Choosing* (選択の廟, Sentaku no Byō)	February 21, 2025	March 7, 2025^[41]	Volume 2
32	8	*The Empress Dowager* (皇太后, Kōtaigō)	February 28, 2025	March 14, 2025^[41]
33	9	*The Late Emperor* (先帝, Sentei)	March 7, 2025	March 21, 2025^[41]
34	10	*A Ghost Story* (怪談, Kaidan)	March 14, 2025	March 28, 2025^[41]
35	11	*The Hunt* (狩り, Kari)	March 21, 2025	April 4, 2025^[41]
36	12	*Ka Zuigetsu* (華瑞月, Ka Zuigetsu)	March 28, 2025	April 11, 2025^[41]
37	13		April 4, 2025	April 18, 2025^[41]	Volume 3
38	14		April 11, 2025	April 25, 2025^[41]
39	15		April 18, 2025	May 2, 2025^[41]
40	16		April 25, 2025	May 9, 2025^[41]
41	17		May 2, 2025	May 16, 2025^[41]
42	18		May 9, 2025	May 23, 2025^[41]

Season 2 mini[]

These are "mini" (< 2 min) chibi episodes episodes streamed on YouTube. ^e

Click [More] to see more info... →

#	Overall	Title	Release Date (JP)	Duration
1	25	"Calico Cat" (三毛猫, Mikeneko^?)	Jan 13, 2025	1:54
2	26	"Thornapple" (曼荼羅華, Mandarage^?)	Jan 20, 2025	1:49
3	27	"Mushroom" (茸, Take^?)	Jan 27, 2025	1:52
4	28	"Bear Bile" (熊胆, Yūtan^?)	Feb 3, 2025	1:50
5	29	"Moth" (蛾, Ga^?)	Feb 10, 2025	1:49
6	30	"Lizard" (トカゲ, Tokage^?)	Feb 17, 2025	1:57
7	31	"Master Jinshi’s Monologue" (壬氏さまのひとりごと, Jinshi-sama no Hitorigoto^?)	Feb 24, 2025	1:51
8	32	"Bell Cricket" (鈴虫, Suzumushi^?)	Mar 3, 2025	1:48