The Apothecary Diaries (manga)

Were you looking for The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao's Rear Palace Mystery-Solving Notebook manga or the spinoff Side Story: Xiaolan's Memories?

Illus. by Nekokurage
Promo illus.

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

Demographic

Seinen

Media

Manga

Author

Natsu Hyūga

Illustrated by

Nekokurage

Art by

Nekokurage
Assistants: Waka Takase,^[1] Rie Shiroi,^[1] 105,^[1] Asaha,^[1] Shura Yamada,^[2] Hamano,^[1] Kai Kazaha,^[3] Tomiko,^[3] Izumi^[4]

Compiled by

Itsuki Nanao

Character Design by

Touko Shino

Published by

Square Enix (Monthly Big Gangan)

Licensed by

Square Enix Manga & Books

Original Run

May 25, 2017 – present

Volumes

15

Chapters

79+

The Apothecary Diaries (薬 (くすり) 屋 (や) のひとりごと, Kusuriya no Hitorigoto^?) is the manga adaptation of the light novel series of the same name and the first manga adaptation of the The Apothecary Diaries franchise. The story writer is Natsu Hyūga, the artist is Nekokurage, the compiler (adapted writing?) is Itsuki Nanao and the character designer is Touko Shino. It began publication in Monthly Big Gangan on May 25th, 2017.

Plot[]

There is a certain large country in the central plains of the mainland. In the imperial court of its emperor, there is a girl. Her name is Maomao, a pharmacist from the pleasure district, currently working as a maidservant in the inner palace. The girl, surely not considered a beauty, is keeping a low-profile waiting for her contract to end. She was confident that she would not be 'visited" by the emperor. During that, she learned about the short lives of the children of the emperor. Maomao, hearing that the two surviving children are critically ill, begins her investigation for the cause—.

Set in the middle ages of the East, the “Food Taster” girl continues to solve difficult cases in the imperial court one after another.

Volumes[]

Volume 1[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
1	September 25, 2017	978-4-06-388690-0	December 8, 2020	978-1-64609-070-9
Chapter list: 001. The Curse of the Inner Court (後宮の呪い, Kōkyū no Noroi^?) 002. The Mad Scientist (狂科学者 (マッドサイエンティスト) , Maddo Saientisuto^?) 003. The Heavenly Maiden of the Court (宮中の天女, Kyūchū no Tennyo^?) 004. The Moonlight Ghost (月下の幽霊, Gekka no Yūrei^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 2[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
2	February 24, 2018	978-4-7575-5640-9	February 9, 2021	978-1-64609-071-6
Chapter list: 005. Caring for the Consort (看病, Kanbyō^?) 006. The Garden Banquet ① (園遊会 (その①), Enyūkai (Sono Ichi)^?) 007. The Garden Banquet ② (園遊会 (その②), Enyūkai (Sono Ni)^?) 008. The Garden Banquet ③ (園遊会 (その③), Enyūkai (Sono San)^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 3[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
3	July 25, 2018	978-4-7575-5794-9	September 21, 2021	978-1-64609-072-3
Chapter list: 009. Maomao's Deductions (猫猫 (マオマオ) の推理, Maomao no Suri^?) 010. The Meaning of the Hairpins (簪の意味, Kanzashi no Imi^?) 011. Returning Home (里帰り, Satogaeri^?) 012. Straw (麦稈, Mugiwara^?) 013. The Misunderstanding (誤解, Gokai^?) 014. Alcohol (酒, Sake^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 4[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
4	February 25, 2019	978-4-7575-5963-9	December 28, 2021	978-1-64609-073-0
Chapter list: 015. A Request for Maomao (猫猫 (マオマオ) への依頼, Maomao e no Irai^?) 016. Honey ① (蜂蜜その①, Hachimitsu Sono Ichi^?) 017. Honey ② (蜂蜜その②, Hachimitsu Sono Ni^?) 018. Consort Aduo (阿多 (アードゥオ) 妃, Āduo-hi^?) 019. Miscommunication (すれ違い, Surechigai^?) 020. The Eunuch and the Courtesan (宦官と妓女, Kangan to Gijo^?) 021. Packing Up (荷造り, Nizukuri^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 5[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
5	July 25, 2019	978-4-7575-6216-5	July 12, 2022	978-1-64609-074-7
Chapter list: 022. Working in the Outer Court (外廷勤務, Gaitei Kinmu^?) 023. The Inner Court Classroom (後宮教室, Kōkyū Kyōshitsu^?) 024. The Smoking Pipe (煙管, Kiseru^?) 025. A Dish of Raw Fish (鱠, Namasu^?) 026. Lead (鉛, Namari^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 6[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
6	March 25, 2020	978-4-7575-6581-4	September 13, 2022	978-1-64609-086-0
Chapter list: 027. Makeup (化粧, Keshō^?) 028. A Walk Through the City (街歩き, Machiaruki^?) 029. Syphilis (梅毒, Baidoku^?) 030. Suirei (翆苓, Suirei^?) 031. Just a Coincidence? (偶然か必然か, Gūzen ka Hitsuzen ka^?) 032. The Ritual (中祀, Chūshi^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 7[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
7	November 25, 2020	978-4-7575-6856-3	December 13, 2022	978-1-6460-9120-1
Chapter list: 033. Thorn Apple (曼荼羅華, Mandarake^?) 034. Gao Shun (高順 (ガオシュン) , Gaoshun^?) 035. To the Inner Court Once More (後宮ふたたび, Kōkyū Futatabi^?) 036. Blue Roses and Red Nails (青薔薇と爪紅, Aosōbi to Tsumakurenai^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 8[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
8	May 25, 2021	978-4-7575-7271-3	July 11, 2023	978-1-6460-9134-8
Chapter list: 037. Rose Balsam and Wood Sorrel ① (鳳仙花と片喰 (前編), Hōsenka to Katabami (Zenpen)^?) 038. Rose Balsam and Wood Sorrel ② (鳳仙花と片喰 (中編), Hōsenka to Katabami (Chūhen)^?) 039. Rose Balsam and Wood Sorrel ③ (鳳仙花と片喰 (後編), Hōsenka to Katabami (Kōhen)^?) 040. Send-Off (見送り, Miokuri^?) 041. Books (書, Sho^?) 042. Cat (猫, Neko^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 9[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
9	November 25, 2021	978-4-7575-7586-8	August 8, 2023	978-1-6460-9135-5
Chapter list: 043. The Caravan (隊商 (キャラバン) , Kyaraban^?) 044. Corpse Fungus ① (冬人夏草 (前編), Tōjin Kasō (Zenpen)^?) 045. Corpse Fungus ② (冬人夏草 (後編), Tōjin Kasō (Kōhen)^?) 046. Mirrors (鏡, Kagami^?) 047. The Moon Fairy ① (月精 (前編), Gessei (Zenpen)^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 10[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
10	June 23, 2022	978-4-7575-7985-9	November 7, 2023	978-1-6460-9136-2
Chapter list: 048. The Moon Fairy ② (月精 (後編), Gessei (Kōhen)^?) 049. The Clinic (診療所, Shinryōjo^?) 050. A Third Turn at the Crystal Palace ① (みたび、水晶宮 (前編), Mitabi, Suishō-kyū (Zenpen)^?) 051. A Third Turn at the Crystal Palace ② (みたび、水晶宮 (中編), Mitabi, Suishō-kyū (Chūhen)^?) 052. A Third Turn at the Crystal Palace ③ (みたび、水晶宮 (後編), Mitabi, Suishō-kyū (Kōhen)^?) 053. The Shrine of Choosing ① (選択の廟 (前編), Sentaku no Byō (Zenpen)^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 11[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
11	February 25, 2023	978-4-7575-8324-5	February 6, 2024	9781-6-460-9252-9
Chapter list: 054. The Shrine of Choosing ② (選択の廟 (後編), Sentaku no Byō (Kōhen)^?) 055. The Empress Dowager (皇太后, Kōtaigō^?) 056. The Late Emperor ① (先帝 (前編), Sentei (Zenpen)^?) 057. The Late Emperor ② (先帝 (中編), Sentei (Chūhen)^?) 058. The Late Emperor ③ (先帝 (後編), Sentei (Kōhen)^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 12[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
12	September 29, 2023	978-4-7575-8813-4	September 3, 2024	978-1-64-609296-3
Chapter list: 059. Ghost Stories (怪談, Kaidan^?) 060. Summer Retreat (避暑地, Hishochi^?) 061. The Hunt ① (狩り (前編), Kari (Zenpen)^?) 062. The Hunt ② (狩り (中編), Kari (Chūhen)^?) 063. The Hunt ③ (狩り (後編), Kari (Kōhen)^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 13[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
13	March 25, 2024	978-4-7575-9027-4	March 4, 2025	978-1-6460-9347-2
Chapter list: 064. The Veiled Noble (覆面の御方, Fukumen no Okata^?) 065. The Bathhouse (湯殿, Yudono^?) 066. Seki-u (赤羽, Sekiu^?) 067. The Dancing Ghost (踊る幽霊, Odoru Yūrei^?) 068. The Rumored Eunuchs and Ice (噂の宦官と氷菓 (アイス) , Uwasa no Kangan to Aisu^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 14[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
14	September 25, 2024	978-4-7575-9027-4	N/A	N/A
Chapter list: 069. Breech Baby (逆子, Sakago^?) 070. Festering Malice ① (巣食う悪意 (前編), Sukū Akui (Zenpen)^?) 071. Festering Malice ② (巣食う悪意 (後編), Sukū Akui (Kōhen)^?) 072. The Fox and the Tanuki Clash (狐と狸の化かし合い, Kitsune to Tanuki no Bakashiai^?) 073. Tracing Steps (足跡, Sokuseki^?) 074. The Fox Village (狐の里, Kitsune no Sato^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English

Volume 15[]

#	Japanese		English
#	Release date	ISBN	Release date	ISBN
15	March 25, 2025	978-4-7575-9769-3	N/A	N/A
Chapter list: 075. Lantern Plants (鬼灯, Hōzuki^?) 076. Festival (祭り, Matsuri^?) 077. Trade Site (取引現場, Torihiki Genba^?) 078. Fortress (砦, Toride^?)			Cover character(s): Maomao	Japanese English