Joseph Luster
January 20, 2024 
The anime effect on source material continues and is more evident than ever in The Apothecary Diaries. The original novel series by Natsu Hyuga and Touko Shino is now up to over 31 million copies in circulation, which means it has added seven million copies since the premiere of the anime adaptation in October 2023.
Prior to the premiere, the series had around 24 million copies in circulation.
The anime is being made at TOHO and OLM, with Norihiro Naganuma, who worked on the first season of The Ancient Magus’ Bride, helming the project as director as well as taking on the scripts. Three different people are composing the music: Satoru Kousaki of Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-, Kevin Penkin of Made in Abyss, and finally Arisa Okehazama of ONIMAI: I’m Now Your Sister! Credit for character design goes to Yukiko Nakatani, who has worked on Go! Princess Precure, Tropical-Rouge! Precure.
The light novels are published digitally in America by J-Novel Club. The publisher gave this description for the plot:
“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!”
Besides an anime adaptation, the series also has an ongoing manga adaptation. This is being published in America by Square Enix Manga & Books.
