The latest seasonal visual for The Apothecary Diaries has been released, highlighting Maomao and Chou-u (formerly known as Kyou-u) harvesting some fresh summer fruits and vegetables under a hot sunny day. It is the second visual released, as part of a “Chapter 2” slate of new seasonal visuals for the series.
A sequel of the anime series was announced this past July, shortly after the conclusion of the anime’s second season. Season two premiered in Japan in January 2025, while the first season premiered in 2023. Both ran for two consecutive cours.
The second season featured some returning staff from the first season. Norihiro Naganuma (Season 1 director and series screenwriter) is credited as chief director and screenwriter, with Akinori Fudesaka (Season 1 assistant director) as director, Ko Nakagawa (Season 1 Episode 6, 13, and 19 storyboard artist and director, Episode 24 director) as assistant director, Yukiko Nakatani as character designer, Misato Aida as color designer, Katsumi Takao as background art director, and Mayo Suzuki (The Apothecary Diaries project PV) as compositing director. TOHO animation STUDIO and OLM were in charge of the animation production for the second season.
Satoru Kosaki (Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-), Kevin Penkin (Made in Abyss), and Alisa Okehazama (The God of High School) are the music composers.
Meanwhile, the main voice cast for the second season starred Aoi Yuki as Maomao, Takeo Otsuka as Jinshi, and Asami Seto as Shisui, among others.
The anime is based on the light novel series written by Natsu Hyuga and illustrated by Toko Shino. It was first published by Shufunotomo’s Hero Bunko imprint on August 29, 2014 and has released 16 physical volumes as of May 2025. J-Novel Club releases the light novels in English digitally for North America, while Square Enix publishes the series in print.
The series began as a Shosetsuka ni Naro web novel in October 2011. It was later republished by Shufunotomo as a single volume under its Ray Books imprint.
A manga adaptation illustrated by Nekokurage was released in May 2017 and another manga was launched by Minoji Kurata in August 2017. Square Enix licensed the first manga series for release in English.
Another spinoff manga titled The Apothecary Diaries: Xiaolan’s Story debuted on Square Enix’s Manga Up! service on March 23, 2025.
Crunchyroll is streaming both seasons of The Apothecary Diaries worldwide, outside of Japan. It describes the synopsis of the second season as:
When a favored concubine becomes pregnant, Maomao is put to the test as her food taster. She must keep her wits sharp, not only to protect the concubine but also against rising dangers in the palace. A new concubine with powerful ties, an unsolved attempt at Jinshi’s life, and a foreign envoy with impossible demands hint at a grand conspiracy poised to engulf the empire.
Sources: The Apothecary Diaries Official Twitter, Crunchyroll News
