©日向夏・イマジカインフォス／「薬屋のひとりごと」製作委員会 The newest seasonal visual for The Apothecary Diaries has been unveiled, showcasing Maomao and Chou-u (previously known as Kyou-u) gathering fresh summer produce on a hot sunny day. This marks the second visual released as part of a “Chapter 2” series of new seasonal visuals for the show.
 is credited as chief director and screenwriter, while Akinori Fudesaka (Season 1 assistant director) takes on the role of director. Ko Nakagawa (Season 1 Episode 6, 13, and 19 storyboard artist and director, Episode 24 director) serves as assistant director, and Yukiko Nakatani returns as character designer. Misato Aida is the color designer, with Katsumi Takao as background art director, and Mayo Suzuki (The Apothecary Diaries <a href=)
project PV) acting as the compositing director. The animation production for the second season was handled by TOHO animation STUDIO and OLM.Satoru Kosaki (Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-), Kevin Penkin (Made in Abyss), and Alisa Okehazama (The God of High School) composed the series’ music.
Meanwhile, the primary voice cast for the second season includes Aoi Yuki as Maomao, Takeo Otsuka as Jinshi, and Asami Seto as Shisui, among others.
The anime adapts the light novel series created by Natsu Hyuga and illustrated by Toko Shino. It was first published by Shufunotomo’s Hero Bunko imprint on August 29, 2014, with 16 physical volumes released by May 2025. J-Novel Club distributes the light novels digitally in English for North America, while Square Enix publishes the series in print.
The series began as a Shosetsuka ni Naro web novel in October 2011. Later, it was republished by Shufunotomo as a single volume under its Ray Books imprint.
A manga adaptation illustrated by Nekokurage debuted in May 2017, followed by another manga launched by Minoji Kurata in August 2017. Square Enix acquired the first manga series for English release.
A new spinoff manga titled The Apothecary Diaries: Xiaolan’s Story was released on Square Enix’s Manga Up! service on March 23, 2025.
©日向夏・イマジカインフォス／「薬屋のひとりごと」製作委員会Crunchyroll is streaming both seasons of The Apothecary Diaries across the globe, excluding Japan. It summarizes the plot of the second season as follows:
When a favored concubine becomes pregnant, Maomao is tested as her food taster. She must remain sharp-witted not just to safeguard the concubine but also to counter rising threats in the palace. A new concubine with strong connections, an unresolved attempt on Jinshi’s life, and a foreign envoy making unreasonable demands suggest a vast conspiracy set to engulf the empire.
Sources: The Apothecary Diaries Official Twitter, Crunchyroll News
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