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The Apothecary Diaries
The Apothecary Diaries anime continues with Season 3, which premiered on October 2, 2026 and streams on Crunchyroll and Netflix, while a live-action series is set for 2028 on Prime Video and a film opens in Japan in December 2026.
Synthesized from 30
Yomimono stories · updated
20h ago
The Apothecary Diaries franchise has expanded beyond its original light novel and manga into a multi-format operation, with a third anime season, a theatrical film, a console and PC game, and a live-action series all moving forward. The most recent stories center on the Season 3 premiere, which opened on October 2, 2026 and moved Maomao out of the Rear Palace and back to the pleasure district after her dismissal as a poison taster, while Jinshi publicly revealed himself as the Emperor's younger brother and joined government affairs. Crunchyroll streams the season at 8 a.m. PT, and Netflix also carries it. The season is split into two cours, with the second set for April 2027.
Ahead of the premiere, the production rolled out separately. The credits-free opening video, set to Yorushika's "Kumo wo Nuke Kaze Shita e Watashi Dake," arrived on October 2, and a Blu-ray release is scheduled to run to four volumes beginning February 17, 2027. Advance cuts from Episode 49, titled "Locusts," were released on October 1. A trailer on September 25 previewed Eve's ending theme "AIYOU" and showed Maomao and Jinshi confronting a new mystery involving a disaster threatening the country and a mysterious woman.
The adaptation side has widened as well. Koei Tecmo announced a mystery game, The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, during the September 9 Nintendo Direct, with release planned for early 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. A live-action series from Amazon Prime Video, co-produced by TOHO and Amazon MGM Studios, is set for 2028 with Mana Ashida as Maomao and Yuki Saito directing, and the December 11 film, The Apothecary Diaries: The Movie - The Consort's Secret Treasure, remains on schedule.
Key facts
- Season 3 premiere
- October 2, 2026, with the episode titled Locusts ↗
- Streaming
- Crunchyroll (8 a.m. PT) and Netflix ↗
- Second cour
- Set for April 2027 ↗
- Film
- The Apothecary Diaries: The Movie - The Consort's Secret Treasure, scheduled for December 11 ↗
- Live-action series
- Prime Video in 2028, Mana Ashida as Maomao, directed by Yuki Saito, written by Erika Yoshida, co-produced by TOHO and Amazon MGM Studios ↗
- Game
- The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, developed by Koei Tecmo Games' Gust brand and TOHO Games, for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam in early 2027 ↗
- Opening theme
- Yorushika's "Kumo wo Nuke Kaze Shita e Watashi Dake" ↗
- Ending theme
- Eve's "AIYOU" ↗
- Animation studio
- Studio OLM, directed by Akinori Fudesaka ↗
- Author health
- Natsu Hyuuga hospitalized, withdrew from Overload NZ convention on September 26-27 ↗
Timeline
- Oct 2, 2026 Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Opens With Maomao Back in the Pleasure District
- Oct 2, 2026 The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Opens With Yorushika Credits-Free Video, Blu-ray in 2027
- Oct 1, 2026 The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Releases Episode 49 Cuts Ahead Of October 2 Premiere
- Oct 1, 2026 Apothecary Diaries and REJURAN Cosmetics Announce Pop-Up Event
- Sep 30, 2026 Prime Video Lists October 2026 Lineup, Led by The Exit 8 and Sakamoto Days
- Sep 26, 2026 The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Trailer Previews Eve's Ending Song AIYOU
- Sep 22, 2026 Aoi Yuki Shares Dubbing Stories For The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 And Film
- Sep 21, 2026 Apothecary Diaries Author Natsu Hyuuga Hospitalized, Withdraws From Overload NZ Appearance
- Sep 20, 2026 Apothecary Diaries Game Shows Gathering And Mystery Solving At TGS2026
- Sep 17, 2026 The Failure at God School Manga Gets TV Anime Adaptation
- Sep 17, 2026 Koei Tecmo Details The Apothecary Diaries Game At Tokyo Game Show
- Sep 15, 2026 Crunchyroll Sets Fall 2026 Anime Streaming Schedule
- Sep 14, 2026 Apothecary Diaries Rubber Mascots Of Maomao Open For Preorder
- Sep 9, 2026 The Apothecary Diaries Gets New Mystery Game for Consoles, PC
- Sep 7, 2026 Manta Adds 300+ Manga Titles From KADOKAWA and Square Enix
- Sep 6, 2026 Kingdom Volume 80 Tops Oricon's August 2026 Comic Ranking
- Sep 3, 2026 Mana Ashida On Playing Maomao: Greatest Happiness, Says Live-Action Lead
- Sep 3, 2026 The Apothecary Diaries Live-Action Series Set for 2028, Mana Ashida Stars as Maomao
- Sep 2, 2026 The Apothecary Diaries Maomao Joins OSHI WORKS Mini Figure Line
- Sep 2, 2026 The Apothecary Diaries x jouetie Collab Preorders Open September 4
- Aug 30, 2026 Apothecary Diaries Maomao and Jinshi Narrate New Enkin Collaboration Videos
- Aug 29, 2026 The Apothecary Diaries Teams With VASARA and Kabukiza for Kimono Campaign
- Aug 27, 2026 Kotobukiya Launches OSHI WORKS Mini Figures With Maomao and Persona Heroes
- Aug 27, 2026 TOYRISE Reveals Shoji Kawamori Items for Tokyo Toy Show 2026
- Aug 27, 2026 ABSOLUTE ACT Strike Freedom Gundam Debuts at TOKYO Toy Show 2026
- Aug 18, 2026 Fall 2026 Sequels: Catch Up on Apothecary Diaries, Blue Box, Black Clover
- Aug 15, 2026 The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Sets October 2 Premiere, Yorushika Opening
- Aug 12, 2026 Ibaraki AR Photo Project Brings The Apothecary Diaries Characters to Summer Spots
- Aug 9, 2026 The Apothecary Diaries Seasons 1 and 2 Stream Free on TVer Ahead of Season 3
- Aug 8, 2026 Ramen Revisited Leads Amazon Kindle Manga Ranking for July 31
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Release
- movie · December 2026 · 2026-06-02
- Release
- tv · October 2026 first cours and April 2027 second cours · US · 2026-10-04
- Release
- live_action · February 10 to June 30, 2027 · Japan · 2026-10-03
- Release
- tv · October 2026 · 2026-06-02
- Release
- tv · 2026-10-02 · 2026-10-02
- Release
- tv · October 2 · Japan · 2026-10-02
- Release
- tv · 2026-10-02 · Japan · 2026-08-15
- Release
- tv · 2026-10-03 · 2026-09-30
- Release
- tv · October 2, 2026 · 2026-09-03
- Release
- tv · April 2027 · 2026-09-21
- Release
- tv · September 25, 2026 · 2026-09-26
- Release
- movie · December 2026 · Japan · 2026-09-26
- Release
- movie · December 11 · 2026-08-30
- Release
- tv · Oct 2, 2026 · 2026-09-21
- Release
- movie · December · 2026-09-21
- Release
- tv · 2026 · 2026-09-14
- Release
- movie · 2026 · 2026-09-14
- Release
- live_action · 2028 · worldwide · 2026-09-03
- Release
- manga · May 2017 · 2026-09-03
- Announced
- all-new Universal Studios Japan attraction opening February 10, 2027 (Universal Studios Japan) · 2026-10-04
- Announced
- collaboration with Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, running through October 31 · 2026-10-04
- Announced
- returns for a second USJ collaboration after 2025 (Universal Cool Japan 2027) · 2026-10-03
- Announced
- Blu-ray series runs to four volumes from February 17, 2027 · 2026-10-02
- Announced
- Advance cuts from Episode 49, titled "Locusts," of The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 · 2026-10-01
- Announced
- collaboration pop-up event with REJURAN COSMETICS · 2026-10-01
- Announced
- live-action series adaptation · 2026-09-03
- Announced
- two new deformed figures in the OSHI WORKS Mini series: Maomao and Maomao (Garden Party Ver.) · 2026-09-02
- Announced
- collaboration items with jouetie · 2026-09-02
- Announced
- preorders open September 4, 2026 · 2026-09-02
- Announced
- general release in early October 2026 · 2026-09-02
- Licensed by
- Crunchyroll (global) · 2026-10-02
- Licensed by
- Netflix (global) · 2026-10-02
- Licensed by
- Crunchyroll (fall 2026) · 2026-09-15
- Licensed by
- Manta (global) · 2026-09-07
- Licensed by
- Amazon Prime Video (worldwide) · 2026-09-03
- Noted
- visitors solve mysteries tied to the brand's c-PDRN ingredient alongside protagonist Maomao · 2026-10-01
- Noted
- Six campaign-limited products go on sale at the venue, ranging from 2,750 yen to 12,540 yen · 2026-10-01
- Noted
- event participation requires an advance lottery reservation by Tuesday, October 6 · 2026-10-01
- Noted
- 57 million copy property · 2026-09-17
- Noted
- live-action adaptation · 2026-09-03
Connections
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/the-apothecary-diaries.
CC BY 4.0.
Claim activity
When a claim about The Apothecary Diaries was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against
open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.
- Confirmed all-new Universal Studios Japan attraction opening February 10, 2027 10h ago · source
- Confirmed tv October 2026 first cours and April 2027 second cours US 21h ago · source
- Confirmed collaboration with Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, running through October 31 21h ago · source
- Confirmed platform: Netflix; region: global 2d ago · source
- Confirmed tv 2026-10-02 2d ago · source
- Confirmed tv April 2027 Sep 27 · source
- Confirmed tv 2025-01 Sep 27 · source
- Confirmed Eve scored by The Apothecary Diaries Sep 27 · source
- Confirmed movie December 2026 Japan Sep 27 · source
- Debunked tv September 25, 2026 Sep 27 · source
- Disputed tv April 2027 Sep 22 · source
- Confirmed movie December Sep 22 · source
All coverage
1h ago
Kadokawa is running an all-volumes-free fair for Mine Yoshizaki's manga Sgt. Frog on October 1 and 2, 2026, ending at 23:59 each day. Volumes 1 through 35 are readable at no cost on BOOK☆WALKER, BookLive, honto, Rakuten Kobo, au Book Pass, Reader Store, DMM Books, Comic Cmoa, LINE Manga, ebookjapan, Piccoma, and U-NEXT. The promotion is timed to the new Sgt. Frog anime, which begins airing Saturday, October 3, 2026. The manga has run in Monthly Shonen Ace since 1999 and is still ongoing. It follows an alien frog from Planet Keron who arrives to invade Earth, is captured by the Hinata siblings Fuyuki and Natsumi, and ends up living with the family as a lodger. A theatrical anime screened in June 2026. The fair notes that store end times, prices, and eligible products may differ by retailer.
20h ago
Universal Studios Japan and The Apothecary Diaries announced on Thursday that the anime is returning to the park with an all-new attraction. It opens February 10, 2027 and is set during the events of The Apothecary Diaries movie, which opens this December. The two sides previously collaborated from July 1, 2025 to January 4, 2026 with a Mystery Walk attraction and three limited-time dishes.
1d ago
Kura Revolving Sushi Bar announced a collaboration with The Apothecary Diaries on Thursday, running through October 31. It adds two limited-time dishes, Maomao's Soy Ginger Wonton Noodles and Jinshi's Fried Tuna Roll with purple panko, plus Bikkura Pon prizes including acrylic charms, magnet bookmarks, and sticker rolls. Dine-in guests earn prizes at 15 plates, 25 plates, and every 15 plates after. Rewards members get chopsticks and a cloth case at US$85 or more.
1d ago
Universal Studios Japan will hold its Universal Cool Japan 2027 event in stages starting December 2, 2026. The first lineup announcement is a Sailor Moon collaboration tied to the park's 25th anniversary. Sailor Moon the Miracle 4-D ~Moon Palace Edition Deluxe~ returns as a theater show, and Sailor Moon x Story Ride runs for the first time. Both run December 2 to April 5, 2027. The second announcement is The Apothecary Diaries, which returns for a second USJ collaboration after 2025. Its new program runs February 10 to June 30, 2027 and is a full renewal of the 2025 Mystery Walk, tied to the film The Apothecary Diaries: The Secret Treasure of the Departed Consort, which opens December 11. Universal Studios Japan says original food and goods are planned, with details to be announced later.
1d ago
Singer-songwriter Eve has announced his move from Toy's Factory to Echoes, the Sony Music label that is also home to YOASOBI and Tatsuya Kitani. His first release after the transfer is "AIYOU," the ending theme for the first cour of The Apothecary Diaries Season 3. The song goes to streaming services at midnight on October 2, ahead of the anime's first broadcast that same day at 11:00 PM on Nippon TV's 30-station FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT block. Yorushika handles the opening theme. Season 3 shifts the story from the inner palace to the city streets, with the first cour running from October 2026 and the second from April 2027. The second promotional video centers on Jinshi, now back in his position as the Emperor's younger brother, facing a calamity and a mysterious celestial maiden, and was released alongside the theme announcement.
2d ago
The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 begins on Oct. 2, 2026 with an episode titled Locusts. Maomao has been dismissed as a poison taster and returns to life as an apothecary in the pleasure district, while Jinshi has publicly revealed himself as the Emperor's younger brother and joined government affairs. Crunchyroll streams the season at 8 a.m. PT, with Netflix also carrying it.
2d ago
The credits-free opening video for The Apothecary Diaries season 3 is out, set to Yorushika's opening theme "Kumo wo Nuke Kaze Shita e Watashi Dake." The season starts October 2 on Nippon TV's Friday Anime Night block. The Blu-ray series runs to four volumes from February 17, 2027, with the fourth volume carrying the August 17 stage reading as a bonus disc.
3d ago
Advance cuts from Episode 49, titled "Locusts," of The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 have been released ahead of the show's October 2 premiere on Nippon TV's FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT slot. The episode follows Maomao and Zhaoyu after simmered locusts are served at the Verdigris House. A non-credit opening video for Yorushika's "Kumo wo Nuke Kashou e Watashi Dake" is also scheduled for October 2 at 18:00.
3d ago
The Apothecary Diaries and REJURAN COSMETICS are holding a collaboration pop-up event where visitors solve mysteries tied to the brand's c-PDRN ingredient alongside protagonist Maomao. Six campaign-limited products go on sale at the venue, ranging from 2,750 yen to 12,540 yen, each with purchase bonuses such as a pouch, acrylic stand, headband, compact mirror, or acrylic keychain. A web mystery-solving experience runs alongside, and event participation requires an advance lottery reservation by Tuesday, October 6.
5d ago
Amazon published the Prime Video slate for October 2026 on September 30, and the month is carried by Japanese film. The Exit 8, the live-action adaptation of KOTAKE CREATE's 2023 anomaly-spotting game, starts unlimited streaming on October 2 with a reported domestic box office of 5.17 billion yen. Sakamoto Days, the live-action film of Yuto Suzuki's manga starring Ren Meguro and directed by Yuichi Fukuda, arrives October 30. The Apothecary Diaries season 3 begins October 3, and Dragon Ball Super Beerus streams from October 12. Maronie Kingdom's Seven Knights, an adaptation of Nao Iwamoto's fantasy manga, is set for October 4. Anime titles include Aoashi, Blue Exorcist season 2, and A Sign of Affection season 2. The overseas film section carries all 25 James Bond films, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Minecraft: The Movie, which began streaming October 1.
Sep 26
The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 released a new trailer on September 25, 2026, previewing the ending theme song "AIYOU" by Eve. The trailer shows Maomao and Jinshi confronting a new mystery involving a disaster threatening the country and a mysterious woman causing a stir among the people. The season's first cour premieres on October 2, 2026, with the second cour set for April 2027. An anime film titled The Deceased Empress' Treasure is scheduled to premiere in Japan in December 2026. Eve also shared a comment alongside the trailer, saying the song was born from thinking about the mysteries of the heart. Eve described wanting to capture the desire to see the real person that exists beyond someone's role and position. The official website posted the trailer and the comment.
Sep 22
At the ABEMA Anime Festival 2026 stage for The Apothecary Diaries, Aoi Yuki, Takao Otsuka, and Ryumaro Tachibana talked about behind-the-scenes dubbing on Season 3 and on The Apothecary Diaries: The Movie - The Consort's Secret Treasure, which is scheduled for release on December 11. The stage covered dubbing that ran in parallel with the TV season and characters to watch in the film.
Sep 21
Natsu Hyuuga, the author of The Apothecary Diaries, will not attend the Overload NZ Anime & Manga Convention in New Zealand on Sep 26-27. The official series X account cited health reasons, and Hyuuga said she is hospitalized with blood test results not yet at a satisfactory level. She will still take part in a live online Q&A during the convention.
Sep 20
Hands-on gameplay for The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother was shown at a stage event on September 20 at Tokyo Game Show 2026. The mystery adventure game, developed by Koei Tecmo Games' Gust brand and TOHO Games, lets players control Maomao to gather medicine ingredients in the mountains and solve cases like the Poison Face Powder Incident by choosing answers from options. It is scheduled for release in early 2027.
Sep 17
A new official website opened on Friday to announce that The Failure at God School, the manga written by Natsu Hyuga and drawn by Modomu Akagawara, is getting a television anime. The site posted a teaser visual, and Akagawara shared a commemorative illustration through the anime's X account. Yen Press publishes the manga in English. The story is set in a modern Japan where people with supernatural abilities can be licensed to serve as gods at shrines, and it follows Nagi, a high schooler who enrolls at a school that trains future gods after discovering powers of her own. Hyuga and Akagawara launched the manga in Hakusensha's Hana to Yume magazine in August 2021. Hakusensha published the 15th compiled volume on Friday, the same day as the announcement. A novel adaptation began in January 2022, and Star Seas Company released the novels' fifth volume in Japan on May 27. Both creators issued comments. Hyuga wrote that readers will see Nagi, Takeru, Tsukuyomi and Tota move and speak, and Akagawara said she is looking forward to seeing the characters come to life.
Sep 17
Koei Tecmo Games presented a development talk stage for The Apothecary Diaries: The False Younger Brother of the Emperor at Tokyo Game Show 2026 on September 17. Director Akari Takinami and Toho producer Takayuki Onishi described an original mystery adventure story built on five mysteries and five curses, with an original character named Guanyu. Platforms are Switch 2, PS5 and Switch, with an early 2027 release planned.
Sep 15
Crunchyroll confirmed its fall 2026 streaming slate, with premieres running from September 26 through October 16. A Wild Last Boss Appeared! Season 2 opens the season on September 26, followed by Overgeared on September 27, The Prince of Tennis II U-17 World Cup: Final Member Selection Match on September 30 and FX Fighter Kurumi-chan on October 1. The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 arrives October 2 and Black Clover Season 2 on October 3, the same day as A Tale of the Secret Saint, Magical Explorer, Romelia War Chronicle, VERTEX FORCE and #I'm Looking For a Zombie. October 4 brings Reborn as a Space Mercenary, Aoashi Season 2, HOTEL INHUMANS Season 2, Uncle's Obsession with Cute Things and Even Though I'm a Super Timid Noble Girl, I Accepted the Bet From My Cunning Fiance. Magic Knight Rayearth lands October 7, Firefly Wedding October 9 and The Vermilion Mask October 10. PSYREN is listed under coming soon. Red River, The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System, Please Excuse My Younger Brothers, Case Closed and Star Detective Precure! continue from summer 2026.
Sep 14
Nendoroid Plus rubber mascots of Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries are up for preorder at AmiAmi in two versions: the standard Maomao and Maomao Garden Party Ver., priced at 1,500 yen and 1,550 yen with tax respectively. Prototype production is by Matsuda Model, and release is scheduled for March 2027. The standard mascot is about 70mm tall, made of PVC.
Sep 9
Koei Tecmo announced The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, a new mystery game based on the light novel series, during the Nintendo Direct livestream on September 9. The game launches for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam in early 2027. Players control Maomao as she explores, compounds, and investigates to solve mysteries.
Sep 7
Manta, the global content platform, announced worldwide distribution deals with KADOKAWA, Square Enix, and Square Enix's Manga UP! platform. More than 300 titles are being added, including The Apothecary Diaries, Proud to be the Villainess, Daemons of the Shadow Realm, and Tokyo Ravens. The company launched its manga category in April with Kodansha titles.
Sep 6
Oricon's monthly comic ranking for August 2026, tracking sales from August 3 to 30, places Kingdom's 80th volume at #1 with 365,379 copies. Blue Lock's 40th volume and The Apothecary Diaries' 17th volume follow. The top 20 list includes titles from Shueisha, Kodansha, Square Enix, and others.
Sep 3
At Prime Video Presents Tokyo on September 3, 2026, Mana Ashida, who plays Maomao in the live-action adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries, said, 'Being able to play a beloved character is the greatest happiness.' The event also featured cast and creators from Bless, Jinko Glico, Please Save My Earth, and The Silent Fleet, with Prime Video announcing doubled investment in Japanese original works over the next two years.
Sep 3
Amazon Prime Video announced on Thursday that it is producing a live-action series adaptation of Hyuganatsu and Touko Shino's The Apothecary Diaries light novel series, with Mana Ashida cast as protagonist Maomao. The series will stream exclusively worldwide on Amazon Prime Video in 2028. It is co-produced by TOHO and Amazon MGM Studios, with Yuki Saito directing and Erika Yoshida writing the screenplay. A teaser visual featuring Ashida as Maomao was revealed alongside the announcement. Ashida, who said she was already a fan of the novels, described the filming period as one where she poured her heart into her love for Maomao and the series. Original author Hyuganatsu welcomed the adaptation, saying she felt confident after Ashida was chosen, and that she visited the set several times, impressed by the elaborate sets and costumes. The Apothecary Diaries began as a web novel in October 2011, with print novels starting in August 2014 and a manga adaptation in May 2017. The story follows Maomao, a young apothecary sold into service in the emperor's rear palace, where her medical knowledge catches the attention of the head eunuch Jinshi. The series has two anime seasons, with a third season premiering October 2, 2026, and an anime film opening December 11.
Sep 2
The TV anime The Apothecary Diaries is getting two new deformed figures in the OSHI WORKS Mini series: Maomao and Maomao (Garden Party Ver.). Each figure costs 1,980 yen including tax and is scheduled for February 2027. Reservations are open now at AmiAmi, both online and at the physical store.
Sep 2
TV anime The Apothecary Diaries and ladies' brand jouetie are releasing four collaboration items. Preorders open September 4, 2026 at the official RUNWAY channel store and ZOZOTOWN. The lineup includes a satin jacquard tunic shirt woven with flower and butterfly motifs, a 2WAY knit cardigan with scallop lace, and a graphic pullover and slit pants that pair character art with jouetie's rose icon. General release follows in early October 2026.
Aug 30
Two new web videos in the collaboration between The Apothecary Diaries TV anime and eye care brand Enkin are now available. The Supporting The Apothecary Diaries segment looks at the production site, while Maomao's Monologue special edition features Maomao and Jinshi. Aoi Yuki voices Maomao, and Takeo Otsuka voices Jinshi. The franchise surpasses 45 million copies in circulation, with season three starting October 2 and a film on December 11.
Aug 29
The TV anime The Apothecary Diaries is collaborating with Kimono Rental VASARA and Kabukiza for a campaign running from Tuesday, September 15, 2026, to Saturday, October 31, 2026. The campaign features newly drawn illustrations of Maomao, Jinshi, Xiaolan, and Shisui wearing kimono, a departure from the series' usual Chinese-style court attire. The illustrations depict the four characters heading out into the city in Japanese clothing. The collaboration includes original goods sales, character panel displays, and a limited rental plan. The rental plan costs 4,840 yen including tax and includes an original acrylic stand with a Kabukiza background, which can be combined with separately sold character acrylic stands to form a diorama. Original goods, including trading can badges, acrylic keychains, and muffler towels, are available for purchase without using the rental plan. Pre-orders for goods begin at 11:00 on September 15, 2026, at the Shochiku Store anime Froovie, with shipping scheduled from mid-December 2026. Character panels will be displayed at select VASARA stores and at Kabukiza's B2 floor Kobikicho Plaza.
Aug 27
Kotobukiya has introduced OSHI WORKS Mini, a new chibi figure line designed as a sister brand to its OSHI WORKS series, with a focus on affordable pricing and a global lineup. The first wave includes two versions of Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries, one in her everyday clothes and one in her garden party outfit, as well as the protagonist from Persona 3 Reload and Joker from Persona 5 Royal. Each figure is about 100 millimeters tall, priced at 1,980 yen including tax, and scheduled for release in February 2027. The figures feature a neck ball joint so collectors can adjust the face direction. They come with no accessories, which the sources say maximizes focus on sculpting and painting. The base and package sizes are uniform across the line, allowing figures to be displayed together neatly. Pre-orders for the first wave opened on August 25, 2026, across retailers including Amazon and Rakuten, as listed in one of the articles.
Aug 27
T-SPARK has previewed TOYRISE items to be announced at Tokyo Toy Show 2026, held from August 27 to August 30 at Tokyo Big Sight. The previews cover four franchises: Mashin Hero Wataru, Mado King Granzort, Absolute无敌 Raijin-Oh, and Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion. A Shinkalion with design concept by Shoji Kawamori was teased via silhouette on August 25 and appears as a gray prototype at the show. The T-SPARK official X account revealed image visuals for all four lines on August 26, with Wataru and Granzort shown together at the T-SPARK booth. The event's business days, August 27 and 28, are for trade visitors only; the general public can attend on August 29 and 30 with advance tickets at 2,000 yen or same-day tickets at 2,200 yen. Dengeki Hobby Web's breaking reports from the Takara Tomy booth confirmed the Kawamori Shinkalion prototype, plus items from Raijin-Oh, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Wataru, and Granzort. Other Takara Tomy displays included a Captain Tsubasa: Tatakae Dream Team and ZOIDS collaboration, SYNEGENEX Evangelion Prime Unit-02, and Transformers-related items such as Adamas Machina Magna Regulus.
Aug 27
Bandai Spirits is launching a new Gundam figure brand called ABSOLUTE ACT, built around the ABSOLUTE ACTION SYSTEM for articulation. The first entry is the Strike Freedom Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY, which received its world first display at TOKYO Toy Show 2026, running from August 27 to August 30, 2026. The approximately 185mm tall ABS/PVC figure features movable mechanisms in the neck, shoulders, and waist, plus a waist rail mechanism and shoulder pull-out mechanism for dynamic posing. It includes a high-energy beam rifle, two beam sabers, a connected saber handle, two beam shields, interchangeable wrist parts, and a base with a bendable support rod. Reservations begin August 27, 2026, at general retail stores, with release scheduled for March 2027 at 16,500 yen including tax. TOKYO Toy Show 2026's first two days are trade-only, with public access on August 29 and 30. The show also featured other Gundam items at the Bandai Spirits booth, including Gundam Miximize Gundam Zero and HG 1/144 Gundam Zero.
Aug 18
Anime Anime rounds up five fall 2026 sequel series, including The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, Blue Box Season 2, and Black Clover 2nd Season, with recaps of prior seasons to help viewers catch up before new episodes air in October. The article highlights key plot points and new cast details for each show.
Aug 15
The staff for The Apothecary Diaries anime revealed during a special event on Saturday that the third season will premiere on October 2 at 11:00 p.m. JST in the Friday Anime Night programming block on NTV and 29 affiliated channels. The season will run for two cours, with the second cour starting in April 2027. A new trailer and key visual were shown, previewing the opening theme song "Kumo o Nukekazashimo e Watashidake" by Yorushika. Reina Ueda joins the cast as Bai Niangniang, a pale and mysterious nymph who has become the subject of rumors. The event also unveiled character visuals for 10 main characters, including Maomao and Jinshi. The third season will lead into a film titled The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Empress' Treasure, which opens in Japanese theaters on December 11 and features an original story by series author Natsu Hyuga. Studio OLM handles animation production, with Akinori Fudesaka directing. The first season premiered in October 2023, and the second in January 2025, both streamed by Crunchyroll with English dubs.
Aug 12
Ibaraki Prefecture's Tourism Strategy Division is running the AR photo spot project "Summer Tour with Maomao and Jinshi" from August 8 to September 30, 2026. Visitors scan QR codes at four locations to obtain AR photo frames featuring chibi versions of Maomao and Jinshi, then take commemorative photos against local scenery. The project is part of a year-long tourism campaign under the brand concept "IBARAKI is Blossoming."
Aug 9
TVer began streaming all 48 episodes of The Apothecary Diaries for free on August 9, 2026, in a limited-time sequential release commemorating the upcoming third season. The service released episode 1 of season 1 at midnight on August 9, with subsequent episodes added one per day at noon. Season 2, episodes 25 through 48, starts on September 2 at noon, also with one episode added daily. The final episode of season 2 becomes available on September 25, which the sources note lands just in time for the third season's October premiere. The anime, based on Natsu Hyuuga's mystery novel, follows Maomao, a pharmacist turned poison taster in an imperial harem, and the eunuch Jinshi as they solve cases. The series ranked first in total views among anime streamed on TVer in 2025 and won the TVer Award 2025 Anime Excellence Award for Seasonal Anime. Season 3 airs in two consecutive cours on Nippon TV starting October 2026, and the series' first theatrical film, The Apothecary Diaries the Movie: The Secret of the Deceased Empress, opens December 11.
Aug 8
The July 31, 2026 Amazon Kindle Manga Best Seller Ranking is led by Ramen Revisited Volume 15, with The Apothecary Diaries Volume 17 and Villainess Level 99 Volume 6 also popular. Pre-orders for upcoming volumes, including Isekai Izakaya Nobu Volume 22, dominate the list. The ranking reflects recent releases and sale items as of 5:00 PM on July 31.
Aug 5
The Apothecary Diaries and Ibaraki Prefecture's Kanko Ibaraki tourism site announced a new collaboration for the "Ibaraki is Blossoming" campaign. The campaign revealed a new key visual, a renewed website, and an original promotional video featuring Jinshi and Maomao exploring Ibaraki's four seasons. The collaboration originally ran from October to January with special trains and a stamp rally.
Jul 22
BANDAI SPIRITS has opened the product page for the Ichiban Kuji lottery based on the upcoming film 'The Apothecary Diaries: The Secret of the Deceased Empress.' The lottery will be released sequentially from December 5, 2026, at stores across Japan. Each draw costs 800 yen. The revealed prizes include the A-Prize Maomao Dioramiquemaster figure, the B-Prize Jinshi Dioramiquemaster figure, and the Last One Prize figure of Maomao standing on water. The Dioramiquemaster brand is a new non-scale figure series that includes a base expressing the film's worldview. The A and B prizes depict Maomao and Jinshi in their movie costumes. The Double Chance Campaign also offers a Maomao figure. The film itself opens in Japanese theaters on December 11, 2026. The remaining C through H prize categories have not yet been detailed.
Jul 19
The 30th volume of Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen manga ranked #1 on Circana BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for June. The chart featured 17 manga volumes, including multiple Jujutsu Kaisen entries, Chainsaw Man volume 21 at #2, Gachiakuta volume 1 at #6, and The Summer Hikaru Died volume 1 at #8. Other titles include Witch Hat Atelier, One Piece, Demon Slayer, Dandadan, Blue Lock, and The Apothecary Diaries.
Jul 18
Dengeki Hobby Web reports the top 20 best-selling manga volumes on Amazon Kindle as of July 17, 2026. The Apothecary Diaries Volume 17, available for pre-order, takes the top spot. Other notable entries include pre-order titles Kingdom 80 and Medalist 15, new releases Shangri-La Frontier 27 and Zatch Bell! 2, and recent volumes Hunter x Hunter 39 and One-Punch Man 37. Sale items like Mob Psycho 100 at 100 yen per volume also appear.
Jul 13
The Apothecary Diaries is getting a collaboration cafe at Share Cafe from July 24 to August 9, 2026, across three locations in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. The event features newly drawn illustrations of Maomao and Jinshi in a summer ice dessert theme, with themed menu items like shaved ice and soda, and a line of original goods including acrylic stands, badges, and clear files.
Jul 12
The Apothecary Diaries has launched a summer collaboration with Shionogi Healthcare's Linderon Vs series. Two new web commercials feature Maomao and Jinshi explaining proper use of the steroid ointment. Purchasing select products and answering a quiz enters fans into a prize draw for original goods, including a medicine bag pouch and character caps. The campaign runs through August 31. The anime's third season begins in October 2026, with a film following in December.
Jul 3
Kotobukiya announced a wide range of new figure prototypes and color samples at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles on July 2. The company revealed supervising prototypes for "Super Kaguya-hime!" figures of Kaguya, Tsukimi Yachiyo, and Sayori Sakayori, as well as a prototype for "Magic Knight Rayearth" Hikaru Shidou. Under the OSHI WORKS line, prototypes were shown for "Attack on Titan The Final Season" characters Mikasa, Armin, Levi, and Sasha. The new OSHI WORKS Mini brand debuted with color samples of "The Apothecary Diaries" Maomao and "TRIGUN STARGAZE" Vash the Stampede and Nicholas D. Wolfwood. For game-related figures, Kotobukiya showed the first color sample of a 1/4 scale "Goddess of Victory: NIKKE" Anis figure. OSHI WORKS Mini color samples were also displayed for "Persona 3 Reload" and "Persona 5 The Royal" protagonists, plus prototypes for "Trails" series characters Estelle Bright and Joshua Bright, and SNK characters Mai Shiranui, Angel, and Kula Diamond. Additional figures included "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" Rebecca and "Snowball Earth" Tetsuo Yabusame and Ao Nogi.
Jul 3
The official website for The Apothecary Diaries anime began streaming a trailer on Friday for the upcoming film, revealing its title, Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Bōhi no Hihō (The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Empress' Treasure), a December 11 opening date, and a key visual. Mariya Ise joins the cast as a character named Mu Qing. The film stars returning leads Aoi Yūki as Maomao and Takeo Ōtsuka as Jinshi. The story follows Maomao and Jinshi as they travel to the hometown of a concubine who died five years ago in the imperial harem, to return her remains. There, they encounter pirates, hidden treasures, the secret of the Empress' remains, and a mysterious boy. The film features a brand-new story written by original novel series author Natsu Hyūga. The film is set to release in Japan in December 2026, between the two cours of the third television anime season. The third season's first cours premieres in October 2026, and its second cours premieres in April 2027. Crunchyroll confirmed it will stream the third season.
Jun 20
Dengeki Hobby Web reports the top 20 bestselling manga volumes on Amazon Kindle as of June 19, 2026. Blue Lock (39) takes first place, driven by the 2026 World Cup and rising interest in the Japanese national soccer team. Sale volumes priced at 99 yen each, including Actually, I Am and BM Nectar, are also popular. Other new releases like The Apothecary Diaries ~Maomao's Palace Puzzle Notebook~ (22) and Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy 17 rank high.
Jun 15
A bookstore fair starting June 18, 2026 offers newly drawn collaboration illustration cards featuring characters from The Apothecary Diaries and COSMOS. Customers who buy Volume 22 of The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao's Imperial Palace Puzzle Solving Notebook or Volume 9 of COSMOS at participating stores receive a card. The cards are drawn by the opposite series' artist: Ryohei Tamura draws Maomao and Jinshi, and Minoshi Kurata draws Rin and Mizumori.
Jun 15
The browser game "The Apothecary Diaries: Harem Tales" has officially launched on the G123 platform. A release promotional video featuring Maomao and Jinshi is now available. The free-to-play simulation game adapts the anime series for the first time in an online game format.
Jun 4
Bandai Spirits will release the Ichiban Kuji TV Anime The Apothecary Diaries lottery starting June 5, 2026. The A prize is a MASTERLISE figure of Maomao recreating her dance from the first season finale. A Last One Prize offers the same figure in a black color version inspired by the opening video. Tickets cost 770 yen each.
Jun 3
Crunchyroll announced its Anime Expo lineup for July 3-4 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, featuring over 20 programming blocks. Highlights include a Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle event with the voice cast and ufotable footage, panels for The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, Gachiakuta Season 2, and new acquisitions like Goodbye, Lara and Tomb Raider King.
Jun 2
Figures of Maomao and Jinshi from The Apothecary Diaries are now available for pre-order as part of the OSHI WORKS series. The figures feature magnetic bases that can connect to display characters side by side. The series continues with a third TV season in October 2026 and a film in December.
May 30
Bandai Spirits will release an Ichiban Kuji lottery for The Apothecary Diaries on June 5, 2026, at convenience stores and hobby shops in Japan. The top prize is a MASTERLISE figure of Maomao dancing on a castle wall, based on the first season finale. A black-color variant based on the opening video is the last one prize.