86% rating 2023 TV-14 1 season

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Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she's sold as a lowly servant to the emperor's palace. But she wasn't meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she's making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!

Cast: 悠木碧, 大塚剛央, 小西克幸, 種﨑敦美

Genres: Animation, Drama, Mystery

Tags: anime, historical, female protagonist, detective, politics

EpisodesSeason 1 · 60 episodes

  1. 23 min 1. Maomao22/10/2023 After being kidnapped and forced to work as a servant in the rear palace, former apothecary Maomao inadvertently draws the attention of the higher ranks when she investigates what's causing the emperor's infant heirs to fall mysteriously ill.
  2. 23 min 2. Chilly Apothecary22/10/2023 Maomao tries to settle into her promotion to lady-in-waiting and food taster, but struggles to fend off both boredom and the overly-familiar Jinshi. That is, until she gets an assignment of her dreams: to concoct an aphrodisiac.
  3. 23 min 3. The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit22/10/2023 Tasked with investigating a ghostly woman dancing nightly on the palace walls, Maomao finds a sleepwalking Concubine Fuyou. But with no medicinal cure for sleepwalking, she's forced to dig deeper to find the real reason behind Fuyou's affliction.
  4. 23 min 4. The Threat29/10/2023 Under direct orders from the emperor himself, Maomao tries to care for an ailing Concubine Lihua, but finds her work impeded by Lihua's own ladies-in-waiting.
  5. 23 min 5. Covert Operations05/11/2023 A eunuch stricken by a curse comes begging for aid. Meanwhile, the rear palace buzzes with excitement as everyone prepares for the upcoming garden party, and Gyokuyou's ladies-in-waiting aren't about to let Maomao get away without dressing her up.
  6. 23 min 6. The Garden Party12/11/2023 Maomao does her best to navigate the complex social situations at the garden party, including meeting the other Upper First rank concubines. But once she settles down to do her work as a food-taster, she discovers a surprise in a bowl of soup.
  7. 23 min 7. Homecoming19/11/2023 Gaoshun goes to Maomao to get her help in resolving the events of the garden party. Later, Xiaolan explains the purpose of the hairpins Maomao was gifted, and Maomao makes a deal with Lihaku in order to finally visit home.
  8. 23 min 8. Wheat Stalks26/11/2023 Maomao's peaceful morning at home is interrupted when she's called in to investigate an apparent double suicide at one of the local brothels.
  9. 23 min 9. Suicide or Murder?03/12/2023 An older acquaintance of Jinshi's dies while drinking at a party. A servant's body turns up in a moat. Both deaths are written off as self-inflicted, but Maomao's keen observations tell her that there's more to both stories.
  10. 23 min 10. Honey10/12/2023 A tea party hosted by Lady Gyokuyou puts the politics of the rear palace at the forefront, and Maomao learns something new about Lady Lishu. His true intentions unclear, Jinshi sends Maomao to work for Lady Ah-Duo.
  11. 23 min 11. Reducing Two to One17/12/2023 Maomao confronts Fengming about the dark secret she's been hiding from her noble Lady Ah-Duo.
  12. 23 min 12. The Eunuch and the Courtesan24/12/2023 Discovering that Maomao's kidnappers were connected to Fengming's family, Jinshi is faced with a choice between keeping Maomao in the rear palace where he can be near her or releasing her from her service.
  13. 23 min 13. Serving in the Outer Court07/01/2024 To Maomao's surprise, Jinshi brings her directly to his house instead of taking her back to the rear palace, and tells her she's to work in the outer court. Not only is there much to learn, it seems there's many eyes on her as the new hire.
  14. 23 min 14. The New Pure Consort14/01/2024 Ah-Duo's replacement has arrived in the rear palace, and Maomao is assigned to give a certain lecture to all four high concubines. Later, Maomao helps Lihaku investigate a warehouse explosion.
  15. 23 min 15. Raw Fish21/01/2024 Gaoshun requests Maomao's help in solving an apparent poisoning case. Meanwhile, Jinshi deals with an unwelcome visitor who's taken to lingering in his office.
  16. 23 min 16. Lead28/01/2024 A shack, a chest of drawers, and a fishbowl are all that a talented metalworker leaves to his three sons upon his death. Maomao is assigned to investigate how these strange inheritances all fit together.
  17. 23 min 17. A Jaunt Around Town04/02/2024 Covering up Jinshi's otherworldly beauty is no easy task, but after Maomao takes the challenge head-on, she's surprised when she's also asked to don the disguise of a noblewoman and escort "Jinka" outside the palace.
  18. 23 min 18. Lakan11/02/2024 Back at home, Maomao visits an annex building at the Verdigris House that hides one of the brothel's secrets. Lakan continues to antagonize Jinshi as his connection to Maomao becomes clear.
  19. 23 min 19. Chance or Something More18/02/2024 A discussion with Lihaku about recent events leads Maomao to realize that the mysteries she's helped to solve are connected. As the final piece of the puzzle falls into place, she rushes to stop impending disaster.
  20. 23 min 20. Thornapple25/02/2024 Maomao was able to stop the assassination attempt, but was heavily injured in the process. However, the injuries aren't enough to stop her curiosity, driving her to confront the culprit behind the incident.
  21. 23 min 21. How to Buy Out a Contract03/03/2024 Back to work at the rear palace, Maomao listens to Guen talk about his family's business. Meanwhile, Lihaku hears a rumor that whips him into action.
  22. 23 min 22. Blue Roses10/03/2024 Lakan challenges Jinshi to produce blue roses to present at the upcoming garden party, forcing Jinshi to turn once again to Maomao for her help.
  23. 23 min 23. Balsam and Woodsorrel17/03/2024 No longer willing to keep running away from Lakan, Maomao decides to face off against him. She challenges him on his own turf, in a chess match.
  24. 23 min 24. Jinshi and Maomao24/03/2024 Lakan must now choose a courtesan to buy out. As a high-ranking military official, he can afford to freely choose, even from one of the Three Princesses. Who will he choose? Who does Maomao really want him to choose?
  25. 24 min 25. Maomao and Maomao10/01/2025 The spring garden party concludes without incident. Maomao returns to her regular life as Concubine Gyokuyou’s taster. Meanwhile, novels become popular in the rear palace. Maomao wonders how this came to be, as novels were typically considered low-class. But behind the scenes lies Jinshi and his goals as manager of the rear palace.
  26. 24 min 26. Caravan17/01/2025 The caravan stirs up excitement in the inner palace. The merchants bring all kinds of goods. However, something gives Maomao a bad feeling.
  27. 24 min 27. Corpse Fungus24/01/2025 A concubine passes away, and a woman goes missing. Jinshi sends Maomao to investigate - not these incidents, but mushrooms growing in the rear palace.
  28. 24 min 28. Mirror31/01/2025 The special envoy from a foreign land gifts mirrors - a rarity in this country - to the high concubines. However, they bring mysteries as well.
  29. 24 min 29. The Moon Fairy07/02/2025 In order to realize the seemingly impossible request from the foreign envoy, Maomao speaks to the “Moon Fairy” herself.
  30. 24 min 30. The Crystal Pavilion, for the Third Time14/02/2025 The woman from the clinic finds out that Maomao knows a thing or two about medicine, and asks for her help.
  31. 24 min 31. The Shrine of Choosing21/02/2025 Maomao directs her curiosity towards an old, oddly-shaped building.
  32. 24 min 32. The Empress Dowager28/02/2025 Maomao's reputation for resolving conflicts reaches the empress dowager, who will ask for her help to unravel a mystery that won't leave her mind.
  33. 24 min 33. The Late Emperor07/03/2025 Maomao's investigation of the "curse" reveals more about the late emperor than anticipated.
  34. 24 min 34. A Ghost Story14/03/2025 Maomao joins some women exchanging scary stories on a hot summer night to provide chills.
  35. 24 min 35. The Hunt21/03/2025 Jinshi goes on a hunting trip, and brings Maomao along. He seems ready to share his secret with her.
  36. 24 min 36. Ka Zuigetsu28/03/2025 Maomao discovers Jinshi's secret. She wants nothing to do with whatever the politics behind it is.
  37. 24 min 37. The Baths04/04/2025 Xiaolan's term of service is almost up, so she must find a new job. Maomao and Shisui decide to help.
  38. 24 min 38. The Dancing Ghost11/04/2025 Concubine Lishu reports sightings of a ghost in the baths in her pavilion. Maomao goes to investigate.
  39. 24 min 39. Ice18/04/2025 Xiaolan accidentally ruins an expensive block of ice. Maomao comes up with a delicious backup plan.
  40. 24 min 40. Festering Resentment25/04/2025 Luomen returns to the rear palace. His observations trigger Maomao's curiosity.
  41. 24 min 41. The Fox Village02/05/2025 Suirei smuggles Maomao and Shisui out of the rear palace. Jinshi begins to search for Maomao.
  42. 24 min 42. Lantern Plant09/05/2025 Maomao has been missing for ten days now. Jinshi's investigations lead him to a forgotten graveyard.
  43. 24 min 43. Festival23/05/2025 The village holds a festival. Maomao attends, and Shisui introduces some of the village's history to her.
  44. 24 min 44. The Stronghold30/05/2025 Maomao is taken to a mountain stronghold, where many of the secrets of the Shi clan are revealed to her.
  45. 24 min 45. Taibon06/06/2025 Maomao is accused of attempting to escape, and is tossed into an ancient method of torture and execution.
  46. 24 min 46. Royal Guard13/06/2025 The royal guard, led by Jinshi, arrives, sealing the Shi clan's fate. Maomao wants to save her friend, Shisui.
  47. 24 min 47. The Shi Clan27/06/2025 Jinshi and his forces infiltrate the stronghold, cornering the remaining Shi clan members.
  48. 24 min 48. The Beginning04/07/2025 After the war, Jinshi's work piles up and Maomao returns to the pleasure district.
  49. 49. Episode 4902/10/2026
  50. 50. Episode 5009/10/2026
  51. 51. Episode 5116/10/2026
  52. 52. Episode 5223/10/2026
  53. 53. Episode 5330/10/2026
  54. 54. Episode 5406/11/2026
  55. 55. Episode 5513/11/2026
  56. 56. Episode 5620/11/2026
  57. 57. Episode 5727/11/2026
  58. 58. Episode 5804/12/2026
  59. 59. Episode 5911/12/2026
  60. 60. Episode 6018/12/2026

Cast

悠木碧 Maomao (voice) 大塚剛央 Jinshi (voice) 小西克幸 Gaoshun (voice) 種﨑敦美 Gyokuyou (voice) 引坂理絵 Lishu's Lady-in-Waiting (voice) 豊口めぐみ Hongniang (voice) 田中貴子 Crystal Pavilion Lady-in-Waiting (voice) 石井未紗 Low-Rank Concubine (voice) 家中宏 Luomen (voice) 久野美咲 Xiaolan (voice) かぬか光明 Guen / Quack Doctor (voice) 瀬戸麻沙美 Shisui / Loulan / Tamamo (voice) 桐本拓哉 Lakan (voice) 橘龍丸 Basen (voice) 斉藤貴美子 Old Madam (voice)

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The Apothecary Diaries

About The Apothecary Diaries

Cast
悠木碧, 大塚剛央, 小西克幸, 種﨑敦美, 引坂理絵, 豊口めぐみ, 田中貴子, 石井未紗
Genres
Animation, Drama, Mystery
Original title
薬屋のひとりごと
First aired
22/10/2023
Status
Returning Series
Rating
TV-14
Original language
JA
Country
JP
Tags
anime, historical, female protagonist, detective, politics, affectation, medical, work