The total circulation of The Apothecary Diaries—which includes the original novel published by Imagica Infos (written by Natsu Hyuuga, illustrated by Touko Shino, under the Hero Bunko imprint) and two manga adaptations published by Square Enix and Shogakukan—has now exceeded 40 million copies.

The Mystery of Medicine, Poison, and Romance

Set in the imperial court, the story follows Maomao, a young apothecary who is kidnapped and sold into the palace as a servant. Her natural curiosity leads her to investigate a mysterious incident, forever altering her life. She catches the attention of influential figures such as the high-ranking consort Gyokuyou and the handsome eunuch Jinshi, gradually getting entangled in palace conspiracies.

The novel series was first published under the Hero Bunko imprint in August 2014 and currently spans 15 volumes. The series helped spark the recent "imperial court drama" boom in Japan. The anime adaptation's second season has been airing since January this year.

At the end of September 2023, just before the first season premiered, the total circulation was at 24 million copies. By the end of the first season, it had surged past 33 million. The momentum continued, reaching 38 million copies by September 2024, and as of late February 2025, it has officially surpassed 40 million.

Touko Shino Special Exhibition: "Kanda Festival" x The Apothecary Diaries

Kanda Myojin x The Apothecary Diaries event held at the shrine's museum in Chiyoda, Tokyo (November 2–24, 2024), will take place from March 22 to June 1, coinciding with one of Japan's three major festivals, the Kanda Festival.

The exhibition will feature a newly illustrated collaboration visual by Touko Shino, depicting Maomao in a shrine maiden outfit and Jinshi in traditional attire, alongside the "God of Medicine." Additionally, framed high-resolution digital prints of novel cover illustrations and frontispiece art will be displayed, along with ukiyo-e prints and historical materials from Kanda Myojin's collection. The content has been partially refreshed from the previous exhibition, including newly exhibited illustrations that had never been shown in high-resolution digital format before.

📷 View the exhibition visuals here

JR Tokai x The Apothecary Diaries "Oshi Tabi" Collaboration: Maomao & Jinshi’s Kyoto Journey

The second collaboration event between The Apothecary Diaries and JR Tokai, titled Maomao & Jinshi’s Kyoto Journey, will take place from March 28 to June 29.
This special event features exclusive experiences, including in-train limited voice content on the Tokaido Shinkansen and narration by Aoi Yuuki (Maomao’s voice actress) and Takeo Ootsuka (Jinshi’s voice actor). Visitors can also participate in a Kyoto-themed digital stamp rally with original voice content.

Additionally, exclusive merchandise and a guidebook featuring original illustrations will be available for purchase. A special exhibition for The Apothecary Diaries will also be held at Kyoto Prefectural Botanical Garden for a limited time.

📷 View the collaboration details here

TV Anime "The Apothecary Diaries" Exhibition

The first-ever exhibition dedicated to The Apothecary Diaries anime will open at Matsuya Ginza in Tokyo from March 26 to April 14, coinciding with the airing of the second season. The exhibition will then tour nationwide, visiting locations such as Fukuoka, Osaka, and Nagoya.

Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the world of The Apothecary Diaries through large-scale recreations of iconic anime scenes, video displays, and never-before-seen production materials, including original storyboards, background art, and setting illustrations.

Tickets are available for designated entry times each day:

General Admission: ¥1,800
High School Students: ¥900
Middle School Students: ¥700
Elementary School Students: ¥500
Ticket with Exclusive Merchandise: ¥3,900
(All prices include tax.)

📷 View exhibition highlights here

Source : ORICON NEWS