Kusuriya no Hitorigoto


The Apothecary Diaries

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: The Pharmacist's Monologue, Drugstore Soliloquy
Japanese: 薬屋のひとりごと
English: The Apothecary Diaries
More titles

Information

Type: TV
Episodes: 24
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Oct 22, 2023 to Mar 24, 2024
Premiered: Fall 2023
Broadcast: Sundays at 01:05 (JST)
Producers: Imagica Infos
Licensors: Crunchyroll
Genres: DramaMystery
Themes: HistoricalMedical
Duration: 22 min. per ep.
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

Score: 8.871 (scored by 351225351,225 s)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #252
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #355
: 653,216
Favorites: 20,548

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8.87
Ranked #25Popularity #355 653,216
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Episodes: /24

Synopsis

Maomao, an apothecary's daughter, has been plucked from her peaceful life and sold to the lowest echelons of the imperial court. Now merely a maid, Maomao settles into her new mundane life and hides her extensive knowledge of medicine in order to avoid any unwanted attention.

Not long after Maomao's arrival, the emperor's infant children inexplicably begin to experience grave symptoms—almost as if a curse has been cast. The curious Maomao easily solves the mystery and, to remain out of the limelight, attempts to leave an anonymous tip. Unfortunately, the dashing and perceptive eunuch Jinshi sees through it and manages to single her out.

In recognition of her talent, Maomao is promoted to lady-in-waiting for the emperor's favorite concubine, Gyokuyou. As Maomao continues to remedy the numerous ailments afflicting the imperial court, her pharmaceutical expertise quickly proves indispensable.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Background

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto was released on Blu-ray in four volumes from January 24, 2024, to July 17, 2024.

Characters & Voice Actors


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Opening Theme

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1: "Hana ni Natte (花になって)" by Ryokuoushoku Shakai (緑黄色社会) (eps 1-12)
2: "Ambivalent (アンビバレント)" by Uru (eps 13-24)
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Ending Theme

1: "Aikotoba (アイコトバ)" by AiNA THE END (アイナ・ジ・エンド) (eps 1-12)
2: "Ai wa Kusuri (愛は薬)" by wacci (eps 13-24)

Episode Videos




Reviews

Jun 9, 2025
You know, I forget there's so much power in editing when it comes to anime.

“The Apothecary Diaries”. A series I couldn't see myself enjoying too much. A story about old China. An apothecary is trafficked to be sold as a servant to a concubine palace where she wishes not to stick out, but her medical knowledge far exceeds that of everybody else. Her desires to not see anyone dying from preventable problems, make her hiding impossible.

The premise does sound good, but I had an inkling on the presentation.

After recently watching other anime which were severely brought down by their anime-isms, I was scared ...
Jun 5, 2025
Mixed Feelings
How overhyped this was has definitely skewed my perception, I was expecting a heavy romance set in the imperial court with lots of drama - instead I got a per episode comedy with a side of ham fisted story that was not interesting in the slightest. Oh and a whole lot of exposition!

My main gripe is just how much of a mary-sue/self inset the mc is. Her apothecary skills make sense as she was raised with one,, and her detective skills could be plausible if it wasn't for how the entire world revolved around her. Everyone else is made out to be a bumbling idiot ...
Feb 11, 2025
FunnyFunny
***Repost - original review (01/05/25) killed by guideline violation, but visible on my listed entry for the show***

Am I a fucking asshole or does this shit suck?

I suppose both can be true, but that doesn’t ease the sheer fatigue that enduring The Apothecary Diaries, fraught with truly horrendous flaws as it is, can bring upon a person.

From the response online, I’d anticipated a mature period piece; y’know, a historical drama with sprinklings of mystery tied together through investigations performed by an, if the internet is to be believed (which it obviously isn’t), exceptionally interesting and compelling protagonist... And I’m going to just have to start ...

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44 Entries · 282 Restacks
50 Entries · 1.2K Restacks

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