The Apothecary Diaries (薬屋のひとりごと, Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, lit. “The Pharmacist’s Monologue”) is a Japanese light novel series written by Natsu Hyūga and illustrated by Touko Shino. Since 2011, it has been serialized online since on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. In the following year, it was acquired by Shufunotomo, who initially published the series as a novel with a single volume in 2012 and then as a light novel series in 2014. The series is set in a fictional country modelled after 15th-century China.

It has been adapted into two manga series in 2017, with one published by Square Enix in Monthly Big Gangan, and another one published by Shogakukan in Monthly Sunday Gene-X. The light novel is licensed digitally in North America by J-Novel Club and in print by Square Enix, and the manga illustrated by Nekokurage is also licensed by Square Enix. An anime television series adaptation produced by Toho Animation Studio and OLM premiered in October 2023.

Characters :

Maomao (猫猫): The plain-looking daughter of an apothecarist who lives on the outskirts of the city, she provides her services to a brothel in the capital and its courtesans. After being kidnapped by bandits who sell her to the Imperial Palace for profit, she is accidentally dragged into palace intrigue, using her knowledge of poisons, medicine, plants, and basic chemistry to become an unofficial forensic pathologist, in addition to becoming a lady-in-waiting and poison taste-tester for one of the Emperor’s concubines. While Jinshi is attracted to her, she often looks at him with disgust and resents his ways of involving her in palace intrigue, preferring to spend her time testing out different poisons and medicines on herself. Even so, she often helps him solve whatever mystery he brings to her attention.

Jinshi (壬氏): A eunuch who runs most of the administration of the rear palace, where the Emperor’s concubines and their respective staff reside. Both men and women alike are attracted to his visage, but Jinshi finds himself attracted to Maomao, the only person he’s met who does not unconditionally love him. Behind his face lies a shrewd mind who tries to balance his duties to the Emperor while improving his own station within the Imperial Palace.

Gaoshun (高順): Jinshi’s loyal attendant, often supporting him and Maomao more quietly.

Gyokuyō (玉葉): One of the Emperor’s concubines with bright red hair, and the mother of an infant daughter. She took Maomao as a Lady-in-waiting, as thanks for warning her about the poisoned makeup. She is also one who supports Jinshi and Maomao.

Guen (虞淵)

Jiaojiao (嬌嬌)

Lihua (梨花): One of the Emperor’s concubines with dark blue hair who gave birth to his heir. However, when she ignored Maomao’s warning about her poisoned makeup, her infant son died and she herself nearly passed away. After Maomao later nursed her back to health, she became more friendly to her.

Lishu (里樹): Known as the Virtuous Consort, she is the youngest of the four leading concubines of the Emperor. Due to political reasons, she becomes the mother-in-law of the older Pure Consort. Due to her food allergies, her ladies-in-waiting think she is just picky with her food, making it a point of subtle bullying on her.

Ah-Duo (阿多): Known as the Pure Consort, one of the four leading concubines of the Emperor. She has a close relationship with Lishu. She would later leave the rear palace to live in a detached palace in the south.

Meimei (梅梅): One of “The Three Princesses” of the famous Rokushoukan, a super high-class brothel where Maomao once worked, and treats Maomao as a sister.

Pairin (白鈴): One of the famous “Three Princesses” and the most popular courtesan of the Rokushoukan brothel who also acts like a sister to Maomao when she visits.

Joka (女華): he third of the famous “Three Princesses” of the ultra-exclusive Rokushoukan brothel.

Madam (やり手婆, Yarite Baba): An old woman who owns the Rokushoukan brothel and offered Maomao a place to work, treating her like a daughter.

Luomen (羅門): Maomao’s father. She later knew from court records that she is a former court doctor who was banished from the rear palace.

Lihaku (李白): A soldier who happened to give Maomao a hairpin during the garden party. She requested him to escort her outside of the palace walls in exchange for time at the Rokushoukan.

Xiaolan (小蘭): A servant at the rear palace who is Maomao’s close friend.

Fengming (に風明): Ah-Duo’s lead lady-in-waiting whose family owns an apiary. Despite her showing as an exemplary and respected lady-in-waiting, there is a secret behind her, which could be the reason Lishu fears her, even on just the mention of her name.