The Apothecary Diaries

What is The Apothecary Diaries about?

The Apothecary Diaries is a TV anime series of 24 episodes animated by OLM, adapted from a light novel. It aired from October 22, 2023 to March 24, 2024. AniList classifies it as drama and mystery.

Synopsis from AniList, which credits Crunchyroll. The summary above it is written by FreeAnime.xyz from AniList's data.

Themes AniList users associate with it: Medicine, Female Protagonist, Ancient China, Drugs, Historical, Detective, Politics, Royal Affairs, Foreign, Work.

Main characters

Characters AniList lists in a main role, with spoiler-free notes.

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  Maomao 猫猫

  Main character

  Maomao works as an apothecary in the red light district, helping her mentor and father Luomen in caring for its residents, with special attention given to the Verdigris Hall brothel, where she was born and was initially raised.

  Japanese voice: Aoi Yuuki

• 

  Jinshi 壬氏

  Main character

  Jinshi is the eunuch in charge of the affairs of the inner palace. He is described as having a face capable even of outshining the consorts in beauty, amazing women and men alike. He is constantly accompanied by his attendant Gaoshun and has taken an interest to Maomao's intelligence and active demeanor.

  Japanese voice: Takeo Ootsuka

Supporting characters

• 

  Gyokuyou 玉葉妃

  Supporting character

  The Noble consort, residing in the Jade Palace within the inner court. Her red hair and green eyes distinguish her from the other consorts, that being part of the reasons she became the Emperor's favoured consort, having already given birth to a girl of his.

  Japanese voice: Atsumi Tanezaki

• 

  Rifa 梨花妃

  Supporting character

  The Able consort, residing in the Crystal Palace within the inner court. The second most favoured consort of the Emperor, said to be so in big part due to her voluptuous chest. She gave birth to a boy who succumbed for unknown reasons and she herself is in grave health condition at the start of the story.

  Japanese voice: Yui Ishikawa

• 

  Riishu 里樹妃

  Supporting character

  The Virtuous consort, residing in the Diamond Palace within the inner court. She was sent to be a high consort on the inner court as a young child because her prominent family was aware of the previous Emperor's pedophilic tendencies.

  Japanese voice: Hina Kino

• 

  Aaduo 阿多

  Supporting character

  The Pure consort, residing in the Garner Palace within the inner court. She was the current Emperor's milk sibling and childhood crush, being just a year older than him. She became the previous Emperor's consort and gave birth to his child at 18, who was stillborn.

  Japanese voice: Yuuko Kaida

• 

  Gaoshun 高順

  Supporting character

  Gaoshun is Jinshi's attendant. He's shown to be extremely dependable. A stern believer in deference to authority and proper etiquette, his disapproval is often splattered in his transparent facial expressions, even if he says nothing.

  Japanese voice: Katsuyuki Konishi

• 

  Hongniang 紅娘

  Supporting character

  Lady Gyokuyou's head lady-in-waiting.

  Japanese voice: Megumi Toyoguchi

• 

  Meimei 梅梅

  Supporting character

  Meimei is one of the Three Princesses of Verdigris Hall. She started as Fenshen's apprentice and, being somewhat cunning herself, inherited Fenshen's taste for strategy board games. She is the most attached to the brothel and the people within.

  Japanese voice: Megumi Han

• 

  Pairin 白鈴

  Supporting character

  Pairin is the oldest of the Three Princesses of Verdigris Hall. She loves men's bodies and dreams of being taken away by a muscular prince.

  Japanese voice: Ami Koshimizu

• 

  Joka 女華

  Supporting character

  Joka is the youngest of the Three Princesses of Verdigris Hall and one of Maomao's adopted sisters.

  Japanese voice: Hiroki Nanami

• 

  Fuyou 芙蓉

  Supporting character

  A mid-rank consort, princess of a distant land. She became the Emperor's middle consort against her will.

  Japanese voice: Natsumi Kawaida

• 

  Ruomen 羅門

  Supporting character

  Ruomen is a physician of the Inner Court, a physician in the red-light district, and Maomao's father.

  Japanese voice: Hiroshi Yanaka

• 

  Yarite Baba やり手婆

  Supporting character

  Once a high ranking courtesan herself, the Madam is now the runner of the Vergidris Hall.

  Japanese voice: Kimiko Saitou