While it is leading fans who became invested in the romance bait along by the nose, The Apothecary Diaries at least explores an endless array of intriguing mysteries and imperial drama to make for an enjoyable ride.
Alternative Titles:
- The Pharmacist’s Monologue
- Drugstore Soliloquy
- Kusuriya no Hitorigoto
Year Anime Premiered: 2023
Animation Studio: OLM, Toho Animation Studio
Number of Seasons: 2
Source Material Country of Origin: Japan
Source Material Available: Light Novel, Manga
Is It Officially Licensed Past Where The Anime Ends?: Light Novel: Yes, Manga: Yes
Is It Fan Translated Past Where The Anime Ends?: Light Novel: Yes, Manga: Yes
Entry Last Updated: October 22nd, 2025 – Season 3 new updates.
Where To Start The Apothecary Diaries Light Novel After The Anime?
If you finished The Apothecary Diaries anime and wish to continue the story with the light novel, you can start at:
- If you finished the Apothecary Diaries Season 1 anime – You can start the light novel at Novel 3.
- If you finished the Apothecary Diaries Season 2 anime – You can start the light novel at Novel 5.
Is The Apothecary Diaries Light Novel Over?
The Apothecary Diaries light novel is still ongoing. Since launching in 2014, it usually releases two novels per year.
Where To Start The Apothecary Diaries Manga After The Anime?
Fun fact, The Apothecary Diaries has two manga series that both tell the same story. Usually, you tell the difference by who the artist is. The Nekokurage version is the first series, the Minoji Kurata series came later. The Minoji Kurata version is also subtitled as “Mao Mao’s Notebook,” since the artist also illustrates for the light novel and searching just their name can produce mixed results.
The difference between the two manga series is that the Nekokurage version isn’t as faithful to the light novel story. It cuts parts and changes things to better connect the plot points and leaves them less vague. The Minoji Kurata version keeps closer to the light novel story.
Reading either one after the anime is fine. Although the anime is most faithful to the Nekokurage version. The Nekokurage version is also the officially translated version.
If you finished The Apothecary Diaries anime and wish to start the manga, you can start at
- If you finished the Apothecary Diaries Season 1 anime – You can start the manga at Chapter 41 for the Nekokurage version and Chapter 31 in the Minoji Kurata version.
- If you finished the Apothecary Diaries Season 2 anime – You can start the Minoji Kurata manga at Chapter 85, but the anime surpassed the Nekokurage manga.
Is The Apothecary Diaries Manga Over?
The Apothecary Diaries (Nekokurage) manga is still ongoing. Since launching in 2017, it usually releases two volumes per year.
The Apothecary Diaries (Minoji Kurata) manga is still ongoing. Since launching in 2018, it usually releases two volumes per year.
What to Expect From The Apothecary Diaries Source Material Compared to The Anime?
The Apothecary Diaries is one of those series where you will find differences in story between the web novel, light novel, both manga, and the anime. However, they are still telling the same overall story, just sometimes differently.
If you want the most details and the core story, read the light novel. However, the manga is a perfectly fine substitute, particularly the Minoji Kurata version that is more similar to the light novels.
I would recommend reading the light novels from the beginning if moving to them from the anime since the anime does cut out some details and smaller mysteries. However, if you are starting with the Nekokurage manga, you don’t need to read it from the beginning unless you want to.
Will There Be A The Apothecary Diaries Season 3?
As of the end of Season 2, they announced that there will be an Apothecary Diaries Season 3 anime. It has since been announced that it will air in two parts. The first part airing in October 2026 and the second part airing in April 2027.
The also announced a movie to air in December 2026 and confirmed that it will be an anime-original story.
