Many viewers were moved by the depiction of Jinshi’s sincere affection—a quality that often manifests in him playfully bothering Maomao. Reactions included comments such as, “Jinshi-sama really tries to touch Maomao at every opportunity…,” “It was so cute when Jinshi was touching Maomao’s sleeping face…I loved it, haha,” and “Jinshi-sama is really, really worried about Maomao.”

"The Apothecary Diaries" is an anime adaptation of the light novel of the same name by Hyuganatsu. It has also been adapted into manga in two monthly magazines, with a total series circulation surpassing 40 million copies. The TV anime aired continuously for two cours starting in October 2023. It gained widespread popularity and attention for its story centered on Maomao’s deductive mysteries as a “food taster” in the inner palace, and for the comical interactions between Maomao and Jinshi. The second season of the anime is set to air in January 2025, with a sequel announced for July. Moreover, Universal Studios Japan is currently hosting a limited-time attraction, “The Apothecary Diaries Mystery Walk: Investigate the Mysterious Medicine,” until January 4, 2026. The franchise’s first online game adaptation has also been decided, and its popularity continues to soar.

(C)Hyuganatsu, Imagica Infos/"The Apothecary Diaries"Project

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