The Apothecary Diaries is a Japanese light novel series written by Hyūganatsu and illustrated by Touko Shino. Originally, the series was only published by Hyūganatsu on the user-generated web novel site Shōsetsuka ni Narō in October 2011. The publisher Shufunotomo acquired the series and then published it on their Ray Books imprint as a novel with a single volume on September 26, 2012, illustrated by Megumi Matsuda.
In 2014, Shufunotomo began to publish the series again, illustrated by Touko Shino. This time, it was published as a light novel in their Hero Bunko imprint, which is mostly made of acquired Shōsetsuka ni Narō titles. Since then, the series continued to get more volumes with the story continuing, unlike the previous novel version which had just one volume. J-Novel Club announced in November 2020 that it had licensed the light novel series. In October 2023, Square Enix announced that it would release the light novels in print starting in May 2024.
A manga adaptation by Itsuki Nanao and illustrated by Nekokurage began in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan on May 25, 2017. Square Enix has compiled its chapters into individual volumes. The first volume was published on September 25, 2017. As of July 24, 2026, 17 volumes have been published.
In November 2019, Square Enix announced the English language release of the manga in North America and began publishing it in December 2020.
An alternative manga adaptation, titled , illustrated by Minoji Kurata, began in Shogakukan's Monthly Sunday Gene-X on August 19, 2017. Shogakukan has compiled its chapters into individual volumes. The first volume was published on February 19, 2018. As of June 18, 2026, 22 volumes have been published. The manga has been licensed in Southeast Asia by Shogakukan Asia.
Light novel
Manga The Apothecary Diaries
Maomao's Notes on the Inner Palace
Xiaolan's Story
References
External links at Shōsetsuka ni Narō
at Monthly Big Gangan at Monthly Sunday Gene-X at Square Enix Manga & Books