The official X (formerly Twitter) account for the anime adaptation of Natsu Hyūga and Touko Shino’s “The Apothecary Diaries” (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) light novel series announced on Saturday a new trailer, visual, and the April 4 premiere date for the second cour (quarter of a year) of the anime’s second season.
The video also reveals and previews the new opening theme song “Kusuhiki” (Mysterious) by Mrs. Green Apple and the new ending theme song “Hitorigoto” (Soliloquy) by Omoinotake.
The second season premiered on January 10 as part of Nippon TV’s FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT programming block and is set to air for two consecutive cours. Crunchyroll is streaming the second season, including an English dub.
New cast members announced include Asami Seto as the maid Shisui, while Lynn and Yumi Hara will voice Ayla and Aylin, respectively.
Lilas Ikuta (BELLE, Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction) performs the first opening theme song “Hyakkaryōran” (Splendid Bounty), marking her first time singing an opening theme for a television anime in her solo career.
(Ikuta is also the vocalist of YOASOBI under the stage name ikura.) Singer-songwriter Dai Hirai performs the new ending theme song “Shiawase no Recipe” (The Recipe for Happiness).
J-Novel Club publishes the novel series digitally and describes the story:
In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace.
Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there. Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine.
That’s her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao’s façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor’s favorite consort… so she can taste the lady’s food for poison!
The anime’s first season debuted in October 2023, starting with the first three episodes, and ran for two cours (six months). Crunchyroll streamed the anime as it aired in Japan and also provided an English dub.
The second cour (quarter of a year) of the first season began airing in January 2024.
Norihiro Naganuma (The Ancient Magus’ Bride season 1) directed the first season at TOHO animation and OLM, also supervising the scripts. Akinori Fudesaka served as the assistant director.
Character designs were handled by Yukiko Nakatani (Go! Princess Precure, Tropical-Rouge! Precure). Shōji Hata took on the role of sound director. The anime’s music was composed by Satoru Kousaki (Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-), Kevin Penkin (Made in Abyss), and Arisa Okehazama (ONIMAI: I’m Now Your Sister!).
Hyūga began serializing the story on the “Shōsetsuka ni Narō” (Let’s Become Novelists) website in October 2011. Shufunotomo started publishing the novels in print with illustrations by Shino in August 2014.
Nekokurage launched the ongoing manga adaptation in Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan magazine in May 2017. Square Enix Manga & Books is releasing the manga adaptation in English. The company also began publishing the novels in print, with the first volume released in May 2024 and the fourth volume on February 4.