The highly anticipated The Apothecary Diaries anime movie has officially been titled The Apothecary Diaries the Movie: The Deceased Empress’ Treasure (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Bōhi no Hihō) and is scheduled to premiere in Japanese theaters on December 11, 2026.
Alongside the announcement, the official website unveiled the movie’s first teaser visual and teaser trailer, confirming that the film will feature a completely original story written by original light novel author Hyūganatsu.
The movie will release between the two split cours of The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, with the first cour airing in Fall 2026 and the second cour scheduled for Spring 2027.
New Character and Voice Cast Revealed
It was also announced that Mariya Ise will voice a brand-new character named Muqing, a young boy from the influential Mi family that governs the bustling waterside city of Minanshu.
The teaser shows the frightened boy pleading, “Please help me,” hinting that he will play a major role in the film’s central mystery. His connection to Maomao and Jinshi has yet to be revealed.
An Original Mystery Awaits Maomao and Jinshi
According to the official synopsis, Maomao and Jinshi travel to the southern region to return the remains of a consort who died in the rear palace five years earlier to her homeland.
Their journey leads them to the lively water city of Minanshu, where Maomao becomes fascinated by unfamiliar medicinal plants and rare herbs. However, what begins as a simple mission quickly turns into a much larger mystery when they uncover secrets hidden within the deceased empress’s remains.
As the investigation unfolds, the pair encounter pirates, a hidden treasure, and several mysterious new characters. The film promises to deliver the biggest mystery in the franchise so far, combining the secrets surrounding the deceased empress with an adventure centered around a long-lost treasure.
The newly released teaser visual depicts Maomao, Jinshi, and the mysterious boy Muching inside a treasure-filled cave, while flames and volleys of arrows rage in the background, teasing a far more action-packed adventure than previous entries in the series.
About The Apothecary Diaries
The Apothecary Diaries is a Japanese light novel series written by Hyūganatsu and illustrated by Touko Shino. Originally published as a web novel in 2011, it was later acquired by Shufunotomo and expanded into a light novel series. The franchise has since received two manga adaptations and a highly successful anime adaptation produced by TOHO Animation Studio and OLM.
J-Novel Club 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 by her apothecary father, never imagined she’d end up there—until she was kidnapped and sold into service. Though she appears ordinary, Maomao possesses exceptional medical knowledge and a sharp intellect. After catching the attention of the perceptive eunuch Jinshi, she begins solving mysteries within the imperial palace, uncovering secrets, conspiracies, and dangers hidden behind its beautiful walls.“
Source: Official Website
