July’s The Apothecary Diaries key visual has Maomao and Jinshi admiring the lotus flowers
Michelle Topham 
While Season 2 of The Apothecary Diaries won’t be hitting streaming services any time soon, the show’s official X account is still doing a superb job promoting the anime until its next season appears.
The latest The Apothecary Diaries promotion is a July key visual featuring protagonists Maomao and Jinshi admiring the lotus flowers that are now in bloom, and follows on from the Tanabata visual released earlier in the month.
The beautiful new The Apothecary Diaries key visual is one of a new series of illustrations that will be released on the 22nd of every month going forward.
The Apothecary Diaries, Season 2
Meanwhile, the second season of the hit anime is now in production, with an announced premiere date of some time in 2025.
The anime is based on the popular light novels and subsequent manga adaptation written by Natsu Hyuuga and illustrated by Touko Shino.
Square Enix is publishing the light novels in English, and explains the plot like this:
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!
At her lady’s side, Maomao starts to learn about everything that goes on in the rear palace-not all of it seemly. Can she ever lead a quiet life, or will her powers of deduction and insatiable curiosity bring her ever more adventures, and ever more dangers?
The anime is being directed by Norihiko Naganuma (The Ancient Magus’ Bride). He is also responsible for the anime’s series composition and scripts.
TOHO Animation Studio and OLM are in charge of anime production.
Enjoy the latest The Apothecary Diaries key visual above, and keep an eye out for the next in the series late next month.
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Steven Reynolds 
