Steven Reynolds 
Yet another beautiful visual has just been added to The Apothecary Diaries seasonal visual series today. Just like happens on the 22nd of every month, and always via X.
This time it’s a visual featuring Maomao and her adopted father (aka her great-uncle) Luomen who are in the garden looking at the edible flower buds of giant butterbur plants.
In Japan, giant butterbur plants are made into relish or stir-fried and served on top of rice.
In Maomao and Luomen’s case, they are probably going to be used as some type of medicine, as both of them are obsessed with new ways to help people.
The latest The Apothecary Diaries visual is one of just a couple released in 2026 so far, including this fabulous New Year’s illustration of father and son Gaoshun and Basen.
More The Apothecary Diaries animation dropping at the end of 2026
Meanwhile, Season 3 of the OLM/TOHO Animation-animated series is currently scheduled to premiere its first episodes in October of this year.
A full-length stand-alone-story movie is scheduled to hit Japanese movie theaters (and then hopefully international streaming services) before the year ends as well.
The Apothecary Diaries anime series premiered its first season in October, 2023, followed by Season 2 on January 10th, 2025.
With a Season 3 and an animated film on the way, plus plenty more material to cover in the still-being-written-and-published light novel series, we can expect many more stories of Maomao, Jinshi and the rest of our favorite characters to come as well.
As Grokipedia describes it, the first season’s plot kicked off with this:
The story is set in a fictional empire inspired by imperial China, focusing on Maomao, a sharp-witted young woman trained as an apothecary in the pleasure district.
Kidnapped and sold as a lowly servant in the emperor’s rear palace — a secluded area housing his consorts — she conceals her expertise in poisons and medicine while serving as a food taster.
Through her keen observation and deductive skills, Maomao unravels a series of medical mysteries and uncovers deeper conspiracies within the opulent yet treacherous palace environment, often interacting with the enigmatic eunuch Jinshi.
About the Author
Michelle Topham 