The film opens in Japan on 11 December, 2026.
Ahead of its 11 December premiere in Japan, the upcoming original anime movie “The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure” (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Bōhi no Hihō) has been releasing character trailers introducing original characters who will appear in the film. In the new third trailer, the film introduces members of the Kaja-dan.
The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure
Japanese premiere date: 11 December, 2026
Director: Norihiro Naganuma
Animation studio: TOHO Animation STUDIO
International distributor: Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment
Who are the new characters of the “The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure” movie?
The new character teaser introduces the Kaja-dan (the Snake-headed pirate group). They are a group of sea bandits who will be a threat to Jinshi and Maomao in the film. They are also looking for the lost treasure of their former leader.
The members of Kaja-dan are:
- Kensho Ono as Suija (the current leader of Kaja-dan)
- Jiro Saito as Kaja (the former leader and Suija's father)
- Ryota Takeuchi as Eisho (a loyal subordinate of Suija)
Suija’s older sister Seisei also appears in the trailer but her voice actor hasn’t been revealed yet.
The characters revealed in the previous trailer are:
- Mariya Ise as Mu Qing (previously announced)
- Nobuo Tobita as Birou
- Kumiko Watanabe as Qiuyu
- Hirofumi Nojima as Bisen
Aoi Yuki and Takeo Otsuka return to their roles as Maomao and Jinshi from the main anime.
Norihiro Naganume directs the movie at TOHO Animation Studio. Yūko Kakihara pens the scripts, while Yukiko Nakatani is the character designer and chief animation director. Other staff members include:Character Design, Chief Animation Director: Yukiko Nakatani (One Piece: Episode of Luffy - Hand Island no Bouken)
- Colour Design: Misato Aida
- Art Director: Masakazu Miyake
- Art Boards: Takumi Tanji
- CG Producer: Masaya Machida
- Director of Photography: Atsushi Takeyama
- Editing: Daisuke Imai
- Sound Director: Shouji Hata
- Music: Satoru Kousaki, Kevin Penkin, Alisa Okehazama
- Distribution: TOHO
The story of the movie will follow Maomao and Jinshi on their journey to the countryside hometown of a consort who died in the imperial harem five years ago to return her remains to her family. But there, they face pirates, hidden treasures, the secret behind the consort’s remains, and a mysterious young boy who holds the key to the story.
What is The Apothecary Diaries about?
The anime is based on a light novel series Natsu Hyūga, and originally began as a web novel on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō platform in October 2011. It was later picked up for print publication by Shufunotomo in August 2014, featuring illustrations by Touko Shino.
It also has two manga adaptations, the first by Nekokurage, which is published by Square Enix in their Monthly Big Gangan magazine. The second manga adaptation with art by Minoji Kurata is published by Shogakukan in Monthly Sunday Gene-X. The first two seasons and the currently airing third season are all available on Crunchyroll.
J-Novel Club publishes the novels in English and describes the story as:
“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.”
The story follows Maomao, a girl raised by an apothecary, who is “kidnapped and sold into service” within the imperial palace. Despite her unassuming appearance, she possesses sharp medical knowledge and deductive skills. Her abilities draw the attention of Jinshi, the head eunuch, who places her close to the Emperor’s favourite consort, tasking her with tasting food for poison.
As Maomao navigates palace life, her investigations uncover secrets within the rear palace, pulling her deeper into intrigue and danger.