At the first-ever solo event for The Apothecary Diaries, held on August 15, 2026, fans got a torrent of new information about the upcoming third TV anime season and the franchise’s first feature film. The event, titled “Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Natsu no Enkai 2026,” drew 4,000 fans to hear the latest announcements.
The series, written by Hyuuga Natsu with illustrations by Shino Touko (Hero Bunko / Imagica Infos), has sold over 57 million copies worldwide. The anime adaptation, which began with its second season in January 2025, dominated streaming charts and topped multiple rankings, cementing its status as a representative anime of 2025. Its international popularity is equally strong: on Crunchyroll, it took the No. 1 spot in the spring 2025 season rankings, and at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026, it won awards for Best Director, Best Drama, Best Voice Actor, and Best Lead Character.
Season 3 Premiere Date and Broadcast Details
TV anime season 3 will begin airing on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 23:00 JST on NTV’s “FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT” (Fura Ani) slot. Following each broadcast, episodes will be available on various streaming platforms.
A New Chapter in the Story
The third season expands the setting from the imperial court to the streets and even to neighboring countries. Maomao and Jinshi face new trials. One morning, a dish of locusts triggers a sense of unease in Maomao, leading her to investigate a strange mystery. Meanwhile, Jinshi, who has begun confronting his duties as the Emperor’s brother, is troubled by signs of a disaster that could strike the nation. Rumors also begin to circulate about a mysterious fairy who misleads people, casting a shadow over the country of Li.
The teaser preview shows the mysterious fairy with a suspicious smile, glimpses of the coming disaster, and Maomao’s curiosity being piqued as Luo Ban and Lu Sun get involved. It ends with Bai Niangniang’s unsettling words: “This is a medicine that can soothe the heart and erase the pain of the mortal world.”
The new key visual depicts Maomao and Jinshi walking through golden wheat fields under a beautiful morning sky, suggesting their departure from the palace and the broadening of the story ahead.
Yorushika Performs Opening Theme
The opening theme song is “Kumo o Nuke Kazashita e Watashi dake” by Yorushika, a band known for its literary lyrics, guitar-driven sound, and transparent vocals that appeal to younger generations. The song carries a breezy, expansive feel that evokes Maomao and Jinshi’s new journey.
Composer n-buna commented: “While I was thinking about the concept for the next album, the phrase ‘Kumo o Nuke Kazashita e Watashi dake’ kept floating in my head. At first it was just a string of words without a melody, but it persisted. I imagined a vast grassland with wind blowing through it. Then when the offer for The Apothecary Diaries came, I learned the theme was ‘travel’—a kind of road movie. That’s when I felt a strange certainty that this music would create something interesting with this story.”
New Character: Bai Niangniang
The mysterious fairy Bai Niangniang, who has white skin, white hair, and red eyes, will be voiced by Ueda Reina, known for roles such as Reze in Chainsaw Man – Reze Arc, Chinatsu Kano in Blue Box, and Sakuya in Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture.
Ueda commented: “She is a mysterious girl whose true identity and purpose are shrouded in mystery. I will carefully approach this elusive character, and I hope you enjoy Season 3, including her actions!”
New Character Visuals for 10 Characters
New visuals were also unveiled for ten characters: Maomao and Jinshi, along with the three high-class courtesans of the Green Jade Pavilion—Bairin, Meimei, and Youka—as well as Zhao Yu, the surviving child of the Zi clan who Maomao takes care of; Ma Sen, the son of Gaoshun and Jinshi’s aide and guard; Luo Ban, the adopted son of the eccentric strategist Luo Han with an obsession for numbers; and Lu Sun, Luo Han’s adjutant. These characters will weave new drama in Season 3 following the turbulent events of Season 2.
Advance Screening Event with Stage Greetings
Before the broadcast premiere, an advance screening of episodes 1 and 2 will be held on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at TOHO Cinemas Roppongi. After the screening, stage greetings will feature Aoi Yuki (Maomao), Takeo Otsuka (Jinshi), Tatsumaru Tachibana (Ma Sen), and Natsumi Fujiwara (Zhao Yu). Live viewing will also be available at 10 venues nationwide. Attendees will receive a Season 3 key visual sticker.
Podcast Series Returns
The Spotify-exclusive podcast “Kusuriya to Futarigoto” will return for Season 3. Hosted by Aoi Yuki, each episode will feature a guest cast member, offering episode recaps, deeper looks at the story, and more. The first guest is Takeo Otsuka, and the podcast will be distributed biweekly starting Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Movie Information
To celebrate the upcoming season and film, NTV (Kanto region) will air a pick-up broadcast of Season 1. Additionally, anime visuals and mini characters for regular and original characters were revealed. The movie’s original characters—Mu Qing, Ruo Qing, and Yin Shan—were designed by original illustrator Shino Touko. Alongside familiar faces like Gaoshun, the anime visuals for the movie characters are also out now, including a mini-character version of the movie key visual.
Advance movie ticket cards featuring the movie’s teaser key visual, which were first sold at the summer event, will be available starting Monday, August 17, at 14:00 via major online stores.
Full Comments
Yorushika (n-buna)
Full comment text: “While I was thinking about the concept for the next album, the phrase ‘Kumo o Nuke Kazashita e Watashi dake’ kept floating in my head. At the time, it was just a string of characters without a melody, but it lingered persistently, and I wondered where that image had come from. When I thought about that phrase, I imagined an immense grassland. When I considered what sound to give that grassland, the erhu came to mind—an instrument whose beautiful, stretching tone evokes the wind across the plains. It was also one of the instruments I wanted to incorporate into the album I was planning. So the image grew: wind blowing across an empty, vast grassland, passing through clouds and extending endlessly. Then the offer for The Apothecary Diaries arrived. As I heard the details, I learned that the theme was ‘travel’—a kind of road movie. That was the moment the vague grassland in my mind suddenly connected to the word ‘travel.’ I felt a strange certainty that this music, which I was about to create, would create an interesting reaction with this story.”
Ueda Reina (Bai Niangniang)
“She is a mysterious girl whose true identity and purpose are veiled. I went into the first recording with some tension, but the interplay between Maomao and the others and the world’s atmosphere were so comfortable that I found myself listening as a viewer. The balance between serious and comedic moments is excellent, and I think the content lets you peek into the daily lives of Maomao and her companions with enjoyment. I will carefully approach this character, who is hard to pin down, so I hope you enjoy Season 3, including her actions!”
(C) 2026 The Apothecary Diaries Movie Production Committee (C) Hyuuga Natsu / Imagica Infos
