More Than Double Since the Anime Started
The most striking part of the announcement is the growth curve. In a PR TIMES release, Tokyo-based publisher Imagica Infos laid out the milestones: the series stood at 24 million copies at the end of September 2023, just before the TV anime premiered. It passed 33 million by the end of Season 1, jumped to 45 million after Season 2, and now sits at 57 million ahead of Season 3.
This update is also the first to add overseas translated editions to what had been a domestic count. Those editions span 16 languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, both simplified and traditional Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Polish, Russian, and Italian. The total covers the original novels and both manga adaptations, digital editions included.
A Pharmacist in the Rear Palace
Natsu Hyūga's novel series, illustrated by Touko Shino, launched in August 2014 under Imagica Infos' light novel imprint Hero Bunko and currently runs 16 volumes. The story follows Maomao, an apothecary raised in the pleasure district who is kidnapped and sold into the imperial rear palace as a servant. Her habit of poking into poisonings and palace conspiracies draws the attention of high consort Gyokuyō and the beautiful palace administrator Jinshi, and the publisher credits the series as a forerunner of the current wave of rear-palace stories in Japan.
The franchise's print footprint is unusually wide. Two separate manga adaptations run concurrently: one from Square Enix, drawn by Nekokurage with composition by Itsuki Nanao, and a second from Shogakukan under its Sunday GX Comics label. In English, Square Enix Manga & Books publishes both the novels, in print since May 2024 with translations produced in collaboration with J-Novel Club, and the Nekokurage manga.
Season 3 in October, the Movie in December
The milestone arrives at the start of the franchise's biggest broadcast year yet. Season 3 airs as a split-cour season: the first half starts October 2, 2026 on the Nippon TV network, Fridays at 11 p.m., with the second half scheduled for April 2027. The season is animated solely by OLM, the studio that has been on the series since the beginning and co-produced the first two seasons with Toho Animation Studio. The new season's opening theme comes from Yorushika, the duo behind Season 1's ending theme era of the show's soundtrack chatter online, and Aoi Yūki and Takeo Ōtsuka return as Maomao and Jinshi.
Then comes the series' first film. The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Empress' Treasure opens in Japanese theaters on December 11, 2026, produced solely by Toho Animation Studio. Its story is a completely new one written by Hyūga herself rather than an adaptation of existing novel material, which makes it required viewing even for readers who are caught up on all 16 volumes.
Looking Ahead
International fans are well covered. The first two seasons stream on Crunchyroll and Netflix, and Crunchyroll has already posted an official English-subtitled Season 3 trailer on its YouTube channel ahead of the October 2 premiere. No international release plans for the film have been announced yet.
On the reading side, Square Enix Manga & Books publishes the novels and the main manga in English, so the source material behind the new season is fully accessible. The next dates to circle: October 2, 2026 for the Season 3 premiere, December 11, 2026 for The Deceased Empress' Treasure in Japan, and April 2027 for the season's second half.