Apothecary Diaries is the number one anime category on the popular Japanese streaming service

The Pharmacy diaries was perhaps an unexpected hit for many. Despite the fact that the novel has already managed to gain a significant following – it usually appears on the best-selling novel charts every year and this year topped the Oricon chart) – a large portion of international anime fans are more interested in not just manga, but shounen manga . So this was a hit that some may not even have seen.

But Pharmacy diaries was, at least in Japan, one of the most anticipated anime adaptations (ranked 9th in AnimeJapan's “Most Wanted Anime Adaptation” poll in 2019). The manga adaptation of the original novel was also highly praised by critics.

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Regardless of what people expected, Pharmacy diaries was one of the hits of the Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 season, which ran in two consecutive courses. It may have gotten a bit more attention in Japan than it did internationally because Popular streaming U-Next has just revealed that it has reached the top of its anime category in 2024beating series like Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (3rd place) and even insanely famous Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hashira Training Arc (2nd, but it's important to note that some viewers may prefer the TV experience over streaming).

What is the U-Next Streaming service

U-Next didn't share any numbers on how many times each series was streamed, but it's an impressive tally nonetheless. For those who don't know, U-Next is one of the biggest streaming platforms in Japan with over 4.3 million subscribers. They offer not only audiovisual content, but also e-books. Access and content may be geo-blocked due to licensing agreements, but users will still find ways to sign up. Check out the 10 most streamed anime on U-Next this year:

1. Pharmacy diaries
2. Demon Slayer: Hashira's Training Arc
3. Frieren
4. Mashle: Magic and Muscles
5. That time I was reincarnated as slime S3
6. Oshi no Ko S2
7. Kaiju no. 8
8. Jujutsu Kaisen S2
9. Delicious in the Dungeon
10. My Hero Academia

The premise of pharmacy journals

The story has a historical setting, but does not try to be historically accurate in terms of characters and events. It is inspired by China's Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and the story revolves around a girl named Maomao. It is, as the name suggests, a pharmacy. She worked in the red light district before she was kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace.

Now living as a servant, she spends several years unnoticed by the bigger players, at least until many of the emperor's children and concubines suddenly start falling ill – using her apothecary skills, she is able to solve the mystery. After that, she is constantly asked to solve many other mysteries and conspiracies.

The second season will likely adapt volumes 3-4, starting where the first left off. Akinori Fudesaka is in charge of directing the new season and this is his directorial debut. The previous one was directed Norihiro Naganumawho is still part of the crew, but as a head writer (he wrote and directed the first season). Studios Toho Animation Studio and OLM are animating the series. The series will return for 24 episodes and is scheduled to premiere on January 10, 2025.

Source: OtakuUSAMagazine

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Pharmacy diaries

Cast

Emi Lo, Kaiji Tang, Alex Horn, Molly Zhang, Jim Foronda, Trina Nishimura

Creator

Natsu Hyuga