An apothecary franchise is getting a manga spin-off featuring Xiaolan.
On Sunday, Xiaolan Kaisōroku manga was started by Itsuki Nanao.
At Anime Japan 2025 on Saturday, Square Enix announced the release of a new manga spinoff for The Apothecary Diaries franchise called Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Gaiden: Xiaolan Kaisōroku (The Apothecary Diaries Side Story: Xiaolan's Memories). This new manga was launched on Square Enix's Manga UP! website on Sunday. Itsuki Nanao, who is responsible for one of the manga adaptations of The Apothecary Diaries, is also working on this new manga.
The story revolves around Xiaolan, a lively servant in the palace who enjoys chatting with Mao Mao, her friend.
The digital version of the original novel series by Natsu Hyūga and Touko Shino is published by J-Novel Club. It outlines the plot of the story.
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. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there.
Despite appearing commonplace, Maomao possesses exceptional intelligence, keen observation skills, and extensive medical knowledge. This secret is revealed when Jinshi, an equally astute eunuch at the palace, discerns her true abilities and appoints her as a lady-in-waiting to the Emperor's favorite consort. Her new role involves tasting the consort's food for poison.
In May 2017, Square Enix published the manga version of "Itsuki Nanao" in its Monthly Big Gangan magazine. As of September 2024, they have released the 14th volume of the manga. On March 25th, they will release the 15th volume.
The manga adaptation of Minoji Kurata's novels, titled "Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Mao Mao no Kōkyū Nazotoki Techō" (also known as "Maomao's Notes from the Inner Palace"), was launched as a separate version of the story. ( link ) In August 2017, Shogakukan began publishing its manga on its Sunday Webry website. ( link ) In December 2018, Shogakukan released the 19th volume of the manga that was available online. On December 19th specifically, this volume was published.
Original light novel author Natsu Hyūga previously admitted ( link ) that they do not know why there are two manga adaptations of their novels. Both manga launched only three months apart from each other.
Natsu started publishing his work in installments. ( link ) the original story on the "Shōsetsuka ni Narō" (Let's Become Novelists) website in October 2011. Shufunotomo began publishing the novels in print volume with illustrations by Touko Shino in August 2014.
An anime adaptation of a popular light novel series began airing in October 2023 with its first three episodes. It continued for two quarters before its second season started on January 10th and is currently ongoing.
Source: Itsuki Nanao 's X/Twitter account ( link )
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