The hit palace mystery series The Apothecary Diaries—written by Natsu Hyuga and illustrated by Touko Shino—continues to captivate fans with its blend of medical intrigue and court politics. To celebrate the series, the official project "Maomao and Jinshi's Journey Through the Four Seasons" has released its latest installment for the new year.
Every month on the 22nd (affectionately known in Japan as "Maomao Day"), the project unveils a new visual themed around seasonal flora. For January, the spotlight falls on the vibrant Camellia (Tsubaki), featuring a stunning composition of Maomao and the elegant Meimei.
<The following is a quotation from the official announcement>
"Maomao and Jinshi's Journey Through the Four Seasons" Unveils January Art
The project "Maomao and Jinshi's Journey Through the Four Seasons" delivers a new seasonal plant-themed visual every month on the 22nd—a day celebrated as "Maomao Day."
The theme for the January visual is the Camellia. The illustration depicts Maomao returning from gathering medicinal herbs and Meimei, one of the three princesses of the Verdigris House, strolling along a path where camellias are in full bloom! The visual captures Maomao's expression—one she only shows in front of Meimei—and Meimei's gentle smile, conveying the intimate atmosphere between the two.
The official website is offering PC and smartphone wallpapers featuring this new visual. Be sure to check them out!
Additionally, a Follow & Repost Campaign is now running on X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the visual's release! Follow the official X account for the anime "The Apothecary Diaries" and repost the campaign post for a chance to win a visual card featuring this newly unveiled illustration. Five winners will be selected by lottery. We hope you'll participate!
*The campaign may be limited to Japan region
Watch January Visual Art Short Video
Visual Production Staff
Key Animation: Choi Wang Hang
Animation Director: Yukiko Nakatani
Color Design: Misato Aida
Finishing: Tomoya Niimi
Background: Ngoc Thanh, Nhat Quang, Akane Iwasaki
Photography: Atsushi Takeyama
About "The Apothecary Diaries" Season 2
Synopsis
When the emperor's high-ranking consort, Gyokuyō, discovered she was pregnant, Maomao returned to her role as the Jade Pavilion's poison-tester. She remained vigilant to ensure no further incidents would target the consort and the emperor's son.
A new consort, Loulan, whose father was an influential minister from the previous emperor's reign, entered the palace. An unprecedented unsolved case emerged, where the emperor's life was threatened, and the suspect, Suirei, disappeared.
As the unsettling atmosphere persisted, foreign traders and ambassadors with unreasonable demands also arrived. More dark clouds were beginning to gather over the court.
The new challenges facing Maomao and Jinshi will eventually escalate into a major incident involving the entire country----
Cast
Maomao: Aoi Yuki
Jinshi: Takeo Otsuka
Gaoshun: Katsuyuki Konishi
Consort Gyokuyō: Atsumi Tanezaki
Consort Lihua: Yui Ishikawa
Consort Lishu: Hina Kino
Xiaolan: Misaki Kuno
Shisui: Asami Seto
Ayla: Lynn
Aylin: Yumi Hara
Lahan: Toshiyuki Toyonaga
Shenmei: Rika Fukami
Narrator: Sumi Shimamoto
©Hyuganatsu, Imagica Infos/“The Apothecary Diaries”Project
© Animate Times
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
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