Fans of OLM and Toho Animation’s hit anime series The Apothecary Diaries know main protagonist Maomao as an inquisitive young woman who solves mysteries at the behest of a handsome Imperial officer named Jinshi. However, franchise creator Natsu Hyuuga originally had a much different vision for their two lead characters.

During a recent episode of NHK World-Japan, Hyuuga explained her original concept for Maomao — a character known for her intellect and love of poison. Before The Apothecary Diaries became an anime, Hyuuga wrote it as a web novel series on a platform where many works are ultimately picked up by publishers. In the beginning, Hyuuga conceived Maomao not as a young apothecary but as a young mother. “Set in a mining town, the main character was a mother with three kids. She worked for a wealthy family whose children were dying from mining toxins. That’s where it started,” she explained.

The Apothecary Diaries Creator Originally Had Very Different Stories for Main Characters

According to Hyuuga, the decision to change Maomao’s character was made out of consideration for the site’s users, who tend to favor young protagonists over older ones. The switch from a small town setting to an Imperial rear palace was also motivated by the fact that most of Hyuuga’s readers gravitated towards fantasy stories. “I set it in the city to make it flashier. A city full of poison is scary. But where there’s power, there’s poison,” Hyuuga explained. “The rear palace is full of human drama. Readers already understand that. So, I started with elegance, and found a setting that felt right.”

In The Apothecary Diaries, Jinshi serves as a central figure alongside Maomao. While his true identity is shrouded in mystery, he is the one who first recognizes Maomao’s talents and puts her to work as a poison taster for Lady Gyokuyou, one of the emperor’s favorite concubines. Despite his pivotal role in the story, Hyuuga originally intended for Jinshi to be killed off. “Jinshi didn’t have much standing, and Gaoshun was there to watch him. I thought of a plot where Gaoshun receives orders to kill Jinshi,” she said. However, the immense outpouring of love from Jinshi fans caused Hyuuga to scrap this idea: “I usually don’t change the main plot. I only make minor changes, [but] there is no need to write stuff that readers don’t enjoy.” The decision to let Jinshi live has greatly impacted the series, as it has allowed Hyuuga to delve further into the budding romance between him and Maomao.

The Apothecary Diaries anime series, which is directed by Norihiro Nagahuma (The Ancient Magus’ Bride), is currently in the middle of its second season. As of May 23, 2025, 19 episodes have aired in Japan. The season’s final installment is currently scheduled to debut on July 4. Artist Nekokurage has also created an Apothecary Diaries manga adaptation, which is serialized in Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan magazine. However, this version was recently put on hiatus due to ongoing issues with the artist’s health. As of May 29, serialization of the series is expected to resume on June 25, 2025.

The Apothecary Diaries anime is streaming on Hulu, Crunchyroll and Netflix. The original light novel series by Natsu Hyuuga (writer) and Touko Shino (art) is available in English from Square Enix Manga & Books.

Source: NHK World-Japan