Koei Tecmo has announced that the Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries/ 薬屋のひとりごと ) franchise will get a new game titled The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother. The game will launch on Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam in early 2027.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amdOkW4uKxA]
The game is described below:
“Two chains of strange phenomenon and conspiracies are causing chaos throughout the rear palace, red-light district, and streets of the capital. Apothecary Maomao must use every ounce of her intelligence and knowledge to solve the mysteries and unveil the truth behind the False Imperial Brother before it destroys the imperial court.”
The game is based on Hyuuganatsu’s Kusuriya no Hitorigoto light novel series. Hyuuganatsu started the original story in October 2011 on the Shousetsuka ni Narou website, and Shufunotomo began publishing the novel series with illustrations by Shino Touko in August 2014. The 16th novel in the series was released in May 2025.
The novel series was adapted into a manga by Nekokurage in May 2017 in Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan magazine. Kurata Minoji began a manga spinoff in August 2017 in Shogakukan’s Monthly Sunday GX magazine, titled Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Maomao no Koukyuu Nazotoki Techou.
J-Novel Club publishes the original novel series digitally in English under the name The Apothecary Diaries, and it released the 16th novel in May 2026. J-Novel Club describes the story below:
“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.
Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That’s her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao’s façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor’s favorite consort… so she can taste the lady’s food for poison! At her lady’s side, Maomao starts to learn about everything that goes on in the rear palace—not all of it seemly. Can she ever lead a quiet life, or will her powers of deduction and insatiable curiosity bring her ever more adventures, and ever more dangers?’
The novels were adapated into an anime in October 2023, with a second season in January 2025 and a third season which will debut on October 2nd, 2026. The anime can be streamed on Crunchyroll, and it is described below:
“Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she’s sold as a lowly servant to the emperor’s palace. But she wasn’t meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she’s making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!”
