LayarHijau.com – The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto), the hugely popular series that has sold more than 57 million copies worldwide, is officially getting a live-action drama adaptation. The series is being jointly produced by Prime Video and TOHO and will stream exclusively worldwide on Prime Video starting in 2028.
The live-action drama will be released in more than 240 countries and territories around the world. Alongside the announcement, Prime Video and TOHO have also unveiled the first teaser visual featuring Mana Ashida as the protagonist, Maomao.
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Maomao is an eccentric young woman with a particular fascination with medicine and poisons. Armed with sharp observational skills and extensive knowledge of pharmacology, she goes on to solve one mystery after another inside the imperial palace.
Despite her cool and carefree attitude toward those around her, Maomao shows a strong sense of determination whenever she needs to protect someone important to her.
That combination of intelligence, inner strength, and an intriguing vulnerability has made Maomao one of the most beloved characters in The Apothecary Diaries. Ashida will now take on the challenge of bringing the character to life in the live-action adaptation.
In the newly released teaser visual, Maomao’s eyes are deliberately hidden from view. Her tightly pursed lips, the handkerchief in her hand, and her poised appearance evoke one of the memorable scenes from the original work.
Mana Ashida Is a Fan of The Apothecary Diaries
Ashida revealed that she was already a huge fan of the original novel before being cast as Maomao. As a result, she admitted that taking part in a work she loved came with a certain amount of pressure.
“I was originally a huge fan of the original novels, so there were many moments when I felt nervous about becoming part of a work I love so much,” Ashida said.
She went on to praise the cast and crew for their dedication to the source material throughout the production.
“I feel that the entire filming period was about pouring our love for Maomao and for this work into every aspect, together with the cast and staff, who showed tremendous respect for the original and worked with us to pay attention to every detail,” she said.
Ashida also found herself experiencing the excitement of a fan while filming the drama.
“There were so many moments when my feelings as a fan came rushing back while I was performing, and my heart would race with excitement,” she said.
The actress hopes that both longtime fans and newcomers will be able to share that excitement.
“I would be incredibly happy if we could share this excitement with fans of the original work as well as those who are experiencing it for the first time. I hope you will look forward to its release,” Ashida said.
Author Natsu Hyuga Gives Mana Ashida Her Seal of Approval
Natsu Hyuga, the author of The Apothecary Diaries, also shared her thoughts on the live-action adaptation.
Hyuga acknowledged that the novel and live-action drama are fundamentally different forms of storytelling, so she decided to entrust the adaptation to the production team.
“The live-action adaptation has come a long way. It feels like we’ve traveled incredibly far, and since novels and live-action productions are two different things, I thought it would be best to leave it in their hands,” Hyuga said.
She also expressed her gratitude to everyone involved in the production for doing an outstanding job.
When Ashida was chosen to play Maomao, Hyuga immediately felt reassured.
“When Ashida-san was cast as Maomao, I thought, ‘Ah, I can leave this in their hands with confidence.’ Then, when I actually met her, I thought, ‘That’s Maomao!’” Hyuga said.
Hyuga visited the filming set several times and was impressed by the elaborate sets and costumes created for the drama.
“I saw the incredibly lavish sets and costumes, and I found myself thinking about rather mundane things like, ‘How much on earth did all of this cost?’” she joked.
According to Hyuga, the attention to detail extended across virtually every aspect of the production.
“The script, props, hair and makeup, as well as the instruction on etiquette and the way the characters walk—all of it showed an incredible level of attention to detail,” she said.
Hyuga also shared a humorous story about visiting the set with her niece. When her niece spotted the actor playing Jinshi, she immediately became very excited.
“My niece was there with me when we visited the set, and the actor playing Jinshi happened to be there. She had such a huge smile on her face,” Hyuga recalled.
“At this rate, her eyes were going to become too accustomed to handsome men, so I quietly covered my niece’s eyes. The real-life Jinshi,” she joked.
TOHO and Amazon MGM Studios Build the Imperial Palace on a Grand Scale
The live-action adaptation is being jointly produced by TOHO and Amazon MGM Studios.
TOHO has worked on major live-action productions that have received acclaim both in Japan and overseas, including Godzilla Minus One, which won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards.
Prime Video, meanwhile, brings its global distribution network to the project, allowing the series to reach audiences in more than 240 countries and territories.
The two companies have created a production setup designed to faithfully bring the grand world of the imperial palace to life without compromising on scale or detail.
A massive set recreating the palace environment was constructed specifically for the production, with filming taking place there over a period of six months.
The production is also pursuing the highest standards across its visual elements, including production design, costumes, and visual effects.
Amazon MGM Studios Highlights the Story’s Global Appeal
Buddy Marini, head of Amazon MGM Studios Japan, highlighted the unique appeal of The Apothecary Diaries.
“Set in a glamorous yet dangerous imperial palace, the story follows a young girl who uses her knowledge of pharmacology to solve mysteries. The combination of compelling mysteries and realistic human drama has captivated people around the world, transcending genre boundaries,” Marini said.
He is confident that the live-action adaptation will offer audiences a new way to experience the beloved story.
“I am confident that we can deliver a new visual experience that can only be achieved through live action, both for those who already love the original work and those who are discovering it for the first time,” he said.
Marini also encouraged audiences to look forward to the project created through the partnership between Amazon MGM Studios and TOHO.
“Please look forward to this work that we have created together with TOHO,” he said.
TOHO Teases More Major Cast Announcements
Hiroshi Usui, an executive officer overseeing film planning within TOHO’s Entertainment Unit, said that the project came together through the combined efforts of an exceptional cast and creative team.
“The world created by Natsu Hyuga-sensei and loved by people around the world, Mana Ashida’s one-of-a-kind presence as Maomao, the passion of director Yuki Saito, screenwriter Erika Yoshida and the entire staff, and Amazon MGM Studios’ uncompromising vision—all of these elements came together to bring us this far,” Usui said.
He also joked about TOHO’s reputation for being closely associated with Godzilla.
“TOHO makes things other than Godzilla, too,” Usui joked.
He urged viewers to look forward to the meticulously crafted imperial palace setting and the appearances of the other major cast members who will be announced in the future.
“Please look forward to the imperial palace world that has been carefully brought to life by some of the finest talent in the film industry, as well as the performances of the impressive cast members who will be announced from here on,” Usui said.
The Apothecary Diaries Will Stream Worldwide From 2028
The Prime Original drama The Apothecary Diaries is scheduled to stream exclusively on Prime Video beginning in 2028, reaching audiences in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Alongside Mana Ashida as Maomao, the rest of the cast has yet to be revealed and will be announced at a later date.
The Apothecary Diaries Live-Action Drama Details
Title: The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto)
Platform: Prime Video
Release: 2028
Cast: Mana Ashida and others
Based on: The Apothecary Diaries by Natsu Hyuga (Hero Bunko/Imagica Infos)
Director: Yuki Saito
Screenplay: Erika Yoshida
Production: Amazon MGM Studios and TOHO
Production company: TOHO Studios
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