TOHO animation began streaming a character trailer for The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Bо̄hi no Hihо̄), the upcoming anime film based on Hyuganatsu and Touko Shino‘s The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) light novel series, on Monday. The trailer highlights the Bi clan, and announces the cast members for the clan’s important characters.

The cast members include (Note: Character name Romanizations are not official) Nobuo Tobita as Bi clan head Birō, Kumiko Watanabe as Birō’s wife Shūu, and Hirofumi Nojima as the Bi clan’s eldest son Bisen. The trailer also shows the previously revealed cast member Mariya Ise as key character and Bi clan son Mu Qing.

TOHO animation will present more character videos over the next two days: for the Kaja Troupe on October 13, and for Ruo Qing and Yi Shan on October 14 (all name Romanizations not confirmed).

The story follows Maomao and Jinshi as they travel to the hometown of a concubine who died five years ago in the imperial harem, to return her remains to her homeland. There, they encounter pirates, hidden treasures, the secret of the Empress’ remains, and a mysterious boy who holds the key to the story.

The film will open in theaters in Japan on December 11 and feature a brand-new story by the original novel series’ author Hyuganatsu. Mariya Ise joins the cast as Mu Qing (English romanization not confirmed).

Crunchyroll announced on Thursday it has acquired the North American and worldwide rights (excluding Asia but including India) to the film. Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment will announce the release date at a later time.

The third television anime season premiered on October 2 at 11:00 p.m. (10:00 a.m. EDT) in the “Friday Anime Night” programming block on NTV and 29 affiliated channels for its first cours (quarter of a year), and its second cours will premiere in April 2027.

The anime’s first season premiered in October 2023 with the first three episodes, and aired for two cours. Crunchyroll streamed the anime as it aired in Japan and is also streaming an English dub.

The second anime season premiered in January 2025 on Nippon TV‘s FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT programming block, and aired for two consecutive cours
. Crunchyroll is streaming the second season, and it is also streaming an English dub.

J-Novel Club publishes the novel series digitally, and it describes 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.

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!

Hyuganatsu began serializing the 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 Shino in August 2014. Nekokurage launched an ongoing manga adaptation in Square Enix‘s Monthly Big Gangan magazine in May 2017. Square Enix Manga & Books is releasing the manga adaptation in English. The company is also publishing the novels in print. Viz Media is releasing Minoji Kurata‘s separate manga adaptation titled The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao’s Notes on the Inner Palace.

Sources: Apothecary Diaries anime’s website, Comic Natalie

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Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. Yen Press, BookWalker Global, and J-Novel Club are subsidiaries of KWE.

Publishing company Kadokawa announced on Friday that author Keiichi Sigsawa and illustrator Kouhaku Kuroboshi, the duo behind the Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World (Kino’s Journey: The Beautiful World) light novel, will launch a new light novel titled Drifted: John Smith no Edo Hyouryuu Kitan. Mobile online game developer coly is credited for the original concept. The first volume will be published under the Dengeki Bunko imprint on November 10.

Sigsawa began penning Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World in the Dengeki hp magazine with illustrations by Kuroboshi in March 2000. Kadokawa published the first volume under the Dengeki Bunko label in July that year. The 24th volume went on sale in September 2025.

Tokyopop originally licensed the light novel in English and released the first volume in October 2006. However, due to issues with the licensor, the publisher was unable to release further volumes and its license for the series subsequently expired.

The first television anime adaptation directed by Ryuutarou Nakamura (Serial Experiments Lain) at A.C.G.T. aired in Spring 2003. A prequel and sequel movie were released in February 2005 and April 2007, with the latter being produced by Shaft.

ADV Films originally licensed the first television anime in North America and released it in four DVDs throughout 2004 with English subtitles and dub. Sentai Filmworks relicensed the anime and streamed it on HIDIVE with an English dub and sub.

A second television anime adaptation, directed by Tomohisa Taguchi (Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen) at Lerche, aired in Fall 2017. Crunchyroll simulcasted the series with subtitles in multiple languages and an English dub.

Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World ranked in the Best Light Novel category of the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! guidebook three times, placing 2nd in 2006, 5th in 2007, and 6th in 2008.

Synopsis

John Smith, a former American soldier who washed ashore in late Edo-period Japan, is granted samurai status and the name Sumisu Jion by Shogun Tokugawa Ienari. His main duty is to investigate and recover modern firearms that have mysteriously appeared due to temporal distorsions, in a world also inhabited by superhuman ninja, sorcerers, and spirits. Smith undertakes these dangerous missions in the hope of one day returning to his homeland to reunite with his wife and children.

Source: PR Times

Voice actress idol unit i☆Ris announced on Sunday on their official website that they will end their activities at the end of 2027, coinciding with the group’s 15th anniversary and marking the conclusion of their 15-year journey.

In a statement, the staff apologized for the sudden announcement and thanked the fans and everyone involved with the group. They said the five members and staff have been talking it over since last year after the group’s 10th anniversary in 2022.”We will run to the end in true i☆Ris style,” the statement read, with gratitude to fans “in our hearts.”

The unit consists of Saki Yamakita (green; leader), Yuu Serizawa (blue), Himika Akaneya (purple), Yuki Wakai (red), and Miyu Kubota (orange). Each of them posted a message to fans.

Yamakita, the group’s leader, said she originally planned to continue for ten years and was glad to pass that point with all five members. She said the group has yet to achieve a sold-out solo show at Yokohama Arena and wants to reach it in the remaining year.

Wakai said the decision was not prompted by any one person and was made after thorough discussion among the members. She said she began to think about an end to her idol career after the 10th anniversary and chose the 15-year mark to finish while the group is at its peak.

Serizawa told fans who were upset by the news that she was sorry to see them sad and asked them to spend the final year making memories they can look back on for the rest of their lives. Akaneya, who said she usually gets bored of things quickly, called this the longest she has stuck with anything. Kubota said she was a little glad if fans felt sad, because it showed how much the group meant to them. Several members closed with the same line, asking fans to “dream a little longer, just a little more” with them.

The group’s 14th anniversary live is scheduled for November 3 at the Yokohama Arena. Kubota asked fans to come with their sadness if they must, but to bring plenty of excitement too. The statement did not announce details of further events before the end of 2027.

i☆Ris formed in July 2012, under the DIVE II Entertainment label by Avex and 81 Produce through the Anison Vocal Audition. The group debuted in November 2012, with the single Color. In addition to their music careers, all five members are also voice actresses, best known for performing songs for the PriPara anime franchise. The idol group also won the Best Vocal Performance Award at the 10th Seiyuu Awards in March 2016.

Over the years, i☆Ris performed theme songs for several anime, including Kenja no Mago (Wise Man’s Grandchild), Sousei no Onmyouji (Twin Star Exorcists), Tejina-senpai (Magical Sempai), Mahou Shoujo Site (Magical Girl Site), and Kakegurui Twin, with the recent being Honoo no Toukyuujo: Dodge Danko (Flaming Dodgeball Girl Danko). The group also received an anime movie adaptation, i☆Ris the Movie: Full Energy!!, which premiered in Japan in May 2024 to celebrate their 10th anniversary.

Official site: http://iris.dive2ent.com/
Official X: @iris_official_

Source: Oricon News, Famitsu