The tenth installment of the visual project “Maomao & Jinshi’s Journey Through the Four Seasons” from the anime The Apothecary Diaries has been unveiled. This time, the theme is cherry blossoms, featuring both Maomao and Jinshi.
Set in the imperial palace, The Apothecary Diaries is a hugely popular mystery series that has surpassed 33 million copies in total circulation. It follows Maomao, a young apothecary working as a poison tester, who solves complex cases at the behest of Jinshi, a high-ranking eunuch. The story, written by Natsu Hyuuga and illustrated by Touko Shino, has been adapted into a TV anime that premiered in October 2023.
In the U.S., Season 1 is currently available to stream on Netflix, while both Season 1 and the ongoing Season 2 are streaming on Crunchyroll, with new episodes released weekly. The anime has consistently ranked among the top titles across streaming platforms.
To celebrate the 22nd of each month as “Maomao Day,” a special illustration project titled “Maomao & Jinshi’s Journey Through the Four Seasons” was launched in July 2024. Every month, a newly drawn visual themed around seasonal plants is released, featuring characters from the anime in scenes not seen in the main story. These illustrations aren’t limited to just Maomao and Jinshi—other character pairings appear as well.
The April visual—the tenth in the series—highlights cherry blossoms, a symbol of spring. Under the gentle spring sunlight, Maomao and Jinshi are seen enjoying hanami (cherry blossom viewing) beneath a sakura tree. Maomao is happily pouring sake, while Jinshi appears slightly tipsy, with a soft blush on his cheeks. The artwork captures a rare and relaxed moment between the two.