The Apothecary Diaries manga sales: Oricon rise and franchise total
Maomao's court-intrigue series has become a textbook example of an anime adaptation lifting manga sales without relying on action set pieces.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: The Apothecary Diaries manga ranked 4th on Oricon's 2024 best-selling manga series chart with estimated sales of 4,723,562 copies during the November 20, 2023 to November 17, 2024 tracking period. The combined Apothecary Diaries franchise, including the original light novels and both manga adaptations, surpassed 45 million copies in circulation as of November 2025.
How Oricon tracks The Apothecary Diaries sales
Oricon's annual manga ranking compares estimated physical tankobon sales across all series in Japan. The Apothecary Diaries appears as a single franchise entry even though it has two separate manga adaptations, one in Monthly Big Gangan and one in Sunday GX.
The ranking period runs from late November to late November and excludes digital sales, overseas sales, and light novel sales. The source used here lists the series under its Japanese title in some years, so cross-referencing publisher and magazine is necessary.
How did sales move year by year?
The table below lists the Oricon fiscal-year ranks and estimated series sales we were able to verify from public year-end charts. Oricon counts physical tankobon sales at tracked retailers, so digital sales and some channels are not included.
A rank tells you how the series performed against every other manga that year, while the sales figure is the estimated number of copies sold during that 12-month window. It is not the same as total copies in circulation.
The Apothecary Diaries Oricon annual series rank and estimated sales, 2019 to 2024.| Year | Oricon tracking period | Series rank | Estimated sales |
|---|
| 2019 | Nov 19, 2018 to Nov 19, 2019 | 14 | 1,953,063 |
| 2021 | Nov 23, 2020 to Nov 21, 2021 | 22 | 2,205,122 |
| 2022 | Nov 22, 2021 to Nov 20, 2022 | 23 | 1,695,896 |
| 2023 | Nov 21, 2022 to Nov 19, 2023 | 13 | 2,320,880 |
| 2024 | Nov 20, 2023 to Nov 17, 2024 | 4 | 4,723,562 |
What does the trend show?
The Apothecary Diaries was already a mid-tier Oricon regular before the anime, ranking 14th in 2019 and staying in the top 25 through 2022. The 2023 anime adaptation produced a clear step up, with 2024 sales more than doubling to 4.72 million copies and a 4th-place rank.
The jump from 13th place in 2023 to 4th place in 2024 shows the anime's effect continuing into the following counting year, as new readers caught up with the back catalog.
How do annual sales compare to total circulation?
The 45 million circulation figure covers the entire Apothecary Diaries franchise, including the Hero Bunko light novels and both manga adaptations. It is not a manga-only number. Reports note circulation stood at about 24 million before the first anime season and grew by roughly 21 million during and after the broadcast.
Because the 45 million figure mixes light novels and manga and counts copies in circulation rather than annual sell-through, it should not be directly compared to Oricon's annual manga-only sales figures.
Rank versus total sales: A high annual rank means a series sold more copies that year than most rivals. Total circulation counts every volume printed or shipped since the start. A long-running series can have a huge total without topping a single annual chart, while a new hit can top one year with far fewer total volumes.
Where does this fit in the manga market?
The Apothecary Diaries is unusual among recent top sellers because it is a historical mystery with an adult female lead. Its 2024 Oricon rank placed it ahead of most battle-oriented shonen series, suggesting the manga audience is broader than the most visible genre trends.
For readers researching manga sales, the cleanest comparison is Oricon annual series rank over the same tracking period. Mixing circulation announcements, digital estimates, and regional sales without labeling them invites confusion.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Apothecary Diaries' best Oricon annual rank?
Its best verified Oricon annual rank is 4th place in the 2024 counting year, with estimated sales of 4,723,562 copies.
How many copies of The Apothecary Diaries are in circulation?
The combined franchise, including light novels and both manga adaptations, surpassed 45 million copies in circulation as of November 2025.
Does the 45 million figure include the light novels?
Yes. The 45 million figure includes the original light novels and both manga adaptations. It is not a manga-only total.
Why did Apothecary Diaries sales jump in 2024?
The first TV anime season aired from October 2023 to March 2024, driving new readers to buy the manga back catalog during the 2024 Oricon tracking window.
Sources and methodology
- Oricon (Japan) Manga Sales 2024, Install Base (Oricon data compilation). Top 50 best-selling manga series for the Oricon period November 20, 2023 to November 17, 2024, with year-to-date sales and ranks.
- Oricon (Japan) Manga Sales 2023 White Paper, Install Base (Oricon data compilation). Top 50 best-selling manga series for the Oricon period November 21, 2022 to November 19, 2023, with ranks and sales.
- Oricon (Japan) Manga Sales 2022 White Paper, Install Base (Oricon data compilation). Top 50 best-selling manga series for the Oricon period November 22, 2021 to November 20, 2022, with ranks and sales.
- The Apothecary Diaries has sold over 45 million copies, Mantan Web. Report that combined light novel and manga circulation surpassed 45 million copies, with pre- and post-anime benchmarks, dated November 26, 2025.