The Apothecary Diaries is bringing its palace mysteries to an unexpected new setting. Maomao and Jinshi are now appearing across Kura Revolving Sushi Bar through a limited-time collaboration with Crunchyroll, giving fans a chance to experience the anime through themed food, collectible prizes and exclusive rewards.
The collaboration began on September 18, 2026, at participating Kura Sushi USA locations. Running through October 31, the promotion arrives just ahead of the anime’s highly anticipated third season, making the timing especially interesting for fans preparing to return to Maomao’s world.
Maomao and Jinshi Get Their Own Kura Sushi Menu Items
The most immediate way for fans to enter The Apothecary Diaries collaboration is through the limited-time menu.
Two dishes are at the heart of the promotion, with each one inspired by one of the anime’s central characters.
Maomao’s Soy Ginger Wonton Noodles combines a soy sauce-based broth infused with dashi and ginger with ramen noodles, wontons, chashu pork and green onions. The dish gives Maomao’s name a place on the menu while bringing together the ingredients in a noodle-based option.
Then there is Jinshi’s Fried Tuna Roll, which takes a very different route. The roll combines fried tuna, avocado, lettuce and pickled carrots, all wrapped in seaweed and Kura’s specialty sushi rice.
It is then finished with purple yuzu cream sauce, purple panko and sesame seeds.
Together, the two dishes connect the collaboration directly to Maomao and Jinshi while keeping the experience firmly rooted in Kura Sushi’s revolving-sushi format.
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The Apothecary Diaries Fans Can Hunt for Exclusive Bikkura Pon Collectibles
Food is only one part of the crossover.
Kura Sushi is also bringing The Apothecary Diaries into its signature Bikkura Pon prize experience, turning a restaurant visit into a collectible hunt.
Fans can collect 10 lucky acrylic charms, two-piece magnet bookmark sets and sticker rolls featuring the anime’s characters.
The randomized capsule prizes are tied to sushi plate totals. Guests become eligible for a collaboration capsule prize after reaching 15 plates, 25 plates, and then every 15 plates thereafter.
That means the promotion has a built-in mystery element, with fans not knowing exactly which collaboration collectible they will receive.
The available collectibles include:
| Collectible | Details |
| Lucky acrylic charms | 10 designs available |
| Magnet bookmark sets | Two-piece sets |
| Sticker rolls | The Apothecary Diaries-themed designs |
| Rare Maomao hologram lucky acrylic charm | Rare prize and not available for individual purchase |
There is also a particularly rare item for collectors: the Maomao hologram lucky acrylic charm.
Fans who do not want to rely entirely on the randomized capsule system can purchase the available collectibles individually at participating restaurants, through Kura Sushi’s online ordering service and through DoorDash.
However, there is one important exception. The rare Maomao hologram lucky acrylic charm is excluded from individual purchases.
Availability can also vary by location.
Kura Sushi Rewards Members Have Another Limited-Time Perk
The collaboration has another reward waiting for Kura Sushi Rewards members.
Starting September 23, members who place a minimum $85 in-restaurant order can receive The Apothecary Diaries x Kura Sushi themed chopsticks with a cloth case.
The offer is limited to one unit per member and remains available while supplies last.
Kura Sushi also states that availability is not guaranteed at every location. Additional terms, charges and exclusions may apply to the promotion.
For fans planning a visit specifically for the themed reward, that makes the timing and availability worth keeping in mind.
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Kura Sushi Calls The Anime a Natural Match for the Collaboration
The partnership is not simply about putting anime characters on restaurant merchandise. Kura Sushi USA has also explained why The Apothecary Diaries was chosen for the collaboration.
Sally Kurosaki, Senior Promotions & Licensing Manager at Kura Sushi USA, said:
“We find joy blending our Japanese culinary heritage with beloved entertainment, and The Apothecary Diaries is a brilliant narrative about science and mystery, making it the perfect inspiration for us to honor a fantastic series through an exciting new menu and collection of prizes,”
That connection between mystery, science and Japanese culinary heritage is also reflected in the way the collaboration uses Bikkura Pon.
According to Kura Sushi USA’s announcement, its proprietary prize platform is powered by plate counts and has become part of the restaurant chain’s dining experience.
The company states that more than 600 million plates have been served in the United States through the Bikkura Pon program.
For The Apothecary Diaries fans, that system now becomes part of the anime-themed experience, adding a randomized collectible element to the restaurant visit.
The Kura Sushi Collaboration Lands Just Before The Apothecary Diaries Season 3
The timing of the partnership is one of its biggest details.
The collaboration launched on September 18, while The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 is scheduled to premiere on October 2, 2026.
Crunchyroll confirmed in August that the new season will use a split cour structure. The first cour begins in October 2026, while the second cour is scheduled to air in April 2027.
Crunchyroll will stream the series as it airs.
The third season is directed by Akinori Fudesaka at animation studio OLM, with Wataru Nakagawa serving as assistant director.
Norihiro Naganuma handles series composition, while the scripts are credited to Yuko Kakkihara, Misuzu Chiba and Hitomi Ogawa.
Behind the character designs is Yukiko Nakatani, while the music comes from Satoru Kosaki, Kevin Penkin and Arisa Okehazama.
The upcoming season will also introduce Bai Niangniang, a new character voiced by Reina Ueda.
The ending theme is “Kumo o Nuke Kazashimo e Watashi dake”, performed by Yorushika.
That puts the Kura Sushi promotion directly inside the rollout period for Season 3. The restaurant collaboration begins before the new season and continues for almost a month after the anime returns.
What Happens in The Apothecary Diaries?
At the centre of the franchise is Maomao, a young woman with extensive knowledge of medicine, poisons and herbs.
Her story takes place within an imperial palace, where unusual incidents, illnesses and mysteries create a setting where her knowledge becomes increasingly valuable.
After being sold into service at the rear palace, Maomao’s abilities eventually attract the attention of Jinshi, an influential palace official.
Her ability to investigate illnesses, poisons and unusual incidents gradually draws her deeper into the palace’s mysteries.
The anime is adapted from the light novel series written by Natsu Hyuuga and illustrated by Touko Shino.
The English-language light novels are published by J-Novel Club, while Square Enix publishes an English-language manga adaptation.
The franchise’s reach also extends beyond the anime itself. Square Enix’s annual report for the fiscal year ended March 2025 specifically noted the strong performance of The Apothecary Diaries following the popularity of its anime adaptation.
That broader franchise presence now carries into the Kura Sushi partnership, where Maomao and Jinshi are represented through food, prizes and restaurant-exclusive merchandise.
When Does The Apothecary Diaries x Kura Sushi Collaboration End?
The The Apothecary Diaries x Kura Sushi Bikkura Pon collaboration runs from September 18 through October 31, 2026.
Here is the key schedule and promotion information:
| Date | Event | Official details |
| September 18, 2026 | Collaboration begins | Themed menu items and collaboration promotions launch at participating Kura Sushi USA locations |
| September 23, 2026 | Rewards member promotion begins | Members spending at least $85 in-restaurant can receive themed chopsticks with a cloth case |
| October 1, 2026 | Supernatural giveaway | Kura Sushi has scheduled an additional collaboration giveaway, with rules applying |
| October 2, 2026 | Season 3 premiere | The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 begins on Crunchyroll |
| October 31, 2026 | Collaboration ends | The limited-time promotion concludes |
The collectible prizes can also be purchased individually through participating restaurants, Kura Sushi’s online ordering service and DoorDash, although the rare Maomao hologram lucky acrylic charm remains unavailable for individual purchase.
Kura Sushi says fans can follow its social channels for additional collaboration activities, including the supernatural giveaway scheduled for October 1.
The Anime and Restaurant Experience Meet at Just the Right Moment
For The Apothecary Diaries fans, the Kura Sushi USA collaboration arrives at a particularly busy point for the franchise.
The promotion brings Maomao and Jinshi-themed food, Bikkura Pon collectibles, a rare Maomao hologram charm, magnet bookmarks, sticker rolls and a member-exclusive chopsticks reward into participating Kura Sushi locations.
At the same time, the anime is approaching its October 2 Season 3 premiere, with the new season planned as a split cour and its second cour scheduled for April 2027.
The result is a crossover that lets fans celebrate the series in a different way while waiting for its next chapter.
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Conclusion
The The Apothecary Diaries x Kura Sushi collaboration gives fans several ways to step into Maomao and Jinshi’s world, from themed dishes and randomized Bikkura Pon prizes to exclusive collectibles and a Kura Sushi Rewards member promotion.
Running from September 18 through October 31, 2026, the collaboration also overlaps with the arrival of Season 3 on October 2, making the timing especially notable. With the anime’s return approaching and the restaurant promotion continuing through the end of October, The Apothecary Diaries is expanding its latest chapter beyond the screen and into Kura Sushi’s dining experience.
Source disclaimer: This article has been prepared based on thorough research of the sources provided for the story, including Crunchyroll News, Kura Sushi USA, J-Novel Club and Square Enix materials. The article reflects the information available from those sources and does not imply independent verification beyond what the provided material supports. Promotional terms, availability and participating locations may vary as stated by Kura Sushi USA.
Sources
- Crunchyroll News — Kura Sushi USA and Crunchyroll Team Up for The Apothecary Diaries Collab
- Kura Sushi USA — A Taste of Mystery: Kura Sushi USA and Crunchyroll Brew Up a New Collab with The Apothecary Diaries
- Crunchyroll News — The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Anime Premiere Date, Trailer and More Revealed
- J-Novel Club — The Apothecary Diaries
- Square Enix — Publication / The Apothecary Diaries
- Square Enix Holdings — Annual Report 2025
Featured Image Credit: ©Hyuganatsu, Imagica Infos/”The Apothecary Diaries” Project / Crunchyroll / Kura Sushi USA
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