by In the world of manga, heroes take many forms—some wield swords, others cast spells. But Unsung Cinderella: Midori, The Hospital Pharmacist (Unsung Cinderella: Byouin Yakuzaishi Aoi Midori) introduces us to a hero we rarely see: a hospital pharmacist.
With its upcoming final volume, this quietly powerful series deserves more recognition, not just as a medical manga, but as a story that reminds us of the human lives quietly supported by those working behind the scenes. And with no anime adaptation yet, it remains one of the most underappreciated gems in the manga world.
This post dives deep into everything you need to know about Unsung Cinderella—what makes it special, why it stands out, and why it desperately deserves an anime.
What is Unsung Cinderella About?
At the heart of Unsung Cinderella is Midori Aoi, a second-year pharmacist working at a general hospital. She’s not a doctor. She’s not a nurse. And she’s certainly not anyone the media tends to glamorize. Yet, every day she runs through hospital corridors to protect the “ordinary everyday life” of patients, ensuring that every prescription is safe, suitable, and sometimes life-saving.
Unlike the over-the-top drama of many hospital-themed stories, Unsung Cinderella grounds itself in the real struggles and responsibilities of being a pharmacist in a modern healthcare system.
- Written by: Mamare Arai
- Medical Supervision: Hiromitsu Tomino, a real-life hospital pharmacist
- Live-Action Adaptation: Aired from July to Sept 2020 (11 episodes)
- Available in French (Meian, since Dec 2020)
- Final volume (2025)
About the Author: Arai Mamare
Behind Unsung Cinderella is Arai Mamare, a manga artist with a keen eye for human drama and everyday heroism.
Mamare made her official debut in 2009 when her work Shinigami no Sharemae was selected for the prestigious 63rd Shogakukan Newcomer Manga Award. The story was later published in Monthly Spirits, marking her first step into the manga industry.
She continued to build her portfolio with the touching slice-of-life series Omoidedama (serialized in Monthly! Spirits) and later co-created the emotionally resonant 461 Bento Boxes: A Man’s Promise Between Father and Son, based on a memoir by Watanabe Toshifumi.
But it was in 2018 that she began her most notable work to date: Unsung Cinderella: Hospital Pharmacist Aoi Midori, serialized in Monthly Comic Zenon.
Working alongside real-life hospital pharmacist Hiromitsu Tomino, Mamare brought authenticity and quiet power to a story that, on paper, might seem mundane—but in her hands, became a deeply human and emotionally resonant drama.
Why This Manga Stands Out
There are plenty of medical manga, but very few shine a light on pharmacists, especially those working inside hospitals. And that’s not a coincidence.
Midori’s journey reflects the often invisible weight pharmacists carry. She has no license to practice medicine, yet her knowledge is critical to patient safety. Her role is complex—she must translate the doctor’s prescription into meaningful, safe solutions for real people.
She even questions early on whether pharmacists will be needed in the future at all, especially with the rise of AI. This existential doubt adds another layer of realism to her character, one that many working professionals can relate to.
- Only ~20% of pharmacists work in hospitals, despite being essential.
- They don’t get the spotlight, praise, or authority, but they do hold responsibility.
In this sense, Midori is the perfect embodiment of the “unsung” hero—vital, yet rarely celebrated. The manga’s title isn’t just poetic—it’s purposeful.
A Story Close to Real Life
What makes Unsung Cinderella especially satisfying to read is how deeply rooted it is in reality:
- It explores internal hospital politics and professional hierarchies.
- It discusses the gray areas of medical ethics, such as when pharmacists catch prescription errors but aren’t legally empowered to change them.
- It shows the friction and respect between doctors, nurses, interns, and pharmacists.
- It deals with drug shortages, patient miscommunication, and emotional burnout.
Rather than focusing on romantic drama or dramatic surgeries, it captures the small, quiet victories—a patient recovering because a pharmacist caught a mistake, or Midori staying behind to explain medicine to a confused elderly patient.
It’s moving, educational, and—at times—surprisingly emotional.
Why This Manga Deserves an Anime Adaptation
Despite a successful live-action TV drama in 2020, Unsung Cinderella has never received an anime adaptation. But it absolutely should.
Here’s why:
Unique Perspective
Anime has covered surgeons (Black Jack), doctors (Monster), and even anthropomorphic cells (Cells at Work!). But never a hospital pharmacist in a realistic, slice-of-life setting.
A Mature Story for an Underserved Audience
This isn’t a teen drama. It speaks to adult viewers—people who work, worry about burnout, care about healthcare, or just appreciate stories with emotional depth and professional integrity.
Inspirational for Career Awareness
Hiromitsu Tomino (the manga’s medical advisor) once said he hoped Unsung Cinderella might inspire more teens to become pharmacists. It’s a manga that educates while entertaining—like Blue Period or March Comes in Like a Lion for the healthcare world.
A Global Audience is Ready
With the rise of realistic and grounded anime on platforms like Crunchyroll, an anime version of Unsung Cinderella could easily attract international fans who want something more thoughtful than your usual action fare.
Reader Reactions & Critical Praise
One French reviewer said:
“I never imagined I’d care this much about hospital workflow. But this manga changed how I see pharmacists. It’s calm, but impactful.”
Another wrote:
“Reading this made me realize how important hospital pharmacists really are. And it made me think about how little we recognize them.”
In Japan, the live-action drama also brought attention to the original manga, but the anime space still hasn’t embraced it. That feels like a missed opportunity.
Final Volume & What’s Next
As of mid-2025, the manga is preparing to release its final volume. While details are limited, longtime readers expect a gentle but powerful conclusion—one that honors the story’s grounded tone and message.
Now is the perfect time to read it—before it ends and (hopefully) before it finally gets greenlit for anime.
Final Thoughts: The Manga We Didn’t Know We Needed
If you’re tired of predictable plots, fantasy tropes, or shallow characters, Unsung Cinderella is a breath of fresh air. It may not have magic or monsters, but it offers something even more important: meaning.
It shows that not all heroes wear capes—or lab coats. Some wear white coats and walk hospital halls, unsung but never unneeded.
TL;DR
- Unsung Cinderella is a realistic, moving manga about a hospital pharmacist.
- It’s nearing its final volume, and has had a successful live-action adaptation—but no anime yet.
- It deserves an anime for its unique perspective, mature storytelling, and real-world relevance.
- Read it now—you won’t regret it.
Have you read Unsung Cinderella? Would you watch an anime adaptation? Share your thoughts in the comments or tag someone who needs to discover this hidden gem.
