Thermae Romae

Thermae Romae (Japanese: テルマエ・ロマエ, Hepburn: Terumae Romae) is a Japanese manga series by Mari Yamazaki. It won the third Manga Taishō[1] and the Short Story Award at the 14th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. The manga has been licensed in North America by Yen Press.[2] Fuji TV produced a live-action film adaptation and released on April 28, 2012.[3][4] A second film, Thermae Romae II, was released in 2014.[5] An anime television adaptation by DLE Inc. aired in Japan on Fuji TV's Noitamina block in January 2012.[4] The show has been licensed by Discotek Media in North America,[6] and by Siren Visual in Australia.[7] An original net animation (ONA) anime series adaptation by NAZ titled Thermae Romae Novae was announced and premiered on Netflix in March 2022.

This article is about a Japanese manga. For the buildings used for Roman recreation and cleaning, see Thermae.

Thermae Romae
Cover of the first manga volume
テルマエ・ロマエ
(Terumae Romae)
GenreComedy
Manga
Written byMari Yamazaki
Published byEnterbrain
English publisher
MagazineComic Beam
DemographicSeinen
Original run2008 – 2013
Volumes6
Anime television series
Directed byAzuma Tani
StudioDLE
Licensed by
Original networkFuji TV (Noitamina)
Original run January 12, 2012 – January 26, 2012
Episodes6
Original net animation
Thermae Romae Novae
Directed byTetsuya Tatamitani
Written byYūichirō Momose
Music byRyo Kawasaki
StudioNAZ
Licensed byNetflix
ReleasedMarch 28, 2022
Episodes11

Plot

The story follows an ancient Roman architect named Lucius, who is having trouble coming up with ideas. One day, he discovers a hidden tunnel underneath a spa that leads him to a modern Japanese bath house. Inspired by the innovations found there, he creates his own spa, Roma Thermae, bringing the modern ideas to his time.

Each subsequent chapter follows Lucius facing some sort of a problem, just to be swept to Japan once again. He visits modern bath houses, personal baths, waterparks, fertility festivals, and even zoos. There, he always happens to find the inspiration to solve the exact problem he has been tasked with.

Characters
Lucius Modestus (ルシウス・モデストゥス, Rushiusu Modesutusu)
Voiced by: Frogman (2012 series), Kenjiro Tsuda (Novae)[8] (Japanese); David Wald (2012 series)[9] (English)
A Roman thermae architect who excels in designs ends up discovering modern Japanese baths, believing them to be the baths of 'flat-faced slaves'. He uses these ideas in his own work back home. Later on, inspired others with his discoveries. But his endeavours cost him his marriage, and suspicion of either being Emperor Hadrian's homosexual lover, to destroying businesses.
Marcus Pietras (マルクス・ピエトラス, Marukusu Pietorasu)
Voiced by: Hiroki Tōchi (2012 series), Chikahiro Kobayashi (Novae)[8] (Japanese); Christopher Guerrero (2012 series)[9] (English)
Lucius's friend and a marble sculptor. Oftentimes, he becomes Lucius's carver in his projects.
Hadrianus (ハドリアヌス, Hadorianusu)
Voiced by: Akio Ōtsuka (2012 series), Tsutomu Isobe (Novae)[8] (Japanese); Jim Foronda (2012 series),[9] Richard Epcar (Novae) (English)
Emperor of Roman Empire. Initially commissioned Lucius of building a private thermae, then commissioned him for more baths.
Lepidus (レピドゥス, Repidusu)
Voiced by: Hiroshi Shirokuma (2012 series) (Japanese); R. Bruce Elliott (2012 series),[9] YongYea (Novae) (English)
Satsuki Odate
A 28 year old Japanese woman who is both the town geisha, and an expert in Roman history. She is also a polyglot, can speak and translate Latin. Fell in love with Lucius.

Anime

A flash anime adaptation by DLE aired on Fuji TV in its Noitamina block between January 12, 2012, and January 26, 2012. The series was released on Blu-ray Disc on April 20, 2012, and included an unaired episode.[10] The ending theme is "Thermae Roman" (テルマエ・ロマン, Terumae Roman) by Chatmonchy.[11] Siren Visual released an English-subtitled version in Australia in October 2012.[7] The series was licensed for release in North America in 2013[12], and a re-release is planned on December 29, 2020, with an English dub.[13] An original net animation advertisement of toothbrush company Reach was released on April 15, 2014.[14]

During Netflix Anime Festival 2020, it was announced that the series would receive a new original net animation (ONA) anime adaptation by NAZ titled Thermae Romae Novae.[15][16] The series is directed by Tetsuya Tatamitani and written by Yūichirō Momose.[17] It premiered on Netflix on March 28, 2022.[18] Each episode also has a live action section where author Mari Yamazaki explores different hot springs in Japan at the end of the episode. The opening theme is "Toreador Song ~An Aria for Bath House Manners~" (闘牛士の歌 ～温泉マナーのアリア～, Tōgyūshi no Uta ~Onsen Manner no Aria~) by Paolo Andrea Di Pietro.[19]

Episode list (DLE)
No. Title Original airdate
1"The Roman Who Leapt Through Time"
"Toki wo Kakeru Rōmajin" (時をかけるローマ人)		January 12, 2012 (2012-01-12)
"Swan Lake"
"Hakuchou no Mizu’umi" (白鳥の湖)
In Rome in the year 128 AD, a Roman named Lucius Modestus is having trouble coming up with ideas for architecture. While contemplating in a bathhouse, he discovers a strange drain than sends him to a bathhouse in Modern Japan. While confused by his surroundings, he becomes amazed by some of their innovations, such as fruit flavored milk. Taking these ideas back to Rome, he incorporates these ideas into a new bathhouse to great success. A year later, Lucius is commissioned by a sickly man to build an outdoor bath near Vesuvius. While inspecting a heated well, Lucius is once again sent to modern Japan, this time winding up in a hot spring, where he gets to sample slow cooked eggs and sake. These innovations help nurse the old man back to health.
2"Shampoo Hat"
"Sanpū Hatto" (サンプーハット)		January 19, 2012 (2012-01-19)
"The Melancholy of the Emperor"
"Koutei no Yuu’utsu" (皇帝の憂鬱)
As Lucius hears fancies about a bath closer to home, he once again ends up in modern Japan, this time in someone's bathtub. Mistaken as a foreign caretaker by the house's owner, Lucius comes to learn about more modern conveniences. After he builds a bath using this knowledge, his invention gets round to the Emperor Hadrian. There, Lucius suddenly finds himself with a strong urge to use the toilet, however he is summoned by the Emperor and has to bear it. He is to become the Emperor's new architect but he feels he is not worthy of such an honor. Not a moment later he is sent once again to modern Japan, this time in a toilet-showroom, where he sees sea life footage from a digital TV (which he interprets as an aquarium) and a modern bidet toilet. He then uses this knowledge to create these for the Emperor.
3"The Power of Baths (First Part)"
"Yu no Chikara (Zenpen)" (湯のちから・前篇)		January 26, 2012 (2012-01-26)
"The Power of Baths (Second Part)"
"Yu no Chikara (Kouhen)" (湯のちから・後篇)
Lucius is sent to a hot spring near Vesuvius to build some public baths, managing to enlighten some smelly robbers living there. When he slips up, he once again enters modern Japan, discovering a city filled with public hot spring baths. He samples the delights of an amusement stand and a ramen shop before bringing some souvenirs back to Rome, where he builds a village full of baths.
OVA1"The Fascination of Pharos"
"Miwaku no Farosu" (魅惑のファロス)		April 20, 2012 (2012-04-20)
Lucius is met with phallus worshipping in both past and present times.
OVA2"I Want to Slip Honestly"
"Hitasura Suberitai" (ひたすら滑りたい)		April 20, 2012 (2012-04-20)
"The Three Office Lady Sisters’ Thermae Murder Mystery"
"Sanshimai OL Terumae Satsujinjiken" (三姉妹OLテルマエ殺人事件)
"I Want to Feel Smooth"
"Subesube ni Naritai" (スベスベになりたい)
In the first part Lucius is sent to a water park looking for something for the children to do, in the second part he happens to resurface at a murder scene and in the last part he visits a spa.
ONA"Pietrada's Marriage"
"Pietorāda no Kekkon" (ピエトラーダの結婚)		April 13, 2014 (2014-04-13)
Lucius is beseeched by his friend, Marcus, to help his younger sister, Pietrada, whose bad teeth turns away any potential marriage candidates. Travelling to modern day times again, Lucius discovers the wonder of toothbrushes.

Episode list (Netflix)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"All Baths Lead to Rome"[20]
(Japanese: 全ての風呂はローマに通ず[21])		Tetsuya TatamitaniYûichirô MomoseMarch 28, 2022 (2022-03-28)
A small and weak kid called Lucius, goes with his grandfather to the bathhouse he designed, where he learns the importance of the work of his grandfather (and late father). During his stay he slips and he awakes in a very strange place. After he comes back he realizes he wants to follow his ancestor steps and he is determined to build bathhouses that pulls him to study them in Athens.
22"The Thermae Architect Who Leapt Through Time"[20]
(Japanese: 時をかける銭湯技師 ルシウス・モデストゥス[21])		Tetsuya TatamitaniYûichirô MomoseMarch 28, 2022 (2022-03-28)
In Rome in the year 128 AD, a Roman named Lucius Modestus is having trouble coming up with ideas for architecture. While contemplating in a bathhouse, he discovers a strange drain than sends him to a bathhouse in Modern Japan. While confused by his surroundings, he becomes amazed by some of their innovations, such as fruit flavored milk. Taking these ideas back to Rome, he incorporates these ideas into his grandfather's bathhouse with successful results. However, the old bathhouse where he slipped is closed.
33"Lucius Builds an Outdoor Bath"[20]
(Japanese: ルシウス、露天風呂を作る[21])		Tetsuya TatamitaniYûichirô MomoseMarch 28, 2022 (2022-03-28)
Some time later, Lucius is commissioned by the sick and old Consul Lepidus to build an outdoor bath near Mt. Vesuvius. While inspecting a heated well, Lucius is once again sent to modern Japan, this time winding up in a hot spring, where he gets to sample slow cooked eggs and sake, while also learning that the natural settings allow monkeys to bath as well. Also he learns how to redirect the dangerous hot water from the spring to make it more bearable for bathing. These innovations lead Lepidus to improve his health and get married, while also Lucius learns, to his shock, that one monkey from Japan is bathing there.
44"Lucius Builds an Indoor Bath"[20]
(Japanese: ルシウス、内風呂を作る[21])		Tetsuya TatamitaniYûichirô MomoseMarch 28, 2022 (2022-03-28)
As Lucius learns that his friend Marcus spends too much time bringing his master to the bathhouse, he begin to wonder how to build an indoor bath. He once again ends up in modern Japan, this time in someone's bathtub. Mistaken as a foreign caretaker by the house's owner, Lucius comes to learn about more modern conveniences. He builds an indoor bath with this knowledge and Marcus is able to bring his work on time for Emperor Hadrian, when his servant learns of the indoor bath, Hadrianus becomes interested of Lucius's work.
55"Lucius Builds a Bath in Emperor Hadrian's Villa"[20]
(Japanese: ルシウス、ハドリアヌス帝の別荘に風呂を作る[21])		Tetsuya TatamitaniYûichirô MomoseMarch 28, 2022 (2022-03-28)
Lucius is summoned by Emperor Hadrian, and he became so nervous that he finds himself with a strong urge to use the toilet, however he has to bear it. The Emperor asks him to build a bath in his Villa as long as he needs to have a private space to think about the Roman incursion in Jerusalem Bar Kokhba revolt. Some moments later he is sent once again to modern Japan, this time in a toilet-showroom, where he sees sea life footage from a digital TV (which he interprets as an aquarium) and a modern bidet toilet. He then uses this knowledge to create these for the Emperor who become impressed for his work and asks him to go with Jerusalem with him.
66"Lucius Builds a Hot Stone Spa"[20]
(Japanese: ルシウス、岩盤浴を作る[21])		Tetsuya TatamitaniYûichirô MomoseMarch 28, 2022 (2022-03-28)
During Hadrianus campaign in Jerusalem, the soldiers become sick of drinking poisoned wine and tire and hurt from the battles. Lucius try to build a hot spring to help the army get healed and he slips back again to Modern Japan where he finds himself in a healing spa where the hot stones are used to improve the circulation of the body and reduce the pain. He got sick by drinking expired sake, but this allows him to figure out the cure for his poisoned partners. The success of the project makes Hadrianus name him his personal bath builder, but Lucius asks him to go back to Rome to see his wife.
77"Lucius appears on the Tokaido Road in the Edo Period"[20]
(Japanese: ルシウス、江戸末期の東海道に現る[21])		Tetsuya TatamitaniYûichirô MomoseMarch 28, 2022 (2022-03-28)
In the road home, Lucius finds himself in a very unwelcoming tavern where the service is poor. While trying to take a bath, he slips to the Edo-era Tokyo, where he notices the onsen has both men and women bathing together. He is invited to stay in a ryokan where the devoted employees allows him to see the conveniences of good services. A woman working there tries to seduces him but he slips back to his time where he inputs his knowledge to improve the services in the tavern, something that Hadrianus appreciates when he goes to the tavern some time later.
88"Lucius Learns Bathing Etiquette in Japan"[20]
(Japanese: ルシウス、入浴の礼儀作法を日本で知る[21])		Tetsuya TatamitaniYûichirô MomoseMarch 28, 2022 (2022-03-28)
Lucius notices his grandfather's bathhouse has lost clients due to some foreign soldiers making bad use of the place. When confronting them he slips back to modern Japan where he tries to defend a peaceful bathhouse against a trio of rude tourists. After a useless fight, both the Roman and the tourists learn that the rules are shown in the place as pictures, something that Lucius takes back to Rome and helps him allow the foreigners to make good use of the place.
99"Lucius Meets a Fellow Architect in Japan"[20]
(Japanese: ルシウス、平たい顔の同業者と出会う[21])		Tetsuya TatamitaniYûichirô MomoseMarch 28, 2022 (2022-03-28)
Lucius is summoned to create a bath house for the poor people that is expected to be covered in vulgar details, when confronting his patron he slips into the modern Japan to meet a young architect tasked to build a Roman style bath house where his rich patron is tasking to input some vulgar and blinky elements. However, when watching the moon and the design of the Kinkaku-ji temple in his borrowed shirt, Lucius comes with an idea that helps to show luxury and modesty at the same time in both places to show respect to goddess Diana.
1010"Lucius Builds a Theme Bath"[20]
(Japanese: ルシウス、アミューズメント風呂を作る[21])		Tetsuya TatamitaniYûichirô MomoseMarch 28, 2022 (2022-03-28)
Lucius is tasked to build a new bathhouse for the Emperor's adopted son and heir Lucius Aielus Caesar, but accepting this project makes his wife Livia leaving him for good. While not happy with Aielus's behavior, Lucius goes to the Baths of Trajan to meditate about it but he ends pushed to the water by a group of children playing there. He resurfaces into a water park in Japan where he learns about slides, pools for kids and wine baths. His new bath house becomes a success bringing popularity to Aielus, while also bringing the kids and adults a place to have fun with water.
1111"Lucius Builds a Spa Town"[20]
(Japanese: ルシウス、温泉街を作る[21])		Tetsuya TatamitaniYûichirô MomoseMarch 28, 2022 (2022-03-28)
Three senators, envious of Hadrian's success with the thermal baths, decides to get rid of Lucius by sending him to investigate a good place to put a bathhouse near Mt. Vesuvius. Lucius, unaware of the danger, ends surrounded by bandits. Lucius convinces them to help him build a bath and everyone ends enjoying the place. When the bandits wonder if they really found a treasure, Lucius slips into a modern hot spring town in Japan, where he learns that the economy of the place is not only based on the hot springs, but also in the food and the souvenirs sold there. This allows Lucius to build a hot spring town near Mt. Vesuvius that bring work and prosperity to the bandits. His success is repaid by Hadrian by bringing Livia with him. She finally gets convinced about all the good work he did for Rome, while he finally recognizes that he distanced for her due to his hard work, allowing them to reconcile.

Film
Thermae Romae
Teaser poster
Directed byHideki Takeuchi
Written byShōgo Mutō
Produced byChihiro Kameyama
Minami Ichikawa
Atsushi Terada
Hirokazu Hamamura
StarringHiroshi Abe
Aya Ueto
Kazuki Kitamura
Riki Takeuchi
Kai Shishido
Takashi Sasano
Masachika Ichimura
CinematographyKazunari Kawagoe
Edited byHiroshi Matsuo
Music byNorihito Sumimoto
Production
companies
Distributed byToho
Release dates
  • April 28, 2012 (2012-04-28) (JPN)
  • September 6, 2012 (2012-09-06) (TIFF)
Running time
108 minutes[22]
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Box office$75.4 million[23]

Cast

Reception

As of July 29, the film had a box office gross of US$74,091,903.[25] It was the second highest-grossing domestic film at the Japanese box office in 2012[26] and, as of January 5, 2015, is the 95th highest-grossing film in Japan, with ¥5.98 billion.[27]

Hiroshi Abe won Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for the film at the 36th Japan Academy Film Prize presentation. Thermae Romae also received a nomination for Mitsuo Harada's art direction at the same awards.

Thermae Romae earned HK$1,498,789 at the Hong Kong box office.[28]

The film had its North American premiere in September 2012 at the Toronto International Film Festival.[29][30]

References
  1. "Mari Yamazaki's Thermae Romae Wins Manga Taisho Award". Anime News Network. March 17, 2010. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  2. "Yen Press Adds Thermae Romae, Anything and Something, Umineko no Naku Koro ni". Anime News Network. April 7, 2012. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  3. "Thermae Romae Bath Manga Gets Live-Action Film". Anime News Network. March 12, 2011. Archived from the original on March 15, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  4. "Thermae Romae Bath Manga Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  5. "Thermae Romae Manga Gets Live-Action Film Sequel". Anime News Network. January 29, 2013. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  6. "Facebook - Log In or Sign Up". Facebook. Archived from the original on April 8, 2005.
  7. "Thermae Romae - Siren Visual". Siren Visual. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  8. "Thermae Romae Novae Anime Reveals 9 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. February 1, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  9. "Discotek Licenses Symphogear, Dokuro-chan, Medabots, Cleopatra, Battery, Great Passage, More Anime". Anime News Network. July 10, 2023.
  10. "Thermae Romae Anime's 1st BD to Add Unreleased Episode". Anime News Network. January 18, 2012. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  11. "Thermae Romae Anime to Be 3 Flash-Animated Episodes". Anime News Network. December 11, 2011. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  12. "Discotek Licenses Thermae Romae TV Anime". Anime News Network. October 24, 2012. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  13. "Discotek Releases Lupin III: Tokyo Crisis, Devilman Lady, Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter, More Anime on December 29". July 10, 2023.
  14. "Thermae Romae Gets Collaboration Anime Short with Reach Toothbrushes". Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  15. "Netflix Hosts "Netflix Festival Japan 2021" on November 9-10". Netflix Media Center (Press release). October 3, 2021.
  16. "Netflix Reveals Thermae Romae Novae Anime's 2022 Debut, Kenjiro Tsuda Cast". Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  17. "Thermae Romae Novae Anime Reveals Staff, Visual". Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  18. Komatsu, Mikikazu (February 15, 2022). "Netflix Anime Thermae Romae Novae Trailer Announces Worldwide Premiere Date of March 28". Crunchyroll. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  19. "Thermae Romae Novae Anime Posts Title Sequence With Opening Song". Anime News Network. March 15, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  20. "Thermae Romae Novae". Netflix. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  21. VODの杜 – テルマエ・ロマエ ノヴァエ [Forest of VOD – Thermae Romae Novae]. Chiba Television Broadcasting (in Japanese). February 18, 2023. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  22. "テルマエ・ロマエ : 作品情報 - 映画.com". Eiga. April 28, 2012. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  23. "Thermae Romae (2012) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  24. "テルマエ・ロマエ". Eiga.com. August 31, 2012. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012.
  25. "Japanese Box Office, July 28–29". Anime News Network. August 6, 2012. Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  26. 2012年（平成24年 ） 興行収入１０億円以上番組 ） (PDF). www.eiren.org (in Japanese). Archived (PDF) from the original on April 21, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  27. 歴代興収ベスト100. www.kogyotsushin.com (in Japanese). January 5, 2015. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  28. "Thermae Romae". HK Neo Reviews. September 11, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  29. "2012 Toronto International Film Festival Unveils Galas and Special Presentations" (PDF) (Press release). Toronto International Film Festival. July 24, 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  30. "Thermae Romae: Toronto Review". The Hollywood Reporter. September 6, 2012. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
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