is a Japanese

manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...

series by

Mari Yamazaki is a Japanese manga artist known for her seinen comedy manga ''Thermae Romae''. She was born in Tokyo, but now lives in Chicago. She was awarded the 3rd Manga Taishō and the Short Story Award in the 2010 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prizes. An anime ...

. It won the third Manga Taishō and the Short Story Award at the 14th

Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Named after Osamu Tezuka, the is a yearly manga prize awarded to manga artists or their works that follow the Osamu Tezuka manga approach founded and sponsored by Asahi Shimbun. The prize has been awarded since 1997, in Tokyo, Japan. Current ...

. The manga has been licensed in North America by Yen Press. Fuji TV produced a live-action film adaptation and released on April 28, 2012. A second film, '' Thermae Romae II'', was released in 2014. An anime television adaptation by DLE Inc. aired in Japan on Fuji TV's Noitamina block in January 2012. The show has been licensed by Discotek Media in North America, and by

Siren Visual This is a list of anime industry companies involved in the production or distribution of anime. Japan-based companies Animation studios There are over 500 animation studios in Japan. Below are those notable enough to have an article. * 3Hz ...

in Australia. An original net animation (ONA) anime series adaptation by NAZ titled ''Thermae Romae Novae'' was announced and premiered on Netflix in March 2022.

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 A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneoth ...

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

; : :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. ; : : Lucius's friend and a marble sculptor. Oftentimes, he becomes Lucius's carver in his projects. ; : : Emperor of Roman Empire. Initially commissioned Lucius of building a private thermae, then commissioned him for more baths. ; : ; 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. The ending theme is by

Chatmonchy was a three-piece all-female rock band which consisted of Eriko Hashimoto (guitar, vocals), Akiko Fukuoka (bass, chorus), and formerly Kumiko Takahashi (drums, chorus) who are from Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, Japan. Since 20 ...

released an English-subtitled version in Australia in October 2012. The series was licensed for release in North America in 2013, and a re-release is planned on December 29, 2020, with an English dub. An original net animation advertisement of toothbrush company Reach was released on April 15, 2014. 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''. The series is directed by Tetsuya Tatamitani and written by Yūichirō Momose. It premiered on Netflix on March 28, 2022. 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 by

Paolo Andrea Di Pietro Paolo Andrea Di Pietro (born November 8, 1986), better known mononymously in Japan as , is an Italian singer and actor living and working in Japan ('' Gaikokujin tarento''). He has appeared in a variety of Japanese commercials, TV shows and film ...

Episode list (DLE)

Episode list (Netflix)

Film

Cast

* Hiroshi Abe as Lucius * Aya Ueto as Mami Yamakoshi *

Kazuki Kitamura is a Japanese film and television actor who won the award for best supporting actor at the 21st Yokohama Film Festival for '' Minazuki'', ''Kyohansha'' and ''Kanzen-naru shiiku'' as well as the CUT ABOVE Award for Excellence in Film at JAPAN CUTS ...

Ceionius The gens Ceionia or gens Caeionia or the Caeionii family was an ancient Roman senatorial family of imperial times. The first member of the gens to obtain the consulship was Lucius Ceionius Commodus in AD 78. The rise of this family culminated ...

* Riki Takeuchi as Tateno * Kai Shishido as Antoninus *

Takashi Sasano is a Japanese actor. Career Sasano has appeared in Kiyoshi Kurosawa's films ''Bright Future (film), Bright Future'' (2003) and ''Before We Vanish'' (2017). He also appeared in Amir Naderi's 2011 film ''Cut (2011 film), Cut''. Filmography Film ...

as Shūzo Yamakoshi * Masachika Ichimura as

Hadrian Hadrian (; la, Caesar Trâiānus Hadriānus ; 24 January 76 – 10 July 138) was Roman emperor from 117 to 138. He was born in Italica (close to modern Santiponce in Spain), a Roman ''municipium'' founded by Italic settlers in Hispania B ...

* Midoriko Kimura as Yumi Yamakoshi * Katsuya as Marcus

Reception

As of July 29, the film had a box office gross of US$74,091,903. It was the second highest-grossing domestic film at the Japanese box office in 2012 and, as of January 5, 2015, is the 95th highest-grossing film in Japan, with ¥5.98 billion. Hiroshi Abe won Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for the film at the

36th Japan Academy Film Prize The is the 36th edition of the ''Japan Academy Film Prize'', an award presented by the Nippon Academy-Sho Association to award excellence in filmmaking. It awarded the best 2012 in film, films of 2012 and it took place on March 8, 2013 at the Gra ...

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

References

External links

* * * * {{Netflix original animated series and films 2008 manga 2012 anime television series debuts 2012 films 2022 anime ONAs Bathing Comedy anime and manga Comics about time travel Comics set in ancient Rome Discotek Media Enterbrain manga Films about time travel Films set in ancient Rome Flash television shows Japanese films Japanese-language Netflix original programming Kadokawa Dwango franchises Live-action films based on manga Manga adapted into films Manga series Manga Taishō Naz (studio) Netflix original anime Noitamina Seinen manga Winner of Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize (Short Story Award) Yen Press titles