If you’re new to this podcast and publication, welcome! When I reviews I post a written version that is the same (more or less) as the first half of the episode. The second half of the episode is a more detailed discussion of the story in question. If you haven’t seen the anime or read the manga/light novel, feel free to stop the episode when I do the countdown warning in the audio version.

This was not a title I thought existed. At all. I can’t even really remember how I discovered this title now. I only remember watching this on Crunchyroll before the pandemic. I found it really fascinating and kind of entertaining. But rather than just talk vaguely about it, let me just get to the review.

The Basics

Thermae Romae is a manga series published by Enterbrain in Japan. It was originally released as 6 volumes. In the United States, it’s been licensed by Yen Press and was released in 3 extra large volumes.

The series was adapted as an anime twice. The first one was in 2012 and is available on Crunchyroll. The more recent version was released in 2022 on Netflix. There were also two live action movies produced in Japan as well.

In February 2024, manga-ka Mari Yamazaki started releasing the sequel to Thermae Romae on the Shonen Jump+ app. I suspect it’s not yet available in English yet. However if anyone in the audience happens to be on the English version of the app, please reach out and let me know!

The Premise

During the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, Lucius Modestus is a frustrated thermae architect. What’s a thermae? It’s basically a bathhouse. In particular it’s a Roman bathhouse that will include many different rooms and bathing tubs, etc. During a visit to a bathhouse he somehow gets teleported to modern day Japan. His short visits to Japan reinvigorates him and gives him inspiration for his work. He eventually goes back to Rome and implements the lessons learned. Every episode of the show and chapters of the manga introduce new problems he solves with his trips to Japan.

General Thoughts

This is actually a really good series! It’s a fun time travel story where an ancient Roman accidentally travels centuries into the future. He winds up subtly changing things in the past. It’s also really fascinating learning a bit more about Ancient Rome. I was familiar with the importance of bathing in Roman culture. It’s pretty interesting to see what they did and didn’t have. You’d certainly enjoy it if you also have an interest in Ancient Rome.

I do have to warn people who are pretty sensitive about this, but unsurprisingly Lucius does express opinions that could be considered racist by our standards. Though this does change in later parts of the stories once he develops more of an understanding and respect for Asian people.

To be fair, it would make more sense because there’s no evidence that Romans ever encountered East Asian or Southeast Asian people. Most Roman citizens living in Italy would have seen Africans and people from the Middle East due to the trade within the empire. But I don’t recall the Romans ever actually seeing East Asian people. They might have some vague awareness via Middle Eastern traders of other lands further east of them.

I’m rather curious what happens in the sequel series as the manga offered a pretty solid ending to the story. Also it’s clear there won’t be a sequel to the anime because the final episode ends somewhat differently from the manga.

Would you be interested in reading this series? Leave a comment below. Feel free to share this with others! Also feel free to mention what stories you’ve been watching or reading! If I’m not already checking them out, they’ll go on my personal list!

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