Thermae Romae manga, travel magazine team up on Japanese bath guide
Rurubu Thermae Romae, a collaboration between the Japanese travel magazine Rurubu (るるぶ)and Mari Yamazaki’s Thermae Romae (テルマエ・ロマエ)bathhouse manga, went on sale in Japan.
Travel magazine Rurubu
The magazine, which features an original cover by Yamazaki, has Thermae Romae’s protaognist Lucius introducing readers to his 100 top Japanese baths, as well as an interview with Yamazaki and individuals involved with the Thermae Romae live-action film.
Thermae Romae is a comedy about Lucius ― an architect of public bath houses (thermae) in ancient Rome ― who time-travels to various modern-day baths in Japan. Through manga and essay passages, Yamazaki explores the two cultures in the world “that have loved baths the most: the Japanese and the Romans!”
The official website for the live-action film adaptation began streaming the teaser trailer.
Hiroshi Abe (阿部寛)plays Lucius, although when the trailers show him emerging in a modern public bath in Japan, they see fit to literally point out that he is an “ancient Roman.” Aya Ueto (上戸彩)also stars in the film.
The film will open on April 28.