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Thermae Romae: The Complete Omnibus
When Roman architect Lucius is criticized for his outdated thermae designs, he retreats to the local bath to collect his thoughts. All Lucius wants is to recapture the Rome of earlier days, when one could enjoy a relaxing bath without the pressure of merchants and roughhousing patrons. But as he slips deeper into the water, Lucius is caught in the drainage and dragged through the bottom of the bath! He emerges amid a group of strange-looking foreigners with the most peculiar bathhouse customs...over 1,500 years in the future in modern-day Japan! His contemporaries wanted him to modernize, so—borrowing the customs of these mysterious bath-loving people—Lucius opens what quickly becomes the most popular new bathhouse in Thermae Romae! Soak in Mari Yamazaki's fantastic story and art in this deluxe omnibus!
1140 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2022
10 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Mari Yamazaki
103 books24 followersName (in native language) : ヤマザキマリ
Associated Names:
山崎萬里 (chinese)
Instagram: thermariyamazaki
Mari Yamazaki's Blog: ヤマザキマリ・Sequere naturam
In 2010 she won the third edition of the Manga Award for Thermae Romae. In 2015 she won the Tezuka Osamu award (section "story", also for Thermae Romae) as well as the "New Face" award of the Japanese Ministry of Education. In 2017 she was awarded the rank of Commander of the Order of the Star (Italy).
Associated Names:
山崎萬里 (chinese)
Instagram: thermariyamazaki
Mari Yamazaki's Blog: ヤマザキマリ・Sequere naturam
In 2010 she won the third edition of the Manga Award for Thermae Romae. In 2015 she won the Tezuka Osamu award (section "story", also for Thermae Romae) as well as the "New Face" award of the Japanese Ministry of Education. In 2017 she was awarded the rank of Commander of the Order of the Star (Italy).
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 8, 2025
When Roman architect Lucius is criticized for his thermae (ancient Roman public bath) designs, he goes to a local public bath himself to collect his thoughts...and ends up in an onsen (Japanese public bath) in modern Japan. He doesn't immediately realize that's what happened, however, and thinks he's surrounded by slaves or foreigners. He's absolutely awestruck by what he sees at the onsen. When he is somehow transported back to ancient Rome, he tries to make some of the features of the onsen a reality in his own thermae designs. It's all an instant hit, catapulting Lucius into thermae architectural fame.
As the series progresses, Lucius is repeatedly transported back and forth between modern Japan and ancient Rome. Each instance gives him more ideas, but also leaves him feeling conflicted about his pride as a Roman.
This series is fantastic, and it makes me sad that so many will probably never read it, considering the niche subject matter. It doesn't really sound like there could be much to a historical comedy manga about ancient Rome and modern Japan's shared love of public baths, and yet somehow this series feels like it's just as long as it needs to be at over 1000 pages total.
Yen Press's omnibus edition is an absolute brick of a volume, which can make for awkward/uncomfortable reading but which gives the gorgeous artwork plenty of space to shine. I loved Lucius' ultra-serious facial expressions as he confronted new thermae design challenges and dealt with yet another out-of-nowhere time travel experience. You can feel Yamazaki's love for ancient Roman history and public baths on every page, but there's plenty of humor too, beyond the generally absurd premise. I particularly got a kick out of the running joke involving a horse that fell in love with Lucius (imagine a serious, beautifully illustrated moment...with a horse gazing at Lucius in the distance, surrounded by little happy hearts).
Yamazaki's author's notes are great as well, and it's evident how much time, enthusiasm, and research went into this series.
Extras:
Author's notes and translation notes.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
As the series progresses, Lucius is repeatedly transported back and forth between modern Japan and ancient Rome. Each instance gives him more ideas, but also leaves him feeling conflicted about his pride as a Roman.
This series is fantastic, and it makes me sad that so many will probably never read it, considering the niche subject matter. It doesn't really sound like there could be much to a historical comedy manga about ancient Rome and modern Japan's shared love of public baths, and yet somehow this series feels like it's just as long as it needs to be at over 1000 pages total.
Yen Press's omnibus edition is an absolute brick of a volume, which can make for awkward/uncomfortable reading but which gives the gorgeous artwork plenty of space to shine. I loved Lucius' ultra-serious facial expressions as he confronted new thermae design challenges and dealt with yet another out-of-nowhere time travel experience. You can feel Yamazaki's love for ancient Roman history and public baths on every page, but there's plenty of humor too, beyond the generally absurd premise. I particularly got a kick out of the running joke involving a horse that fell in love with Lucius (imagine a serious, beautifully illustrated moment...with a horse gazing at Lucius in the distance, surrounded by little happy hearts).
Yamazaki's author's notes are great as well, and it's evident how much time, enthusiasm, and research went into this series.
Extras:
Author's notes and translation notes.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
July 12, 2024
***vrijdag 12 juli 2024***
✨5 - loved it (even if it has flaws, this was the story for me)
Be still my nerdy heart.
I adored this. I loved the humour, I loved the exploration of two cultures, I loved the way it showed how you could love a great leader (despite their flaws), I loved the sacrifices that were made for loved ones, I loved the authors note throughout, I even loved the romance. Although it was a bit... iffy at times (not because of dubious consent).
There were downsides but not enough to bring down my enjoyment. I will say you have to have an interest in Roman history to fully enjoy this story though. The book does a good job with giving some background information and translations but it is about a man who explores one culture through something he respects/admires in his own culture. Without having even a passing interest in Roman culture I think this is a very boring story.
My favourite part involved the horses. I actually giggled at that part...
Hanako, I get it.
✨5 - loved it (even if it has flaws, this was the story for me)
Be still my nerdy heart.
I adored this. I loved the humour, I loved the exploration of two cultures, I loved the way it showed how you could love a great leader (despite their flaws), I loved the sacrifices that were made for loved ones, I loved the authors note throughout, I even loved the romance. Although it was a bit... iffy at times (not because of dubious consent).
There were downsides but not enough to bring down my enjoyment. I will say you have to have an interest in Roman history to fully enjoy this story though. The book does a good job with giving some background information and translations but it is about a man who explores one culture through something he respects/admires in his own culture. Without having even a passing interest in Roman culture I think this is a very boring story.
My favourite part involved the horses. I actually giggled at that part...
Hanako, I get it.
November 9, 2025
I learned about this series from one day trying out the anime adaptation on Netflix because I was so intrigued by the concept: an ancient Roman bath architect who inadvertently time travels to contemporary Japan and learns of their bathing habits to bring back to his world. I was particularly delighted by how each episode ended with a live-action appearance of the author as she tours a different hot spring across Japan.
When I started the manga, I was pleased to learn this format originates from the written series, where a chapter’s end is followed by a note from the author, often personal accounts from travels to baths that lent inspiration to the chapter or a historical note to give more context to ancient Roman life during the end of Hadrian’s reign in which this story is half set.
The first volume or so matches up closely to the show. Once past that, I was excited to see where the original story would go and was pleased to find it as heartwarming as a hot bath. Learning about the bathing cultures of ancient Italy and modern-day Japan and other details of ancient Rome along with such a story made it all the better.
When I started the manga, I was pleased to learn this format originates from the written series, where a chapter’s end is followed by a note from the author, often personal accounts from travels to baths that lent inspiration to the chapter or a historical note to give more context to ancient Roman life during the end of Hadrian’s reign in which this story is half set.
The first volume or so matches up closely to the show. Once past that, I was excited to see where the original story would go and was pleased to find it as heartwarming as a hot bath. Learning about the bathing cultures of ancient Italy and modern-day Japan and other details of ancient Rome along with such a story made it all the better.
January 19, 2024
Fabulous. Just so.... nice! A very original isekai.
March 8, 2024
The greatest bath-based story ever told!
The only drawback to this incredibly charming story: never in my life have I felt such a strong urge to visit an onsen. The yearning is painful. If I don't soak in a hot spring in the next few hours, I might go insane.
The only drawback to this incredibly charming story: never in my life have I felt such a strong urge to visit an onsen. The yearning is painful. If I don't soak in a hot spring in the next few hours, I might go insane.
April 16, 2024
History that will beat the test of time is always worth the study. ♾️🧠🏛️🛀
February 26, 2025
Li a edição de 2013 da JBC. Divertidíssimo.
February 28, 2023
Fantastic complete collection of one of the greatest historical manga of all time. Not just a love letter to public bathing or ancient Rome, but to the science and art of History itself.
February 5, 2024
An instant favourite.
This manga has an ingenious premise and remains engaging and funny throughout its 25+ chapters.
Salve !
This manga has an ingenious premise and remains engaging and funny throughout its 25+ chapters.
Salve !
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews