Thermae Romae II (directed by Hideki Takeuchi , released in 2014), a live-action adaptation of Mari Yamazaki's popular "bath" manga starring actor Hiroshi Abe , will be broadcast on Fuji TV's "Saturday Premium" slot (Saturdays at 9pm) on November 29th. The film is a sequel to the much talked about " Thermae Romae" (directed by Takeuchi, released in 2012), in which Abe played an ancient Roman.
Lucius (Abe), an ancient Roman bath designer, became an instant hit after creating a groundbreaking thermae (bathhouse). However, when he is ordered to build a thermae for the Colosseum to soothe gladiators, he struggles to come up with an idea. He travels back in time to modern-day Japan, where he reunites with the "flat-faced people" (Japanese people), including Yamakoshi Mami (Ueto Aya), who has become a writer for a magazine specializing in baths.
Meanwhile, the conflict between Emperor Hadrian (Ichimura Masachika), who favors peace, and the Senate, which favors the use of force, intensifies. Will Lucius be able to save the Roman Empire from a crisis that is dividing it in two by introducing Japanese bathing culture?
The film was shot at one of Europe's largest film studios, as well as in some of Japan's most famous hot spring resorts, including Kusatsu, Hakone, Minakami, and Suwa. Kazuki Kitamura, Takeuchi Riki, Shishido Kai, and Sasano Takashi also starred in the film, reprising their roles from the previous film.
