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Thermae Romae Movie-Goers Will Receive Bonus Manga

Japanese moviegoers who see next month's live-action Thermae Romae film will receive a "special edition" of the manga, while supplies last. Mari Yamazaki, the original creator of the time-traveling comedy manga, drew the special edition bonus herself. Starting on the movie's opening day (April 28), 1 million copies of the special edition manga will be given away. A similar manga present promotion was held for One Piece Film Strong World in 2009 and for the Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos film last year.

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!" Hiroshi Abe (Shin Kyūseishu Densetsu Hokuto no Ken: Kenshirō-den, Trick, Godzilla 2000 Millenium) plays Lucius, and Aya Ueto also stars in the film. The film's first full trailer debuted earlier this month:

Yamazaki launched the manga in 2008, and the fourth compiled book volume shipped on December. The work won the Manga Taisho (Cartoon Grand Prize) award in 2010, followed by the Short Work Prize in the 14th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prizes. It has since sold over 5 million copies and inspired a short television anime.

Source: Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web