01x05 - Lucius Builds a Bath in Emperor Hadrian's Villa

[bunniefuu]

A.D. 131 NEAR ROME

Mr. Lucius,
how long do you plan on staying there?

Please wait just a little longer.

The emperor is very particular about time.

We can't delay any longer.

I know that.

Getting an anxiety induced stomachache
at this age…

How pathetic…

It's all Marcus's fault for
scaring me yesterday.

You were invited to
Emperor Hadrian's villa?

Yeah.

But I have no idea why

he's requesting to meet
a mere thermae architect like me.

I think I know the reason why.
The emperor is also an architect.

He's probably jealous of
all the work you've been doing recently.

I'm just kidding.

We're talking about the emperor,

so it's reasonable for me to
feel this way.

Marcus…

I'll make you pay for this
when I get back.

What was that? Did I catch a cold?

This way, Mr. Lucius.

This is…

This is not a villa, it's an entire town.

I heard that Emperor Hadrian
designed this place all by himself.

There's a magnificent thermae too.

My stomach is acting up again…

Centurion Caelius Clemens.

I have brought Lucius Modestus from Rome.

You're late.

The emperor is waiting for you inside.

Go ahead, Mr. Lucius.

A round, residential space,
with a moat circulating it.

This shape is an architectural concept

that did not exist in Rome until now.

You have to go by yourself from here on.

What? By myself?

This is a place the emperor built

in order to spend time alone.

Usually, anyone aside from the emperor
who crosses this bridge,

is to be severely punished.

But you're special.

He said there is something
he wants you to take a look at.

But…

Just hurry up and go
before the emperor gets mad!

Why is this happening?

What is it that he wants
to show me so badly,

that he would even allow me to
cross the bridge?

What is this strange space
that resembles a room?

You look as though you're seeing
something very strange.

Emperor Hadrian.

You're Lucius, the thermae architect?

Yes.

I am Lucius Modestus.

No need to be so tense.

But still…

I've heard the rumors.

The buildings I design
are said to be novel and such.

But I hear that you make
lots of unique bathhouses as well.

Lucius,

what kind of a bathhouse would you make

in a small place like this?

A bathhouse?

I heard you made a functioning bath

in a small courtyard of someone's house.

Well… um…

that was just a simple, and plain thing…

Don't try to be humble.

Even if I had years to think about it,

I wouldn't have been able to
come up with that "plain thing."

I'm sure you're aware that

I'm not viewed favorably by the senate.

They don't like the fact that
I'm visiting all the provinces

instead of organizing battles

to expand our territory.

But to me, maintaining peace
within our country

is more important than expansion.

I made this island in order to
think about ways

in which to protect our peace…

It's a hassle to go to the bath outside
when I'm secluding myself here.

I lose my concentration

and I lose my train of thought
when I'm using the large bath outside.

And so…

I want you to make me

a personal bathing room.

But Emperor, you have an excellent
architect under you

named Apollodorus.

Oh, Apollodorus is no longer here.

What?

He only had old-fashioned,
conservative ideas.

Right now he's in charge of the military
infrastructures at the frontline.

Even the highly acclaimed
architect Apollodorus

wasn't able to satisfy this emperor?

What I want is someone like you,

who has a young and challenging spirit.

If I wasn't this sure of my expectations,

I wouldn't have returned from Egypt.

I have to go to Jerusalem in a month.

Apparently, there are people there

opposing my idea of peace.

I need to think deeply about

what needs to be done in Jerusalem.

Will you help me out,

as a fellow Roman
working for peace in Rome?

I understand. I will do my best.

Betraying Emperor Hadrian's expectations,

is the same thing as throwing away
my pride as a Roman.

So I said…

but what am I supposed to do?

Even the tiles on the bathroom floor

are so innovative and elegant.

I had heard that

Emperor Hadrian is a diligent
and refined genius…

But I never knew that
someone like Emperor Hadrian

was such a lonely person.

He wants to seclude himself

in this small area surrounded by a moat…

I can't help but feel
a little sorry for him…

Hold on a second.

If there's a moat here,

there must be a water pipe
running through here.

Then that quickly solves the biggest issue

of building a bathroom.

Let me just confirm

where the water is entering and exiting.

I thought I saw the base,
but I can't reach the ground with my feet.

SHINJUKU 2009

SHOWROOM

What? I have to deal
with the client all by myself?

I was called in for an emergency,
so I have to go.

But I can't speak English.

Don't worry, the client is Italian,

but he might know a little Japanese.

And he works in the same plumbing industry

so I'm sure it'll all work out.

Plus, the meeting was at three,

but he's not here yet,
so he might have forgotten about it.

Even if he comes, just show him around.

-Wait…
-Bye.

What should I do?

The client is an Italian,
who's not strict on time.

He might be two to three hours late.

This type here is…

In an emergency,
I can always ask Ms. Yoshizawa for help.

I'm starting to feel like
it will be all right.

Don't lose heart!
I was finally able to get this job.

I can deal with one or two foreigners!

NEW EXCEL SERIES

A…

A foreigner?

What is this place?

An Italian?

The flat-faced people.

Welcome.
I've been looking forward to meeting you.

I see. I'm back here again.

No, I should say that
I was able to come back again.

I'll go get some tea.

It seems like I have appeared
in a bathroom of someone's house.

I will provide you with a tour.

If the master finds out,

this sl*ve will be in trouble…

Sir!

No way! What's happening?

Why is she so flustered?

Wait. Hold on. Stop.

BATHROBE

That's it!

This bathtub here is deeper.

There's an option to add a pedestal
in order to enjoy a half bath.

There is a newer model

that is very spacious…

Is this a villa or something that belongs

to someone who's financially well-off?

Some of them have a jacuzzi
which will provide a lot of comfort…

I can sense that everything
here is very luxurious.

Hey.

What's going on?
Should we call the police?

I thought he was
a little crazy too at first,

but look at that.

He's lost himself while checking
all the small details.

Isn't this stereotypical
of people in this industry?

I guess so.

Maybe he has to put in this much effort

in order to survive in Italy
because of the bad economy…

That makes sense.

I'm glad everything is under control.

-Call me if you need help.
-Okay. Thank you.

Sir, thank you for waiting.

Sir?

It's been 900 years since the founding
of the country.

Rome became a great country by
absorbing highly civilized cultures from

places like Etruria, Carthage, and Greece.

Then how can one explain this world's

highly advanced civilization?

I don't want to think about it,

but this country may have
numerous provinces and territories

that the Roman Empire
can't even compare to.

Are you okay?

I'm starting to get irritated

by the meek and innocent looking faces
of these flat-faced people.

I wonder what's wrong.

No matter how I look at it,

I highly doubt that these people

have stronger military power
than us Romans.

But there is no other explanation
as to why

they are more advanced than we are.

I don't know why

God keeps on sending me to this world.

But what I know for sure,
is that I can't shrink away

and retreat from this situation.

I must do whatever I can,

to create a bathroom for the emperor

by offering more than what's here,

so that he can lead Rome

to new heights of prosperity.

Do you have this in Italy?

This is a popular model these days.

What?

How do I make the sound come out?

What is that?

Is there an aquarium built
inside the wall?

If you'd like,

you can step inside and try out the bath.

How is it? You can relax,

and enjoy your time
in the bath while watching TV.

She's just a sl*ve,
but she's looking down on me.

Just because they embedded an aquarium…

But everything from

the idea of inserting an aquarium
in the wall of the bathroom,

to the shape of this bathtub
that allows you to relax

and feel comfortable
in such a small space…

Someone like me, who only knows how

to follow textbooks
or imitate other people,

could never come up with these ideas.

I am

nothing close to what Hadrian
expects me to be…

But he's given me this important duty…

What's wrong?

Where's the restroom?

-What?
-The restroom!

Do you need to use the restroom?

Here is the restroom.

There's an individual room
for the toilets.

I guess they don't have the custom

of talking with the person next to you
while doing your business.

This is the toilet?

There's a lid to cover the hole.

It seems like a great idea
at first glance,

but it's a hassle for someone
in an emergency…

Do they have a sl*ve on stand-by

just to lift the lid?

I'll check the construction
after I finish my business.

How many sl*ves are they using

just for the use of the toilet?

It must be difficult to play a melody

while someone is doing their business.

Huh?

Is something

hitting that human's butt?

SOFT
- MOVE START/
- STOP

What are you doing, you insolent fool!

A fountain?

The water that just took
a direct hit at my butt,

was for cleansing purposes?

It's a lot more sanitary

than using and reusing

a sponge dipped in water

to wipe your butt.

Let me try it

one more time.

It feels amazing.

I've never felt
something like this before in my life.

It feels amazing.

-Is he not done yet?
-Yamaguchi!

Sir! Welcome back.

What were you doing just standing there?

Huh?

Our client is here!

-What?
-Hi.

But an Italian man… went to the restroom…

Restroom?

There's no one here!

What?

If we hadn't found you drowning
in the moat that time,

I may not have been able to
take a bath like this

while gazing at the jellyfish.

That was an embarrassing incident.

No, I'm just glad that you're alive.

Now I can properly balance
my heart and body,

and head to Jerusalem.

Thank you, Lucius.

Thank you for your kind words.

And…

that personal toilet

you made for me with a cleansing feature
is an incredible idea!

You're not just copying
the cultures of other countries.

I feel reassured,

knowing that people like you exist.

I never knew that jellyfish

had the power to heal a person's heart.

Even the most talented architect in Greece

wouldn't have the idea of gazing at
an aquarium while taking a bath.

It's difficult to endure this
feeling of guilt,

but all of this is for the Roman Empire.

If this will help the culture in Rome
to make rapid progress,

then what could be better than that?

By the way, Lucius…

Will you come with me to Jerusalem?

What?

You're someone that can create
these innovative baths.

It would be reassuring to have you
as a plumbing advisor.

Um…

For peace in Rome…

-please…
-Then…

Oh no…

Somebody… help me…

Thermae Romae. The Hot Water Pilgrimage.

Author Ms. Mari Yamazaki,

embarked on a journey to rediscover
Japan's bathing culture.

EPISODE FIVE INSEN

I'm in the northwestern part
of Gunma Prefecture.

It's a place called Shima Onsen.

SHIMA ONSEN

It feels like time has stopped

in this charming,
and traditional hot spring town.

Let's see what they have here.

This is a very old hot spring town.

The townscape looks as if

it hasn't changed for decades,

and maybe even longer than that.

This really feels like
the traditional Japanese

hot spring town hidden in the mountains.

-Nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you. Welcome.

-Thank you.
-Thank you.

I was walking around Shima Onsen,
and saw this sign.

What is this place?

This is a place where you can drink
the hot spring.

It's called "insen ," and it's a specialty
here at Shima Onsen.

In addition to this place,

there are other insen locations
inside inns and such.

So not only can you
soak in the hot spring,

you can also enjoy
the benefits of the Shima hot spring

by drinking it?

Yes, that's right. There are benefits
to drinking the hot spring.

It helps with

gastrointestinal issues and constipation.

-Oh really?
-Yes.

-That's wonderful.
-Yes.

-Well, I'd like to refresh my stomach.
-I see.

-To put things in order.
-Yes.

SHIO NO YU INSEN-JO

I'm going to try the hot spring now.

I brought this cup.

This is specially made for insen .

I'll drink through here.
It's like a straw.

It's good.

It's surprisingly good.

I can feel it nourishing my body.

It almost tastes like broth.
It's like soup.

But it's not strongly flavored like soup.

It's a great way to drink hot water.

Drinking this every day
will make you very healthy.

This is good for your body.

It's good.

Thermae Memoria.

Ms. Yamazaki sketched
a memorable moment from this trip.

I wanted Lucius to drink the hot spring.

Hot springs not only
warm you from the outside,

but they also

exert a lot of benefits from the inside.

You can experience that at Shima Onsen.

Thermae Romae. The Hot Water Pilgrimage.

Ms. Yamazaki's journey will continue,

as she searches for more hot springs.