The storyline of Thermae Romae, the new seinen show inspired by the award-winning manga by Mari Yamazaki is based on one of the most over-used yet somehow still effective TV tropes of all time: cultural exchange via nearly-fatal injury. In the show, chronically uninspired 1st century architect Lucius Vitruvius Cordo finds himself accidentally crossing over to Japan following an accident in a roman bathhouse. After spending some time indulging in Japan's lush bathhouses, Lucius returns to his homeland with a brand new catalog of ideas.

Perhaps one of the most fascinating themes explored by the story of Thermae Romae is that of the concept of cultural syncretism. Historically, through the mechanisms of war, trade, and immigration, nations from all corners of the world have gained exposure to the ideas an artistic conventions of foreign peoples. Acculturation, as this process is referred to in the social sciences, often results in visible changes in the lifestyle and cultural traditions of a nation. 

It could be said that Japanese bath culture is essentially a blend of both local and Roman traditions. Roman bathhouses, in turn, are said to have been heavily inspired by the customs and aesthetic sensibilities of both Greek and Indus Valley civilizations. In Thermae Romae, Mari Yamazaki poses a funny and interesting question: what if a foreign institution becomes such a beloved part of our lifestyle that we begin to address it as part of our own culture?

Of course, to say that bathhouses originated in Japan is almost as absurd as claiming that Americans invented pizza. And this precisely where this whole idea of cultural syncretism comes in. In Thermae Romae, Mari Yamazaki elegantly pokes fun at our often exaggerated nationalism and reminds us that we live ina  highly interconnected world, in which even the most unique of our institutions have been at least partially inspired by the world of creative individuals from other parts of the globe.

In addition to intelligently tackling the topic of nationalism, Thermae Romae addresses other delicate contemporary issues such as racism and xenophobia. While this may seem awfully dull, the series is written as a comedy with a dry sense of humor reminiscent of weird late 90s shows like Super Milk Chan. The story-telling is accessible and pretty intuitive, and quite frankly, feels more like a treat than an educational experience.

Now, as far as the anime adaptation's overall quality goes, I must say that I was hoping for a little more. So far, the script's execution has not been stellar and several jokes have fallen flat. The anime is crude and features a lot of recycled frames, but one could argue that this somewhat goes with the humor. While definitely not for everyone, I would say that Thermae Romae is at least worth taking a look at. And definitely worth reading.