Lucius Returns to the Bathhouse
The long wait is over for fans of ancient Rome's most unlikely time-traveler. Comic Natalie reported that Mari Yamazaki's Thermae Romae Redux (続テルマエ・ロマエ) published its 14th chapter on Shonen Jump+ on May 19, ending a hiatus of approximately eight months.
The sequel, which launched on Shonen Jump+ in February 2024, picks up 20 years after the original story. Lucius, the Roman bathhouse architect who once stumbled through time into modern Japan, is now approaching old age. His wife Satsuki has vanished under mysterious circumstances, and his relationship with their son Marius has grown strained. Despite it all, Lucius finds himself slipping back to Japan once more — and slowly rediscovering his drive.
Chapter 14 brings Satsuki back into focus alongside her grandfather Tetsuzō. The episode is set in Itō, Shizuoka, where the two live — a coastal hot-spring town that feels like a natural fit for a series built around bathing culture.
The Original Goes Free
To celebrate the return, Shueisha announced that all chapters of the original Thermae Romae will be released for free on Shonen Jump+, with chapters rolling out sequentially starting May 19. It's a smart move — the original six-volume series ran from 2008 to 2013 and became one of the most recognizable manga-to-live-action crossover hits of its era, spawning two theatrical films in 2012 and 2014 and a Netflix anime adaptation, Thermae Romae Novae, in 2022.
For anyone who missed the original run or wants a refresher before jumping into the sequel, this is about as low a barrier to entry as it gets.
Looking Ahead
With Chapter 14 now live, it remains to be seen whether Thermae Romae Redux will return to a regular schedule or continue with irregular publication. Yamazaki has not commented publicly on the hiatus or upcoming plans.
International readers can access the sequel through MANGA Plus, Shueisha's free English-language manga platform, which simulpubs Shonen Jump+ titles. The original Thermae Romae is available in English from Yen Press. No word yet on whether the free chapter campaign on Shonen Jump+ will extend to MANGA Plus as well, but the sequel chapters should remain accessible globally through the platform.