There’s English bread, German bread, and French bread,
but Japan’s bread, Japan, does not exist.
In that case, there’s no choice but to create it.
This story is a serious, biographical ballad of a boy who possesses Solar Hands,
Azuma Kazuma, who will create a Japanese bread made by and for the Japanese people,
which can be presented to the world proudly.
dokoka tooku de mimi wo sumashiteru hito ga iru Somewhere far away, there are people listening carefully.
Translated by: Anime-Empire Yakitate!! Japan dokoka tooku de mimi wo sumashiteru hito ga iru Somewhere far away, there are people listening carefully.
Yakitate!! Japan Translated by: Anime-Empire
arayuru basho de sora wo miageteru hito ga iru In every place, there are people looking up at the sky. Yakitate!! Japan Translated by: Anime-Empire
In every place, there are people looking up at the sky. arayuru basho de sora wo miageteru hito ga iru
yozora no shita de kuchibue fuiteru bokutachi wa Under the night sky, we, who are whistling...
kotoba mo nai mama yubi de tada seiza wo nazotteru without words, are just tracing constellations with our fingers.
samugariya no yume tsumetai kimi no te The dreams of the cold-sensitive... Your cold hands...
atatameru mahou wa hitotsu no michi wo shinjiru koto The warming magic is to believe in one path.
houkigumo no mukou ni mitsuketa hitotsubu no hoshi wa The single star found on the other side of the comet cloud...
kagayaku hoshi demo kasukana hoshi demo whether it be a shining or a faint star...
kimi dake no hikari is the light of only you.
mune no kumo no mukou ni mienai mama no michishirube On the other side of the cloud in your heart,
is a sign post that remains unseen. mune no kumo no mukou ni mienai mama no michishirube
saa kono te wo hiraite ima nani wo shinjimasuka? Now, opening these hands, what will you believe in today?
Pantasia’s rival bakery, St. Pierre.
Matsushiro, who accepted the challenge of the main store manager, Mokoyama Tsuyoshi,
entered a bet involving Kazuma in a new bread showdown to be shown on TV.
That was...
an attempt to rescue Pantasia’s southern Tokyo store from its dwindling sales.
A major battle of great risk.
By the way, what is the price of that bread?
Price?
I haven’t really thought about it.
In that case, please give it some thought.
The general manager of the main store, Meister Kirisaki, who had suddenly appeared...
also had confidence in Kazuma’s new bread creation. However...
New Bread Showdown St.Pierre vs Pantasia
They say that two giants cannot stand together.
Here, in this place, I shall bring Pantasia to its end.
H-Hello.
No. It may not work.
Azuma’s bread...
Japan #57, has...
a fatal flaw.
Transformation With the Secret Sauce! Hattori Surprise!!
Transformation With the Secret Sauce! Transformation With the Secret Sauce! Hattori Surprise!!
Pantasia St.Pierre New Bread Showdown! Great Tokyo TV
Pantasia TV Grand Prix Special St. Pierre Main Store Southern Tokyo Store Azuma Kazuma Mokoyama Tsuyoshi
It has begun! TV-Grand Prix Special. Southern Tokyo Store Azuma Kazuma St. Pierre TV Grand Prix Special Pantasia Mokoyama Tsuyoshi Main Store
Azuma Kazuma Southern Tokyo Store St. Pierre TV Grand Prix Special Pantasia
Main Store Mokoyama Tsuyoshi Azuma Kazuma Southern Tokyo Store St. Pierre TV Grand Prix Special Pantasia
Southern Tokyo Store Azuma Kazuma St. Pierre TV Grand Prix Special Pantasia Mokoyama Tsuyoshi Main Store
Southern Tokyo Store Azuma Kazuma Mokoyama Tsuyoshi Main Store St. Pierre TV Grand Prix Special Pantasia It has begun! TV-Grand Prix Special.
St. Pierre Southern Tokyo Store Azuma Kazuma Mokoyama Tsuyoshi TV Grand Prix Special Pantasia It has begun! TV-Grand Prix Special. Main Store
TV Grand Prix Special St. Pierre Southern Tokyo Store Azuma Kazuma Pantasia It has begun! TV-Grand Prix Special. Main Store Mokoyama Tsuyoshi
TV Grand Prix Special Southern Tokyo Store Azuma Kazuma Pantasia It has begun! TV-Grand Prix Special. Main Store Mokoyama Tsuyoshi St. Pierre
It has begun! TV-Grand Prix Special.
St. Pierre vs Pantasia, new bread showdown!
Pantasia
From a great bakery chain, St. Pierre’s main Tokyo store...
The manager, “God of sweetened buns...”
Mokoyama Tsuyoshi!
Southern Tokyo Store Main Store Azuma Kazuma Mokoyama Tsuyoshi Pantasia St. Pierre TV Grand Prix Special
On the opposing side, representing Pantasia’s southern Tokyo store... Southern Tokyo Store Main Store Azuma Kazuma Mokoyama Tsuyoshi Pantasia St. Pierre TV Grand Prix Special
On the opposing side, representing Pantasia’s southern Tokyo store...
Azuma Kazuma!
The new bread creations of the two have already been brought on stage.
Win, win, Manager! Main Tokyo Store Manager Makoyama Tsuyoshi St.Pierre
Fight! Yeah! Main Tokyo Store Manager Makoyama Tsuyoshi St.Pierre
Oh no, you need not worry.
Just watch, Ken-chan.
I will completely defeat your apprentice boy.
Do your best, cutie!
Will he be all right?
Hattori Yukio Akagawa Kyouko Minokami Kouji
Now then, let us introduce the judges who will be trialing the new breads. Hattori Yukio Akagawa Kyouko Minokami Kouji
The head of the Hattori College of Nutrition, Hattori Yukio-sensei. Hattori Yukio Akagawa Kyouko Minokami Kouji
The head of the Hattori College of Nutrition, Hattori Yukio-sensei.
That’s me.
President of the Bread Industry Newspaper, Akagawa Kyouko-san.
And the producer of this show, Minokami Kouji.
I wait in anticipation.
Today, we will be displaying the scores after the judges have each had a sample.
With a maximum of 10 points from each judge, victory will be decided by the total points.
Now, what you’ve all been waiting for...
Let’s start by announcing St. Pierre’s new bread.
Yes! Have a look at this!
It appears to be a round bread.
The bread is being brought to the judges. Akagawa Kyouko Hattori Yukio Minokami Kouji
The bread is being brought to the judges.
This is...
Note: “Kouign amann” is a form of shortbread from the Brittany region of France, made with a very large proportion of butter. At a glance, it seems to be a regular kouign amann.
Kouign amann.
It’s French for “butter cake.”
The bread dough contains a lot of sugar and butter.
It’s a traditional sweet from the Bretagne region.
However, these days it’s not so uncommon...
Can he really call this a new creation?
Now then, please start the tasting.
Sweet!
This sweet, but also salty taste...
Are the ingredients salt-free butter, rock salt, and sugar?
This is truly rich, with plenty of depth.
The outside is surprisingly hard, but it has been caramelized.
Nevertheless...
Normally it would have a filling of “niringo,”
but this kouign amann is different.
Definitely, the moment I put it in my mouth it seemed too sweet, but...
That’s right.
The more I chew it, the more it has a soft, smooth sensation.
It transforms into a natural sweetness.
This... this sensation is...
That’s because there’s a secret inside!
“Secret,” he says?
A secret?
This taste...
This filling...
Pudding!
It’s the taste of pudding!
That is correct!
However, the custard pudding inside contains no sugar!
Oh, I see.
If both the outside and inside were sweet,
it would be too sweet, and ruin the individual tastes.
But with a pudding that isn’t sweet,
the moment it mixes in my mouth with the overly sweet dough,
it transforms into a faint, but pleasantly creamy sweetness.
This is wonderful.
It’s certainly a new kind of sweetness.
This is a new bread worthy of St. Pierre’s pride...
Kouign pudding amann!
Kouign...
pudding...
amann!
Minokami Kouji
This is delicious. 10 points. Minokami Kouji
This is delicious. 10 points.
Minokami Kouji
Akagawa Kyouko
Same for me. Akagawa Kyouko
Très bien! Same for me. Akagawa Kyouko
Hattori Yukio Très bien!
10 points, 10 points, 10 points... 30 points!
Amazing, it’s a perfect score straight away!
P-Perfect score?!
Ohh... my southern Tokyo store...
Boy, I got a perfect score.
Looks like my win has already been decided, even before you announce your Japan.
Really?
Of course it has, stupid boy!
Oh well.
Hurry up and announce your Japan, get humiliated,
and go home!
P-Perfect score...
If Azuma’s Japan #57 has a fatal flaw,
like the manager said...
we’re already finished.
Now, moving on to announce Pantasia’s new bread.
Oh?
The surface is the same, but there are different shapes.
Ah, it is now being brought to the judges.
Hmm... the shapes and sizes are different.
I wonder if the inside is the same?
At a glance, they appear to be fried.
If you eat it, you’ll understand.
Tasting...
This is...?
Note: “Hinoki” is Japanese cypress wood, and is used to build stages for classical theater. Why are we standing on a hinoki stage?
Delicious.
Delicious, this taste is...
Kabuki...
age...
It is...
Note: “Kabukiage” is a deep-fried, round rice cake. Its name seems to relate back to the authenticity and power of traditional “kabuki” theater art. “Age” in this context means “deep-fried.” Kabukiage? The rice cracker?
It goes with bread?
I-I wonder.
Tasty. It works.
The inside is plain bread, but it has such depth.
And it really goes with the sweet sake and soy sauce-flavored coating.
What? It seems like a success.
What on earth is that bread?
You... Azuma-kun, from Pantasia.
This bread is...?
Kabukiage bread, Japan #57!
Hattori Yukio Akagawa Kyouko Minokami Kouji
J-Japan? Hattori Yukio Akagawa Kyouko Minokami Kouji
I haven’t heard of if. Hattori Yukio Akagawa Kyouko Minokami Kouji
Yeah.
I took our store’s leftover bread, put it in a special sauce, and fried it.
L-Leftover?
Even though it’s this soft?
Our leftover bread lasts for days,
and only the surface that’s in contact with the air becomes hard.
It’s perfect for frying the surface to a crisp.
The idea aside,
I never would have thought this to be Pantasia’s leftover bread.
I feel as though I have witnessed Pantasia’s hidden power.
Let me try it!
Give me a bite!
Following St. Pierre, the judges are astounded once again.
We can expect high scores.
I see.
The reason Azuma was collecting the leftover bread,
was for this.
We can do it.
I think we can do it.
There’s no flaw.
Manager, don’t surprise us like that.
Manager?
Wait just a minute!
Everybody, please think about this more rationally.
No matter how good it tastes...
it’s leftover bread!
Leftover?
Oh yeah, he did say that.
Is it really okay to use something like that?
Leftovers that should normally be thrown away...
To put those back in the store as a product...
I can only think that Pantasia is treating its customers with disrespect!
So he also noticed... that Mokoyama.
Yes, this lousy image is Japan #57’s flaw.
I can certainly understand St. Pierre’s view.
Yeah, it doesn’t matter how tasty it is.
They’re leftovers, after all.
It’s strange, don’t you think?
Yeah.
But...
But, the southern Tokyo store’s bread is delicious, no matter how many days pass!
Yes, our bread tastes good, no matter how many days may pass.
I do understand that.
I’m confident in it.
But you know, Azuma...
Customers don’t know any of that.
What you are trying to do...
is a taboo of the worst kind, for a bakery.
Do you still intend to use that leftover bread?
I will.
Bread this tasty...
is being thrown away, without ever being eaten.
It’s so wasteful, I can’t stand it.
All this great bread... that everyone put their effort into making...
Back when I had just joined the Pantasia main store...
throwing out the leftovers each day...
was the job I hated most.
To sell everything was impossible.
I knew that, but...
I always thought about it.
Was there no way for us to avoid throwing out the bread we put our hearts into?
I thought something like that was just a dream.
Manager.
You knew, didn’t you? Why didn’t you stop him?
Why didn’t you get Azuma to make a new bread of the usual kind?
The one you ate was the manager’s flavor.
Yours was Tsukino’s flavor.
Yours was Kawachi’s flavor.
M-My flavor?
Azuma didn’t want to waste your bread, or my bread, or Tsukino’s bread...
because they all taste so good.
That’s what he was thinking.
Our bread...
Once I knew Azuma felt that way...
I couldn’t say no to him.
I’m sorry, guys.
They were delicious, right? You said they were delicious, didn’t you?
I understand how you feel,
but Mokoyama-san’s point is valid.
I have to take it into consideration for your score.
No way...
Azuma...
Azuma-san...
It was a double-edged sword, but thinking that it might revive the store,
I bet everything on Azuma...
Perhaps it was reckless, after all.
Please hold on a moment.
You have not asked an important question yet.
Meister Kirisaki.
Please hold on a moment.
You have not asked an important question yet.
Before announcing the score, I would like you to ask the price of both creations.
W...
Wh...
Who?
It’s the main store’s...!
H-He is...
Pantasia’s main store general manager...
Meister Kirisaki.
Having turned down so many invitations from the media,
the man who is said to never reveal himself in public...
Why is he here?
Oh! It’s the masked man from yesterday!
It’s an honor to be in the presence of Pantasia’s supreme artisan.
But even if you have no way of winning,
I will not accept you interfering with this competition!
I have no intention of interfering with the competition.
Only... Aside from being placed in store as a new product,
I believe the price should be taken into consideration for scoring, in this case...
Being a man who loves bread!
Yes, he certainly has a point.
Well... in that case, starting with St. Pierre’s new bread.
Unless there’s a problem, may we ask what the price will be?
No problem.
I don’t know what he’s plotting, but there’s no chance.
As a matter of fact, this new bread, kouign pudding amann...
is loaded with extraordinary ingredients.
Note: “Gifu-jidori” is one of the oldest breeds of chickens in Japan, from the Gifu Prefecture. It is mainly bred by hobbyists. For the custard pudding I used an extravagant amount of gifu-jidori eggs...
For the sweetness of the dough I used high-grade granulated sugar,
which brings out the greatest amount of natural taste
through its large grains and perfect sweetness.
It is a kouign amann designed with the clarity and refinement of sweetness in mind!
I was particular about the ingredients for the pudding.
There’s the flour, and the finest butter, so...
If a standard kouign amann would be 160 yen...
Including the cost of the pudding, I would ask for 260 yen.
But wait a minute.
If he’s asking about the price, it means he’s confident that he can go cheaper.
I’ll compete for the lowest possible price, too.
It’s decided!
I will make it 190 yen!
Cheap! It’s too cheap!
Even a regular kouign amann costs 150 or 160 yen.
Oh? That is surprisingly cheap.
I will also have one, at some time.
Isn’t it, isn’t it?
Now, Pantasia is next.
Your price, how much?
Azuma-kun.
This kabukiage bread, Japan #57’s price...
is 0 yen.
0 yen? 0 yen?! Nothing?!
Free, he says?
What’s that supposed to mean?
That’s cheating, cheating!
Even if you don’t want to lose,
charging 0 yen out of desperation is just dirty!
That’s not true.
They were leftovers to begin with,
and I just wanted everyone to know the taste of the southern Tokyo store.
That’s all.
But despite that, how can you charge 0?
But, that’s...
Like I said...
Matsushiro-san.
The rest is up to you.
I see.
Manager?
This may be sudden, but please excuse me!
I’m Matsushiro, the manager of Pantasia’s southern Tokyo store,
which is located diagonally opposite from St. Pierre’s main store.
M-Manager?
We have always been
producing high-quality bread that does not lose to the main store,
but we’re a small-scale branch with a mere 5 employees...
and in reality, we just don’t seem to get noticed by the public.
And so...!
The 0 yen bread that Azuma here just proposed
is to show everyone the taste of the southern Tokyo store...
Japan #57 has been announced.
This is certainly not because we thought we would lose,
or that we just thought of it and decided to make it 0 yen,
or any such case.
I only thought up the price just now.
W-What?
At any rate,
that Japan #57 will be in the store starting tomorrow.
Thank you very much.
Hey. You guys stand and bow, too.
U-Um...
Please visit Pantasia’s southern Tokyo store.
So perhaps the manager’s flavor that boy mentioned...
He must have used that masculine man’s bread.
I kind of have a thing for rough-looking men.
Maybe I’ll try some.
There was also a Tsukino-flavor, wasn’t there?
That would, um, be me.
Please stop by sometime.
C-Cute! I want some, too!
Me, too!
Show some more appeal.
Give them a pose, and make it sexy, sexy!
It’s for the store, so do it.
Sex appeal...
Tsu... Tsukino-flavor... come and try some, okay?
Hey, wasn’t there another one?
That would be my flavor.
It’s Kawachi-flavor, Kawachi-flavor.
Note: “Kakashi” means a figurehead or dummy. Alternatively, a scarecrow. Was it kakashi-flavor?
Wha–?
Fine, I have nothing to say!
In that case, after considering the price, we will judge Pantasia’s bread.
10 points...
10 points!
A perfect score!
This is mortifying!
St.Pierre Makoyama Tsuyoshi Main Tokyo Store Manager This is mortifying!
No way! Main Tokyo Store Manager Makoyama Tsuyoshi St.Pierre
W-We’re saved.
Yes. Now it seems that my southern Tokyo store won’t be ruined.
It’s as if he knew this would happen all along, it’s irritating.
However, just this time...
It has been decided, this new bread showdown... ends in a draw! Southern Tokyo Store Main Store St. Pierre Pantasia TV Grand Prix Special
Wow, I was really worried at one point.
Now we won’t lose our jobs.
Well, since you drew with the enemy manager, we’ve kept our reputation.
Right, Azuma?
I thought this would happen from the beginning.
Or so you say.
Right! Let’s celebrate tonight!
Manager, it’s still business hours.
Don’t worry about small details, we’re going.
Okay.
We’re taking a break.
Okay! We’re taking a break.
Got it, people?
The owner is in America right now.
This incident must be kept secret.
If you expose this, I will make you all my lovers!
This bread looks delicious.
Isn’t there any Manager’s flavor?
Hey, why isn’t there any Tsukino-flavor?
a W-What is this?
Hey, I want Tsukino-flavor, Tsukino-flavor... a W-What is this?
Why do I always have to look after the store alone? Hey, I want Tsukino-flavor, Tsukino-flavor...
Come to think of it, didn’t they say that it starts tomorrow?
e m Ra
Okay, moving on! e m Ra
Sheesh... e m Ra
Sheesh...
Manager, I’m suffering.
This is so messed up.
Hey, Kawachi.
Haven’t we forgotten something?
Nope, not at all.
I feel like we’ve forgotten something.
Oh well.
Everyone...
come back soon!
tsukaifurusareta “aishiteru” mo kimi wo omotte kuchi ni sureba If I think of you, and even utter the clichéd phrase “I love you,”
konna ni suteki na hibiki ni naru soshite kimi wa shaberi tsuzukeru it makes such a nice sound, and you continue talking.
tsuyogari na kimi ga tokodoki miseru hakanage na namida nya shirohata desu The hopeless tears your bold self sometimes shows me form flag of truce.
nani mo iwanakerya iwanai dake ni If nothing is said, then all the more,
yosomi nante dekinaindayo kanashimi dano kurushimi dano I just can’t look away. Things like sadness and pain...
sorya ikiterya yappari iroiro aru kedo Well, that happens a lot in life, after all.
nanigenaku kimi ga iu “ganbatte” ni chikara moratteruyo When you casually say, “Do your best,” it gives me strength.
moshimo chiisana senaka furueru toki ni wa boku ga sugu dakishimeru kara Whenever your small back trembles, I will embrace you right away.
mado kara mieru keshiki kawatte ittemo Even if the scenery outside my window changes...
neguse no hidoi kimi no mama de soba ni ite Stay with me as you are, bad sleeping habits and all.
tsukaifurusareta “daikirai” mo If you sulk, and utter
kimi ga fukurete kuchi ni sureba hantai no imi ni kikoeruno sa Even the clichéd “I hate you,” it comes across as the opposite.
donna toki datte aishiteru itsumo to onaji sunday I will love you, no matter what. It’s just another Sunday to me.
Next Episode
New recruit of Pantasia or not, as I am now, I cannot beat Azuma. Next Episode
Kawachi-san, do you want Solar Hands? Next Episode
I want them! But I don’t like this special training! Next Episode
Next episode, Yakitate!! Japan. Next Episode
Next episode, Yakitate!! Japan.
The Solar Gauntlet! Kawachi Kai!! Next episode, Yakitate!! Japan.
Kawachi Kai!! The Solar Gauntlet! Kawachi Kai!! The Solar Gauntlet!
Be sure to see it! Kawachi Kai!! The Solar Gauntlet!
Yakitate!! Seed of knowledge.
Note: As many of you would know, the Japanese like their “sound effects,” even for things that don’t make a sound. They use words to depict how something acts, in a sense. “Purin purin” as an effect is the same. “Purin” isn’t called “purin” because it goes “purin purin” when it shakes.
The English word “pudding” just sounded like “purin” to the Japanese. Note: As many of you would know, the Japanese like their “sound effects,” even for things that don’t make a sound. They use words to depict how something acts, in a sense. “Purin purin” as an effect is the same.
As with “waishatsu” and others, it’s Japlish!
I see!