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.
Somewhere far away, there are people listening carefully.
dokoka tooku de mimi wo sumashiteru hito ga iru
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
Under the night sky, we, who are whistling...
yozora no shita de kuchibue fuiteru bokutachi wa
without words, are just tracing constellations with our fingers.
kotoba mo nai mama yubi de tada seiza wo nazotteru
The dreams of the cold-sensitive... Your cold hands...
samugariya no yume tsumetai kimi no te
The warming magic is to believe in one path.
atatameru mahou wa hitotsu no michi wo shinjiru koto
The single star found on the other side of the comet cloud...
houkigumo no mukou ni mitsuketa hitotsubu no hoshi wa
whether it be a shining or a faint star...
kagayaku hoshi demo kasukana hoshi demo
is the light of only you.
kimi dake no hikari
On the other side of the cloud in your heart,
mune no kumo no mukou ni mienai mama no michishirube
is a sign post that remains unseen.
Now, opening these hands, what will you believe in today?
saa kono te wo hiraite ima nani wo shinjimasuka?
As the first big step towards completing Japan, the bread that tastes better than rice,
Azuma Kazuma challenged the new employee examination
at the charisma of the bakery world: Pantasia’s main store.
He made Indian nan-style bread for the first exam
and overwhelmed Kuroyanagi, the examiner.
By noon tomorrow, make a croissant.
The new employee shall be decided by this test.
Who is this Kurowa-san?
Who in the world is Kurowa-san?
Is This the Final Kurowa-san!?
Burnt Black!!
Is This fhe Final Kurowa-san!?
Okay, okay.
This is Azuma.
Kazuma?
Huh? Kurowa-san?
Yeah, I want to find out who Kurowa-san is.
Do you know, Inaho nee-chan?
Beats me.
I wonder if Jii-chan would know?
Hey, Jii-chan, do you know Kurowa-san?
Dam.
Isn’t that Kurobe dam, Jii-chan?
Only the “kuro” part matches...
So...?
I thought it was a joke, but that guy really doesn’t know what a croissant is.
This is great.
This knocks one out.
Only two rivals remain.
Azusagawa Tsukino and Suwabara Kai.
Suwabara?
Wait a minute...
I’ve heard that name before.
This isn’t good!
That guy is...
I’m at a loss.
Neither Jii-chan nor Nee-chan know.
Who in the world is Kurowa-san?
Is something the matter?
That bread is the icon of France.
Oh, really?
You really didn’t know?
Yeah. I’ve only ever made Japan.
Japan?
I don’t really know what you mean,
but shall I teach you how to make a croissant?
Are you for real?
Yes.
Hey, come to think of it...
It was the same during the first exam...
Why are you so nice to me?
Why did you stick up for me that time?
Despite how I may seem,
I’m a good judge of character.
Especially when it comes to bread artisans.
Judge...?
In that case, shall we head over to the workshop...
to learn about croissants.
Hold it!
Kawachi.
Umm... He got kidnapped.
It’s just as I thought.
Those hands are definitely Solar Hands.
You’re going to teach me, Kawachi?
I’m thankful, but it seemed she was going to teach me.
What’s the use of just learning how to make it?
What we need to make...
is the ultimate croissant that can beat even Suwabara.
Delicious bread-making shops
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Youngest contender in a First-class bread-making skill competition!
Who’s this?
Youngest contender in a First-class bread-making skill competition!
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Youngest contender in a First-class bread-making skill competition!
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Youngest contender in a First-class bread-making skill competition!
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Youngest contender in a First-class bread-making skill competition!
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Youngest contender in a First-class bread-making skill competition!
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Youngest contender in a First-class bread-making skill competition!
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Youngest contender in a First-class bread-making skill competition!
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Youngest contender in a First-class bread-making skill competition!
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Youngest contender in a First-class bread-making skill competition!
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Open your eyes and have a look.
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Youngest contender in a First-class bread-making skill competition!
Contest Victor
Theme was
Bread artisan newcomer
“Croissant”
It’s Suwabara.
Youngest contender in a First-class bread-making skill competition!
Bread artisan newcomer
Contest Victor
Theme was
“Croissant”
He was the highest-ranking young contender in a first-class bread-making skill competition,
and was the winner of the contest for best new bread artisan.
On top of that, the theme of the contest...
was the croissant.
Bread artisan newcomer
Youngest contender in a First-class bread-making skill competition!
“Croissant”
Theme was
Contest Victor
Incredible!
Notice Suwabara Kai-san
Restaurant
Delicious bread-making shops
Got it? I’ll put it simply.
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Delicious bread-making shops
Restaurant
Delicious bread-making shops
In other words... you and I, alone, have no chance of winning against him.
But even so, if we work together, we have a chance at beating Suwabara.
Work with me, and let’s create an ultimate croissant.
I don’t want to.
Y-You don’t want to?
If we don’t make it by ourselves, there’s no point, right?
It’s also kind of cowardly.
I’ll get Tsukino to teach me how to make it, so it’s fine.
K-Kawachi?!
I’m begging you, it’s my life’s request.
If I cannot remain after this exam, I...
My little brother and sister...
will become homeless!
Nii-chan, we’re out of rice.
Nii-chan, I’m hungry.
H-Homeless?
My parents died in a fire last year.
I’ve had to look after my siblings ever since.
So I’ve got to earn some money...
Nii-chan, I’m cold.
Nii-chan, I’m hungry.
There’s nothing we can do but starve to death.
Uh?
Oops, maybe I went a bit too far.
Is this guy a moron?
If it’s discovered that we made it together, we could be disqualified.
U-Um... let’s make the croissant together, okay?
Um, regards to my partner.
The same in return, let’s do our best, comrade.
This is it... These hands...
With these Solar Hands, we can surely win.
I’m the one who will win.
Got it? This is the most important part.
Okay.
I’ll just confirm...
Suwabara has no deductions, and is still on 10 points.
Next is me on 8 points, and you’re on 3 points.
8 points and 3 points!
W-What?
If we add our points together, we have 11!
We’re 1 point up on Suwabara!
Umm...
That’s right! That’s exactly it.
Well noticed. You’re a genius.
That’s what it is, right?
That’s it, after all!
Is this guy a moron?
I’m a real genius! That’s really it.
Hm? Come to think of it, that girl...
How many points did Azusagawa Tsukino have?
Oh well.
So, croissant means “crescent.”
In other words, its shape is from the crescent moon.
That changed over time, and became croissant.
I don’t care about that. Teach me how to make it.
Geez...
Show some interest if you’re aspiring to be a baker.
Hurry up.
Fine, I got it.
I’ve put in the ingredients you told me to.
In that case, knead the dough as I say.
Once the moisture has spread through, add some butter and mix it in.
Like this?
It’s done.
Ok.
Next, take the dough from the bowl and knead it until it’s settled.
He’s pretty good for his first time.
And the dough has already started to ferment.
It must be those hands.
It seems Kawachi-san has noticed those hands, too.
I can’t wait for the result.
Next,
we mold the butter like this, and flatten it to a square.
Do we put that butter between the dough and flatten it, by any chance?
Yeah.
That’s similar...
to Japan #43.
He’s still saying that.
Well, that’s nice.
Wrap the butter in the dough, fold into two, and flatten.
Fold the flattened dough into three, and flatten.
Fold this into three, twice more, and you get 54 layers.
This is the dough used to make the standard croissant.
That’s too few.
What?
Listen,
if you make the dough thin with too many layers,
those layers, which are the lifeblood of a croissant, become crushed.
On top of that, we used 60 grams of sugar for every 350 grams of flour,
and croissant dough with a high sugar content burns easily if it’s too thin.
At most, we can fold it once more into two, for 108 layers.
That’s the limit.
Like I said, that’s too few.
What are you saying, you amateur?
It should be 324 layers.
I can do that with my Japan.
T-Three hundred and twenty?!
Are you a moron? If you bake something like that, it’ll be burnt to a crisp.
What’s wrong with that, does that taste bad?
Of course it does.
What?
The important part is what’s inside...
What did you say?
You can do that?
Leave it to me.
If it’s Japan #43’s dough, we can do it.
We take this 108 layer dough, and fold it a further three times.
Is this really okay?
Is something the matter?
You see,
a 324 layer croissant...
You seem to be having fun together.
I beg you, please keep this a secret.
Otherwise, my siblings will be homeless...
Don’t worry.
Secret or otherwise, it doesn’t matter.
What’s that supposed to mean?
Kawachi, the dough is ready.
What do I do now?
Hello again.
Come with me.
Yes?
Kawachi, I’ll leave the rest to you.
H-Hey!
Oh well.
We folded the limit of 108 layers, by an additional three times.
If I’ve got this 324 layer dough called Japan or whatever...
Now, I use a kitchen knife to cut this dough into isosceles triangles.
This one triangle becomes a croissant.
A completed croissant, ready for baking.
Guess I’ll make some for him, too.
Oh, what a surprise. They can come apart.
One layer becomes this thin.
What’s with the way this tears?
It’s like paper being cut
by a well-made Japanese sword, in the hands of a master.
Protein, known as the framework of bread...
The gluten matrix needs to be in straight lines for it to tear like this.
If I were to name this, I’d call it Solar Dough.
The warmth of Solar Hands, which is above that of body temperature,
allowed the yeast germ fermentation to be perfectly uniform.
I can win...
against Suwabara!
That Azuma has only 3 points left.
I have 8 points.
If we both present identically delicious croissants,
with my 5 point lead, I’ll surely end up the winner.
I’ll have the last laugh!
You will now present the task of your final exam.
Show me an ultimate croissant, worthy of Pantasia.
There are many things I’d like to ask, but first of all...
Kawachi, what is that lump of charcoal?
It’s... a croissant.
It seems a total amateur has found its way in here.
Note: Both say “kurowassan”, which means “croissant,” but the bottom text replaced “kuro” with the kanji for “black,” as a joke.
Croissant
“Kurowassan” it may be... but it’s “kuro-wassan,” isn’t it?
To bake something without burning it is the most basic of all basic skills.
I already knew if would turn out like this.
But, that guy...
Hey, where’d you go with that girl?
Never mind that, how did the croissants turn out?
I just tried baking them at the standard temperature setting.
As I predicted, this is what happened.
This is no good!
Yeah, and that’s what I said!
You haven’t baked it long enough. You have to burn it more.
More?!
Burn it?!
Didn’t I tell you?
What’s inside is most important..
After that, you use this.
Right?
It’s not “Right?” at all, seriously...
Note: While “tarou” is a common name suffix for males in Japan, this is also probably a reference to “Momo-tarou,” from the story of a powerful boy who was born from a peach.
Can I really do it with this, Japan-tarou?
Number 34.
It seems number 35 is not here?
Come to think of it, Japa... I mean, Azuma doesn’t seem to be around.
And I don’t see that girl here, either.
Surely they aren’t still off somewhere together...?
About Azuma-san...
He has pulled out of the new employee examination.
What was that?!
Y-Young lady...
And... that jii-san is...?
Azusagawa Sadanao!
Owner of Pantasia Group.
I’ve seen him in books...
Why is Azusagawa Tsukino, one of the applicants, with the owner...?
Azusagawa!
No way!
She’s the owner’s, Azusagawa’s grandchild, and is still young...
but in charge of Pantasia’s southern Tokyo store.
What did you say?!
So that’s the trick you’ve been playing.
She’s been amongst the applicants, just on a whim,
but she has nothing to do with the new employee examination.
Secret or otherwise, it doesn’t matter.
So that’s what she meant.
Revealing my dishonesty means nothing,
if she’s on the recruiting side after all.
It’s over.
That moron Azuma must have pulled out because he caught on to this.
So I’m the only one who gets exposed?
To think I’d have to choose between Suwabara and a guy like this...
This is a disappointing development. I still have to make a decision.
I will now begin the tasting for the final exam!
I really don’t want to eat such charcoal...
It can’t be helped... The tasting was a promise.
I’ll eat it.
Don’t touch it yet!
What did you say?
It may be over for me,
but at the very least I will complete this creation!
What?!
No way.
I-It really...
It really came out!
The moon came out!
The crescent moon that floats in the night sky!
What’s going on?
From within the charcoal, a beautifully baked croissant has...!
The taste...
This is Houston.
Apollo 12, report your status.
This is number 12.
We are now stepping onto the moon surface.
Inside my mouth...
there’s a light, spinning sensation.
To the man who made it...
it’s just a single, small croissant...
but it is one giant leap for the bread industry.
It has a feeling of toughness.
Just how many layers does this have?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...
No!! This is more than 300 layers!
Dough made with a lot of sugar burns easily.
But to compensate for that,
you made the dough with this many layers?!
Behold! This is it!
1mm thickness, a croissant with 324 layers minus 10.
The outer-most 10 layers or so are not to be eaten.
They are for trapping the taste within.
Plus 6 points!
P-Plus 6 points?
Added to my 8 points, that’s 14.
I’m 4 points ahead of Suwabara!
Next, Suwabara’s croissant...
Wait a minute.
Let me also taste that.
Okay...
He’s knocked out, impossible.
I stand defeated.
It’s good...
Better than mine.
That isn’t for you to judge.
It’s my job.
Shut up.
That’s enough.
We already have our answer.
Number 34, Kawachi-kun.
I have decided to recruit you to Pantasia’s main Tokyo store.
Oh...
Congratulations.
Congratulations on your recruitment.
U-Um...
Azusagawa Tsukino-san, come with me.
Yes?
The one who baked it at the very end was me.
Yes.
You understand that, right?
Despite how I may seem, I’m a wicked person.
If you don’t watch what you say, I won’t be responsible for what, happens.
Wow, scary.
Azuma may have noticed
that you were on Pantasia’s side, and on to our cheating,
so he pulled out of this examination...
But I’m not like that. I won’t let a chance like this get away.
You seem to be a little mistaken.
What?!
I think the reason Azuma-san pulled out,
was because he thought of your siblings.
That time...
I’ll drop this new employee examination.
You know, I’ve never lied to other people before,
so in this situation, I just don’t know what expression to put on...
If this lie was to show on my face,
the fact that Kawachi and I made the croissant together would be found out, right?
Then I’d be making trouble for Kawachi.
Kawachi’s siblings would end up homeless.
Azuma-san...
That’s about it.
I, a person who has only ever made Japan, wouldn’t be of much use to a bakery.
Pantasia needs someone knowledgeable who’s able to make anything, like Kawachi.
Don’t you think so?
So he’s backing out...
That’s what he said.
There are limits to being kind.
This is why country people are troublesome.
Well, those types should just be left alone.
You just can’t deal with country people.
Even though I say this...
I’m a country boy, too...
What should I do now?
If I return home like this, I’d probably get beaten by Nee-chan...
Who did that, dammit?!
Kawachi... Why?
Why did you have to hit me?
I mean, why are you here?
Thanks to you, I failed.
Did they find out?
As if I could beat Suwabara with a croissant like that.
That examiner occhan saw that it was burnt black!
Because of that, they hired Suwabara.
What’re you saying? Didn’t you use the spoon?
You don’t even know how to use a spoon?
A thing called a spoon is used to scoop something.
Note: This is wordplay that Kazuma doesn’t understand. “Sukuu” means “scoop,” but can also mean “rescue” or “save.”
You’re a spoon.
Um, I don’t understand.
What does that mean?
Don’t worry about it, let’s go.
Go...? Where?
Note: “Hello Work” is the name of Japan’s government employment agency.
Hello Work.
What bakery is that?
It’s not a bakery.
I’m not interested unless it’s a bakery!
So that croissant was something they made together...
And Kawachi-kun pulled out, too.
But it’s difficult to let that talent go to waste.
We should have recruited those two.
Oh, Ojii-sama, please don’t say such things.
I don’t approve.
I had my eyes on them from the beginning, after all.
Those two...
I want them... for my southern Tokyo store.
If I think of you, and even utter the clichéd phrase “I love you,”
tsukaifurusareta “aishiteru” mo kimi wo omotte kuchi ni sureba
it makes such a nice sound, and you continue talking.
konna ni suteki na hibiki ni naru soshite kimi wa shaberi tsuzukeru
The hopeless tears your bold self sometimes shows me form flag of truce.
tsuyogari na kimi ga tokodoki miseru hakanage na namida nya shirohata desu
If nothing is said, then all the more,
nani mo iwanakerya iwanai dake ni
I just can’t look away. Things like sadness and pain...
yosomi nante dekinaindayo kanashimi dano kurushimi dano
Well, that happens a lot in life, after all.
sorya ikiterya yappari iroiro aru kedo
When you casually say, “Do your best,” it gives me strength.
nanigenaku kimi ga iu “ganbatte” ni chikara moratteruyo
Whenever your small back trembles, I will embrace you right away.
moshimo chiisana senaka furueru toki ni wa boku ga sugu dakishimeru kara
Even if the scenery outside my window changes...
mado kara mieru keshiki kawatte ittemo
Stay with me as you are, bad sleeping habits and all.
neguse no hidoi kimi no mama de soba ni ite
If you sulk, and utter
tsukaifurusareta “daikirai” mo
Even the clichéd “I hate you,” it comes across as the opposite.
kimi ga fukurete kuchi ni sureba hantai no imi ni kikoeruno sa
I will love you, no matter what. It’s just another Sunday to me.
donna toki datte aishiteru itsumo to onaji sunday
Next Episode
Make a delicious bread!
Afro hair!
Another weird ossan has appeared.
Note: “Ossan” is just another form of “occhan,” used in reference to older men.
Next episode, Yakitate!! Japan.
Note: Both say “umai pan” which means “delicious bread,” but the second version replaces “u” with the kanji for “horse,” as a pun.
Hihiin!!
Make a Delicious Bread!
Be sure to see it!
Yakitate!! Seed of knowledge.
Crescent
Straight
At the center of production in France,
they use margarine for the crescent-shaped croissant,
Margarine
and butter for the straight croissant type.
Butter
I see!