There’s only 20 minutes left!
And it looks like everyone’s bread is almost done.
Azuma...
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 aboy 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.
I swore to your shining eyes
kagayaku kimi no hitomi ni chikatta
Yakitate!! Japan
Translated by: Anime-Empire
on an afternoon when the blue sky
chiisana mado kara aozora ga mieta gogo
was visible through a small window
that I no longer wanted to run away.
nigeru koto nante mou shitaku wa nai yo
senaka ni atatakai te no hira o kanjiteiru
I feel a warm hand upon my back.
kizutsuku yori mo tsurai no wa
The only thing more painful than getting hurt is...
ashita wo akiramete jibun ni uso tsukitsuzukeru koto
giving up on tomorrow and continuing to lie to yourself.
daiji na yume wo hitotsu kokoro ni itsudemo
The one precious dream always held in your heart
shinjite mamotte norikoete ikou
Let’s believe it, protect it, and overcome everything.
daiji na yume ga aru kara motto tsuyoku nareru
Because we have a precious dream, we can become stronger
omoiegaita mirai wo dakishimete
holding on to the dream that we imagined and painted
kore kara mo
forevermore.
Lots of nutrients!!
The sports bread showdown!
Lots of nutrients!!
The sports bread showdown!
Kayser’s blue bread...
Suwabara’s red bread...
Okay!
It looks like everyone’s bread is done.
Kayser said that Suwabara’s bread had a fatal flaw.
Don’t tell me that Japan... will lose?
Without Azuma, we’re done for if Suwabara’s bread loses.
Hey, Ryou...
You don’t even consider the possibility that Japan might be saved by Kawachi’s bread?
Not at all.
Since it seems to me the person himself doesn’t think so.
All right then.
I guess I’ll start the judging.
Yeah, let’s start it.
A-Azuma!
Hey, Kawachi! Suwabara!
I somehow made it in time.
No you haven’t!
Not even 20 minutes are left!
You can’t even make microwave bread in 20 minutes!
It’s all right.
I already inished making the bread.
What was that?!
Then, hurry up.
Hurry and bring it out.
Don’t crowd me.
I’m getting it out.
Here. This is it!
Black?!
A black bread?
Is this Japan #51?
That’s right! This is Japan #51...
Hold it right there.
Huh?
What is it, Old... I mean Mister Pierrot?
Sorry to interrupt you when you’re all excited about introducing your bread...
but I can’t judge that bread.
Why not?
Because I was late?
No, according to the rules, as long as you make the bread within the time limit,
being late isn’t a problem.
But...
If you’re to suddenly bring in a completed bread,
you can’t prove that you’ve made it within the time limit.
More importantly, you can’t even prove that it’s you who made it.
Do you know?
How long was the time limit?
150 minutes.
I was easily within the time limit.
I would have liked to see what you did, but...
I can’t possibly judge a bread with so many unknown variables.
I’m sorry, Azuma.
It... It can’t be.
Serves you right, Japanese representative.
But, even had you completed it within the time limit,
that filthy black bread could not have won against my brother’s Blue Lagoon...
Did I not tell you not to speak?
You shameless creature.
I apologize.
That black bread...
While it appears to be black, it’s not burnt.
And that luster...
How did he do that?
It’s interesting, and so it is a shame that it cannot be judged.
Wait!
Can’t you carry out the judging?
It’s a lion!
They’re putting on a performance!
No, it’s the King of Monaco!
Y-Your Majesty!
The reason that the boy was late...
The fault lies with me.
The boy arrived early in the morning.
Did you find the ingredients that you were missing?
Yeah!
Thank you, Your Majesty.
See ya!
Boy!
You plan on running to the arena?
Yeah, basically.
Wait here for a bit.
I am sure you will make it in time if you run,
but you might as well come with me in my car.
Things went well up until then, but...
there was an accident ahead of us and there was a traffic jam.
Your Majesty!
Don’t panic, Boy!
Wh-What is this?!
Go on. If you use this portable bread workshop to make your bread, it will be all right.
Amazing!
This car even has an oven attached!
In other words, I bear all the responsibility for his being late.
Could you not permit him to participate in order to save me from shame.
Hmm... Glance...
I have no objections.
As a baker, I am interested in knowing the nature of that black bread.
As long as he has not cheated, there is no problem.
Kawachi... Who are you guys fighting with?
Kayser! It’s Kayser!
He’s just changed his shape a little.
I mean, how many weirdos do you see wearing creepy masks like that?
A lot!
Over there.
Kayser! Kayser! Kayser! Kayser!
Oh yeah...
But, their enthusiasm is a little scary.
Note: The Hanshin Tigers is a Japanese baseball team based in Nishinomiya (near Osaka). Their home stadium is Koushien.
It’s like the cheering squad for the Hanshin Tigers at Koushien.
Yeah...
It reminds me of the time when they won at Koushien.
Why do you know about that?
Then, all of you cheering over here have no objections to Azuma participating either?
None whatsoever.
Gran’s the best!
None whatsoever. It’s an easy win for Gran.
We don’t even mind if every baker in Japan is to participate.
What obnoxious composure.
I guess they don’t think that Gran could lose.
I mean, no one but Gran from the Kayser team has made bread.
I guess they don’t have the slightest doubt that they could lose to someone like us.
All right then. I officially permit Azuma to participate and will begin the judging.
Thank goodness.
Then, let’s start with...
Kayser’s bread.
Pi~errot.
Note: Tora (虎) is the Japanese word for tiger.
Well, if we’re talking about the Hanshin Tigers, there are “tora” patterns all over the place.
Tora?
That’s right. Tora.
What are you doing?
Now!
Note: Pierrot references three tora patterns. In order they are: Kawachi’s tiger haircut, the Hanshin Tigers (symbolized by the audience), and Tora-san from the movie series “Otoko wa Tsurai yo.”
Tora, tora, tora.
You dumbass!
Note: “Tora tora tora” was the code used in World War II to begin the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Tora tora tora.
The surprise attack has been successful.
And, Kayser’s bread has pearl powder in it.
In other words...
Pearl! Pearl! Pearl!
A splendid bald pate... Just like a pearl.
It’s all shiny.
Why do I feel that everyone’s gaze is intent upon my head...?
Could it be that there’s something on my head?
Wh-What?!
My head!
There’s nothing on my head!
It’s a pearl.
I didn’t leave anything behind.
It was you?!
What do you mean a pearl?!
Why must I be subjected to something like this?!
Help me, Kayser’s bread!
Here, sniff on this.
Aroma...
What’s this gentle aroma?
It feels like I’m in a field of flowers.
Every nook and corner of both my body and mind is relaxed.
Oh yeah...
Wasn’t I angry about something?
I wonder what it was...?
Amazing!
That angry Kawachi is all calm now.
What in the world is...?
It’s the aroma of hydrangeas.
Hydrangeas?
Kayser’s bread, Blue Lagoon,
Note: Amacha (Hydrangea macrophylla) refers to sweet hydrangea.
in addition to blueberries and yogurt, has a species of hydrangea called amacha
kneaded into the dough and onto the surface.
Amacha is very fragrant and has the effect of calming the mind.
Kayser came up with this in order to reduce the nervousness a racer feels before the race.
I’m sorry for Kawachi but...
I wanted to test its effectiveness and I couldn’t help myself.
It’s all right.
Happens all the time.
So don’t worry about it, Pierrot-chan.
Okay! That’s what I’ll do.
Works a little too well.
Yeah...
I see! That’s what it was.
Despite their name, blueberries are a dark purple.
If just mixed with yogurt, while the dough may have become a light purple, it won’t become blue.
Hydrangeas.
No, the pigment of amacha is the reason that it’s so blue.
Pearl powder, blueberries and hydrangea.
All ideas that an ordinary person could not come up with.
Gran Kayser is a fearsome artisan.
It’s a wonderful bread, Kayser!
Yep, yep.
It’s really wonderful, Kayser-chan.
In addition to pearl powder, to add in amacha to reduce the nervousness of racers...
You can’t have a better sports bread.
But of course.
Kayser! Kayser! Kayser!
All right then.
I’ll start judging the Japanese team.
But whose bread should I start with?
Should I start with Kawachi?
Don’t bother.
My bread has no chance of winning.
Me!
While it might be essential to reduce nervousness before a race,
it’s even more important to increase the competitiveness of the racer!
This Lupan #6, made with the blood of the snapping turtle, is more suitable for an F1 racer!
Then, let’s judge it.
Sniff sniff.
Take it back.
I don’t want to eat it.
Y-You don’t want to eat it?!
And you call yourself a judge?!
Right now, more than a judge, my heart is that of an F1 racer.
Right now, my little heart just went “ba-dmp” as it doesn’t want to eat this bread.
Because of the red wine.
As you know, F1 racers must endure several more G’s than a regular driver,
and so they get drunk really easily.
No matter how trace the amount, alcohol is taboo.
What are you talking about?!
This bread has been baked.
The alcohol content has all been vaporized.
Perhaps.
But that won’t cut it.
Like I just said, my heart is that of an F1 racer.
You think that a racer would want to eat bread with red wine before a race?
And to think that your motif is that of a slow turtle...
Of course I wouldn’t want to.
Like I said...
If a half-baked baker like you wants to challenge me,
you’re just going to have to be reincarnated.
What a state of things this is...
After giving those arrogant warnings to Azuma...
But, a baker must always work to bake bread
by placing himself in the shoes of his customers.
Otherwise, he can’t make something truly splendid.
I’m sorry, Azuma.
It appears that I wasn’t strong enough.
What are you saying, Suwabara?
If it wasn’t for your advice, I would have been in trouble!
Just like you, I wasn’t strong enough.
But...
Japan #51
This Japan #51 Kai is different!
Kai
Japan #51
Kai?
Yeah.
It’s the ultimate bread that was reborn when both our weaknesses were combined!
Because you were there, I was able to improve upon Japan #51 specifically for F1 racers.
This is where our fight begins!
Somehow...
I get the feeling that I’m the only one left in a different world...
Oh well, it doesn’t matter.
Then, I will judge Azuma’s bread.
Sniff, sniff.
What’s this fragrance which makes my stomach growl despite its unappetizing appearance?
What?!
Could this bread be in the image of an eel?
Isn’t that obvious?
More importantly, eat it quickly!
Quite some time has passed since I made it.
It’ll get cold!
No, wait.
Eel is not the only trick to this bread.
Oh... Oh, I see!
I got it!
Forget that and eat it quick.
Azuma...
You have to relax in this world, relax...
The truth behind the black color is nori!
It’s wrapped with nori!
Nori?
What’s nori?
Nori is a type of seaweed or algae
which is eaten after it’s dried and pressed flat as paper.
Nori has more vitamin A than spinach,
30 times the vitamin B1 present in sardines
and 20 times the vitamin B2 present in milk.
Vitamin A keeps your eyes from drying out.
B1 and B2 help to keep them from firing out.
And so it’s a really essential food item for racers who rely greatly on their eyes.
But...
Its one flaw is that if you don’t eat it quickly once it’s wrapped around food,
it loses its crisp consistency.
That’s why Azuma is so eager to have me eat it quickly.
If you know that then eat it quickly!
Relax... Relax...
Hey, hey. Pierrot-chan.
I’m a big-hearted person, so I forgive most things...
but if you do something that causes Japan a disadvantage, I’ll get angry.
Uh-oh!
If you know its flaw, eat it quickly.
Oh well...
The hydrangea-hypnosis is wearing off of Kawachi.
There are still many mysteries to this bread, so I wanted to observe it a little more.
But, I guess it can’t be helped.
He’s taking his time tasting it, isn’t he?
Nori, huh?
It could be that Pierrot is planning to take his reaction to a whole new dimension.
A new dimension?
What do you mean?
Watch and you’ll find out.
Watch and I’ll...
I see!
He was tasting it for a long time in order to distract our gaze.
What can it be?
I get the feeling that everyone’s paying attention to my head again...
Kawachi!
Sorry about what I did earlier with Kayser’s bread.
While not quite making up for my sins...
Look!
Huh?
M-My head has hair again!
I don’t quite understand, but thank you, Pierrot-han!
It might be best if you don’t move too much.
My hair has quite a good flavor. It’s pretty good.
Nori, huh?!
Note: Nori (海苔) is seaweed. Kansai two-man comedian teams are famous for a type of comedy called boke-tsukkomi (ぼけ突っ込み), where boke = joke and tsukkomi = gag. Here Pierrot says “nori tsukkomi” (乗り突っ込み). In addition to the obvious meaning, it may also mean “a quick response.”
A splendid response and reaction... Just as expected of someone from Kansai.
And if you do this...
H-He looks just like him!
Note: This is Isono Namihei from the anime “Sazae-san.” Usually at the end of the episode, Sazae-san does what Kawachi is doing here.
Rock-paper-scissors.
What are you making me do, you idiot?!
Got a little carried away.
I guess I was a little mean.
A truly mean joke.
Either way, it was an amazing bread, Azuma!
Right?
With this, I have finished sampling all the breads.
This time I really need to make a difficult decision.
I don’t think that Kawachi’s bread has been...
Shh.
It was delicious, but I’m sorry to say...
Kayser.
The Japanese representatives are going to the finals!
We did it Suwabara!
Yes!
It can’t be!
Impossible!
Don’t mess with us, Pierrot!
You fraud!
Did you get bribed by Japan or something?
It looks like they might riot.
When compared to Kayser’s pearl powder and blueberries, they’re nothing.
Like we can accept something like that!
Everyone. The judge’s decision is final.
I beg for silence.
Azuma-kun.
There are black soy beans in it as well, right?
Oh, amazing.
How did you know?
Because, the bitten portion was a light black.
Like blueberries, black soy beans are rich in anthocyanin.
So, your bread beat mine since it had black soy beans, eel and nori,
all of which are good for your eyes, huh?
No, Azuma’s bread had one more amazing trick to it.
It’s called silk powder.
Silk powder?!
Protein that has been pulverized?
It’s not surprising that not many people know about it.
These days, it’s almost a commonsense ingredient in the diet of sportsmen in Japan.
Note: Sasamayu refers to the cocoon shell of the silkworm.
And what he used is sasamayu, the highest quality silk.
These cocoons contain high levels-of the pigment flavanol,
which comes from the mulberry leaves that the silkworms eat.
They contain 10 times the amount of antioxidants compared to that of regular cocoons.
In other words, when it comes to the theme of sports bread,
you won’t find a better ingredient than this.
Also, silk powder has an elegant sweetness that melts within your mouth.
Note: Hitsumabushi is an eel dish consisting of broiled eel mixed with rice and sweet soy sauce.
Like the black beans or hitsumabushi,
that elegant sweetness mixes in with the flavor of the eel scattered within the bread.
Note: Unajuu is eel served over a bed of rice.
It makes you feel like you’re eating the highest quality unajuu.
Note: Himatsubushi means “killing time.”
Himatsubushi?
I don’t quite get it, but for some reason I’m drooling.
I hereby proclaim, on my name as a world-level judge,
that this bread here is the best as a sports bread both in terms of taste and content.
Is it really true that the silk we wear has so many merits?
You mean to say that the Japanese people’s love for food...
surpasses that of us the French, who are so picky about taste?
I’ve lost completely, Azuma-kun.
The defeated must leave.
Farewell.
After being tortured with all kinds of schemes and cheating, all we get is a “farewell” in the end?
At the very least, Gran probably fought us fair and square.
What’s the matter, Kuro-yan?
You’re taking his side?
That’s not what I’m trying to do.
To the French, the baking of bread is like a national sport.
For the French representatives to lose to foreigners, especially to the Japanese...
They will have to live with fingers being pointed at their backs for the rest of their lives.
So let us be merciful.
Kayser...
Kayser!
Thanks for helping me earlier.
Let’s fight it out with bread again sometime.
I don’t believe it.
To think that we actually beat that Kayser.
Hey, Ryou...
Come to think of it, what was the new dimension of the reaction you mentioned earlier?
I get the feeling that we’ve already seen the level that he showed earlier.
You’re naive, Sophie.
Look at Pierrot’s mouth.
The nori stuck in his foreteeth...
indicates the victory of the Japanese representatives.
It’s become a checkered flag, right?
boku no te wo nigire issho ni minaikai
Grab on to my hand. Would you like to see it together?
kesshiteraku janai ga saikou no sekai
By no means is it easy, but it’s the best kind of world.
souzoushite mitanda jibun de egaita rakugaki no
I tried imagining it by standing on my future map
mirai no chizu ni tatte soshite kimi to waraerukatte
which I had doodled out,
and wondered if you’d be laughing with me there.
kentou wa tsuitenda ashiato darake no michi wo
I’ve guessed it. That if I were to just follow along
tada aruiterunja itsumademo tadoritsukeyashinainda
this road already full of footprints, I’d never ever reach there.
sore ga iyada to iu nara
And if I don’t like that...
heion nante antai wa kono sai yamemashouka
I guess I should take this opportunity
and stop seeking the peace that comes with security.
kanawanaitte akirameta yume wo sutezu tsumiagete
I’ll pile up the dreams I thought couldn’t be fulfilled
without throwing them away
mucha de mubou na teppen ni aru
and become the foundation stone for the dream
yume wo tsukamu ishizue ni nare
that stands at the peak of the absurd and the reckless.
boku no te wo nigire issho ni minaikai
Grab on to my hand. Would you like to see it together?
kesshiteraku janai ga saikou no sekai
By no means is it easy, but it’s the best kind of world.
kesshiteraku janai ga saikou no sekai
By no means is it easy, but it’s the best kind of world.
Next Episode
With Azuma around, the finals will be a piece of cake.
I wonder...
America has the Gopan.
Huh? What the hell’s a Gopan?
Next time, on Yakitate!! Japan,
A menace that exceeds the speed of sound!! Gopan #97!
A menace that exceeds the speed of sound!!
Gopan #97!
Be sure to watch.
Yakitate!! Seed of knowledge.
Pearl powder has more than 20 amino acids required for beauty.
Pearl Powder
More than 20 amino acids
required for beauty
The unequaled beauty Cleopatra
Cleopatra
Also drank it!
used to dissolve pearl powder in vinegar or wine and drink it.
Oh?!