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?
Pantasia’s main store’s new employee examination.
After experiencing a lot of drama, Azuma Kazuma and Kawachi Kyousuke
pulled out of the new employee examination for their own reasons.
It may be over for me,
but at the very least I’ll complete this creation!
What?!
No way.
I-It really...
It really came out!
The moon came out!
But Azusagawa Tsukino, who had discovered Kazuma’s and Kawachi’s talent early on,
decided to welcome the two of them to Pantasia’s southern Tokyo store,
which she manages herself.
And now, it’s the first day of work today for the two who have accepted her request.
But the boy who possesses Solar Hands, Azuma Kazuma...
on the early morning of his first day at work...
was frozen solid.
Hihiin!!
Make a Delicious Bread!
Hihiin!!
Make a Delicious Bread!
I’m alive again!
I was about to freeze to death on my first day!
I owe you my life!
Thank you!
I-I was just... going to take out the Danish dough that we left in the fridge...
Thank you!
B-By the way, who are you...?
Oh, I’m Azuma Kazuma.
I’ll be counting on you from today. Nice to meet you!
A new employee, from today onwards...
I’m called Kinoshita Kageto.
Right, nice to meet you!
S-So...
the guy in that gap over there, who’s already reciting some kind of incantation,
is also new...?
Yeah, that’s Kawachi Kyousuke.
He’s a cheerful guy...
How is that?
This can’t be true.
Why am I in a small-scale branch that only seems to employ insignificant people?
My ambition...
was supposed to be kicking off my career
at Pantasia’s main store, with over 200 employees,
and long lines of customers every day...
But instead... ah, but instead...
Well, that aside, why were you frozen?
Oh, well, Tsukino...
T-This guy... addresses Tsukino-san without an honorific title?!
What’s this about me?
Good morning. You’re all here early.
G-Good morning!
She gave me a task to make French bread on my first day...
What?
Note: Kazuma referred to Tsukino with “koitsu,” which can also be used for a “thing.” It’s very informal.
H-He used “koitsu” to address her?!
Yes.
What?!
It’s our shop’s specialty product, after all...
French bread.
So, in order to make preparations,
I entered the refrigerator...
and the door shut behind me.
I couldn’t open it from the inside.
Well, you should be careful, too.
Y-Yeah...
I shouldn’t have opened it.
Well, it seems that the introductions have been made already , so let’s start working.
Today, I’ll have you make French bread.
Okay!
There are over 10 main types of French bread.
I’d like you to make Parisian, which has a typical shape.
Parisian?
It’s the name of a type of French bread.
Note: “Parikko” literally means “child of Paris”, used in reference to people from Paris.
It can also be referred to as parikko.
I see...
Length is 50 to 70cm.
Length
Weight
approx.
Weight is about 500g,
Coupe is 5 cuts
(slits)
and the coupe, or slits, are always in five cuts.
French bread seems to be a rival for Japan.
I won’t lose!
Japan? What on earth is Japan?
I’d like to know, too.
Okay, Japan is...
to sum it up...
It’s bread that tastes better than rice.
Better than rice?
For instance...
Our current task, French bread, includes the country in its name.
In other words, to the French, it’s the same as our rice.
Well, I guess so...
Melon bread
bread Baked
Roll
Curry bread
bread Dinner bread
Cream bread
An pan
Sandwich
But in Japan, there’s no bread worthy of our name.
Roll
bread Baked
Roll
bread Baked
Melon bread
bread Baked
Melon bread
bread Baked
Melon bread
bread Baked
Roll
Melon bread
bread Baked
Roll
Melon bread
bread Baked
Roll
bread Baked
Melon bread
bread Baked
Curry bread
Melon bread
Curry bread
Melon bread
Curry bread
Melon bread
bread Baked
Melon bread
bread Baked
Melon bread
bread Dinner bread
To tell the truth...
bread Dinner bread
Melon bread
bread Baked
Roll
bread Dinner bread
Cream bread
An pan
Sandwich
Melon bread
bread Baked
Roll
bread Dinner bread
Cream bread
An pan
Sandwich
Melon bread
bread Baked
Roll
bread Dinner bread
Cream bread
An pan
Sandwich
Melon bread
bread Baked
Roll
bread Dinner bread
Cream bread
An pan
Sandwich
Melon bread
bread Baked
Roll
bread Dinner bread
Cream bread
An pan
Sandwich
Melon bread
bread Baked
Roll
bread Dinner bread
Cream bread
An pan
Sandwich
Melon bread
bread Baked
Roll
bread Dinner bread
Cream bread
An pan
Sandwich
Melon bread
bread Baked
Roll
bread Dinner bread
Cream bread
An pan
bread Baked
It’s proof that bread is losing to rice in Japan.
That’s why it’s my dream to create Japan,
a bread that would be loved by the Japanese as much as rice.
T-That’s Japan...?
Wow...
That’s a dream on a grand scale.
It’s wonderful.
What, really?!
That’s right, this store isn’t as significant in comparison to that place,
but outstanding people are gathered at the main store.
If you have the manager’s recommendation,
there’s a chance you will be called on to work at the main store.
Please do your best.
What did you say?!
Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?!
It’s troublesome if you don’t mention these things in the beginning, dumbass.
The one who said that was Tsukino-san...
In short, we need to make a bread that impresses you, right?
Well, that’s...
This is my chance.
A chance has returned to me.
I’ll make a Parisian that astounds her, and become invited to the main store.
I’m going to become big!
Yeah!
Big!
Japan!
It’s really great to have a dream or goal.
E-Even I...
have a dream... or two!
That’s it. Like making circles, from the center outwards.
You gradually mix the water and flour together.
It seems kind of heavy.
Huh?
The water does seem to be disappearing rapidly...
Perhaps I’ll add some more.
Wow!
What water-absorbing power!
T-This is...
This is like sprinkling water on a sunbaked desert.
It’s because the gluten fibers inside the dough are catching and absorbing the moisture.
It’s impossible to create such high-quality dough with normal fermentation.
Those extraordinarily warm hands, called Solar Hands,
provide the ultimate environment for the dough to ferment.
Whoa, he added even more butter and sugar?
I’m sure he added the normal amount before...
If he makes the flavor too strong...
Oh, I see...
Dough that contains a lot of water will lose an equivalent amount of taste.
So naturally...!
A bold flavor...
A deeper flavor is possible.
Wow, they look delicious.
Let’s begin the tasting.
Now, starting with Kawachi-san’s Parisian.
Kawachi-san, I think this is quite nice.
Don’t you think?
Well, since I have a firm foundation, something like this is a cinch.
Well then, continuing with Azuma-san’s Parisian.
Okay!
T-This is...?!
Right now, at this moment, my feelings are without a doubt...
Parisian.
This is Japan, but within my mouth, a refined Paris is spreading.
But then again, what makes us Parisian?
It’s painful to admit, but this is really good.
Its taste is certainly more defined than the bread I made.
Yes, it’s very delicious.
Yay!
However...
Whether or not we can place this in the store as it is...
cannot be decided by me.
I need to get the manager’s opinion.
Manager?
Manager?! Aren’t you the manager?
You’re the granddaughter of the president of Azusagawa Corporation,
who owns the Pantasia chain, right?
You should be the most important person here.
I may be his granddaughter, but such a role is impossible for a young girl like me.
To sum it up, let’s just say I’m the manager’s proxy.
Besides, the current manager, Matsushiro Ken-san, is a magnificent person.
Oh, really...?
Well, they say he’s Japan’s number one French bread artisan, after all.
Ja-
Japan’s number one?!
Compared to me, and even Kuroyanagi-san from the main store, he’s like a master.
A master compared to that cruel and heartless examiner, Kuroyanagi?
He must be an unbelievable bread artisan!
I want to meet him right away!
I want him to try my bread!
Where can I go meet him?
What is it?
You’re planning on getting on the manager’s good side, ahead of me?
I won’t let you do that.
I’m going, too.
O-Oh, right.
I’ll be recognized by the manager, and get closer to the top!
Hey, where can I go meet him?
Well, right now, he’d probably...
be with the horse.
Horse?
An amusement park!
Uh, why?
Close!
That was close?
I see...
So this is a race track.
It wasn’t close at all...
Well, I suppose it may be an adult’s amusement park.
However, would the manager really be in a place like this?
Chomp!!
Note: This is a pun. “Baku” is derived from “paku,” which is a sound effect for eating. In this case, they used the kanji for “horse,” followed by “eat,” to sound it out.
Shall we ask that occhan lying over there?
Um, excuse me...
Occhan, occhan!
You can hear us, right? You occhan with an afro.
Hey, don’t use such unnecessary adjectives!
Hey...
what’s that you’re holding?
You can tell by looking, can’t you?
It’s French bread.
Oh?
Sorry, but could you please share some with me?
Just a bit is fine.
What, are you hungry?
Oh well... In that case, help yourself.
I only need one, so you can have this. Eat it.
No, half is fine then.
Smells good, doesn’t it?
W-What’re you doing?
As I expected. Even the horse won’t eat it.
Perhaps you’ve poisoned it?
Did you intend to give bread like that to a human?
You murderer!
What?!
Who’s a murderer? Horses don’t eat bread in the first place.
They don’t, eh?
Ah, so you had your own bread?
Chomp!!
Delicious!!!
Note: Another kanji pun, “umaa” is a short way to say “umai,” which means “delicious.” This time, they used the kanji for “horse” followed by “taste,” to represent it.
Delicious!
Delicious!!!
The horse ate the bread!
You guys... Did you really think that horses only eat carrots and straw?
You know, horses also feed on grains like barley and wheat.
If anything, they love it.
However, although it’s okay when they need energy,
if you give them too much, they’ll become terribly ill.
So you do take care to control their diet,
but they are instinctively able to tell the difference between good and bad foods.
What is it?
Hm, what’s that?
Seriously?
The horse says,
“Your bread tastes no good,”
“you definitely cannot sell that at Pantasia’s southern Tokyo branch.”
“Don’t make a fool of me by thinking the manager is a horse.”
Hihiin.
That’s what he’s saying.
T-The manager is a horse?!
Tastes bad
On top of that, the manager horse said that my bread tastes bad!
Tastes bad
As if the horse could be the manager.
You’re the manager, aren’t you?
Is it really the horse?
I’m saying, that’s not it!
Manager
The fact that he knows about Pantasia is the biggest hint.
But how did he know we were from Pantasia?
What’s this we’re wearing?
Pantasia’s employee uniforms.
Did Tsukino inform you of this place?
That young girl, hiring two seemingly useless brats again...
This person is Matsushiro Ken.
The man who can bake Japan’s number one French bread.
Even a horse will eat Japan’s number one French bread.
Incredible!
You’re an incredible person!
Oh?
You’ve got good eyes.
I-In any case...
If the horse won’t even eat Azuma’s bread...
Perhaps even a pony wouldn’t eat mine...
Listen up, you guys!
The horse said this, too.
“We can’t put our name on bread that’s just delicious.”
Delicious bread
“Make a delicious bread!” is what he said.
Delicious bread
Right!
He says “right!” so easily... but what on earth is “delicious bread?”
Note: As explained earlier, this pun uses the kanji for “horse.” So, Ken really meant “bread even a horse would eat.”
You see, we bread artisans... need to be creators.
A creator is someone who uses his head to make things.
If you neglect that, and just make bread...
Err, it’s the same as that.
Sushi robot!
Ultimately, you’re bread robots!
Your hands and machines would be one and the same.
Who’s...
a machine?!
I’m a human with blood flowing through me.
Then make the blood flow through your bread as well!
Regardless of those who eat it,
you must keep them in mind when you make your bread.
I’ll give you another chance.
Bring a delicious bread here tomorrow.
Delicious bread
W-What’s that supposed to mean?
Something obvious. Just you try bringing bad bread again...
You’ll be fired.
Fired?!
He was a wonderful person, wasn’t he? The manager.
What part of him was?! The way he looks, the things he said, it was all messed up!
Thanks to him, we’re suddenly risking unemployment.
Now, now... In any case, the manager’s French bread is the greatest.
The crust on the surface is so crispy, the inside all fluffy...
As a single bread, it’s delicious twice-over.
This bread is certainly a revolution of the bread industry!
It definitely has depth, and plenty of body. It’s the ultimate French bread.
D-Delicious...
Even so, what’s the difference?
Even Azuma’s bread was about as tasty as this.
Despite that, why does the horse only eat this bread?
Ahh, so he’s been talking about bread a horse will eat again, after all?
You... were able to make it?
Note: Horse kanji joke, yet again. The humor is in the lameness.
No way
No way...
No way
No way...
No way
No way...
That was lame...
Horses, which are herbivorous animals,
seem to dislike the food additives and excess fat in butter.
Azuma-san, you put butter in your bread, right?
Yeah.
You’re saying that that’s why it wouldn’t eat ours?
I don’t know about horses eating butter, but people happily eat it, don’t they?
Sure, they may not put much butter in real French bread...
But our customers are Japanese, not horses.
Certainly, since it’s French bread for the Japanese people, who love softness...
I think it’s wrong to scold you, and forbid you from using butter.
Isn’t it fine if it tastes good to people?
Why would we make it for a horse?
I believe the manager is concerned about allergies.
A long time ago, because of an allergic reaction to dairy products, the manager’s sister...
N-No way...
That was 8 years ago...
Back when the manager was still at the Pantasia main store.
Onii-chan!
Kaede.
You came here to play again?
This is a battlefield, not a playground.
Saying those mean things again...
Ah, what’s this? A new type of bread?
Looks delicious!
Yes, we plan to put them in store starting tomorrow.
I see, in that case...
Before then, I’ll...
sample some of it!
Hey!
Geez...
K-Kaede?
Kaede!
Kariya General Hospital
Note: “Anaphylaxis” / “anaphylactic shock” is a severe, whole-body allergic reaction.
Anaphylactic shock?
Kariya General Hospital
It’s said to be the most extreme allergic reaction.
In the case of food,
we see it occurring with dairy products such as milk and butter, or eggs.
It’s been 7 years since my sister was born. Nothing like this has ever happened.
There are some cases where there is degeneration,
even though the person shows no symptoms.
You’ll need to be careful from now on.
In any case, she’s out of critical danger.
Her condition is now stable.
However... if treatment had come just a little later...
it would have surely been life-threatening.
Onii-chan.
Kaede!
I wonder what happened to me...
Ah, that’s right, Onii-chan...
Umm...
Umm.
It was delicious...
Your bread is definitely the best in Japan.
Damn it!
My sister’s body had become one that rejects dairy products, without us realizing it...
Although I didn’t know, I... almost made bread that left me without a sister.
Making bread dough soft while giving it flavor is simple
if you add dairy products such as milk and butter.
However, while there are still people with allergic reactions to dairy products,
he aims to make bread that anybody can eat safely, no matter how difficult it may be.
“Never give up,” he says.
He probably asks such unreasonable things of us, because he has such feelings.
In particular, for frequently eaten breads such as French bread,
its effect on people is no trivial matter.
Right now, that little sister is...?
She is well.
She even comes here often, seeking the manager’s bread.
I got it.
In other words, the “delicious bread” the manager speaks of...
is made without milk or butter, all without sacrificing flavor,
while bringing good health and good taste together...
Bread Workshop
The ultimate bread, right?
Bread Workshop
Isn’t it?
His little sister...
Little sister...
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
We’ve created bread that even a horse would eat.
Right, Azuma?
It’s Hanako’s breast milk...
Hanako?!
Next episode, Yakitate!! Japan.
Delicious!!
A Decisively Ultimate Butter!
It’s Hanako!
Yakitate!! Seed of knowledge.
Parisian
French bread is named differently, depending on size.
Batard
Baguette
Their standard size was decided
Parisian
Flute
Batard
Deux-Livres
by the emperor of France at the time, Napoleon Bonaparte!
Baguette
Ficelle
Parisian
Flute
It’s “très bien!”