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?
Kazuma disqualified!?
Resurrection from the brink of death by Ultra C!
Kazuma disqualified!?
Resurrection from the brink of death by Ultra C!
According to your present grades,
the 16 people who chose G and the 13 people who chose A add up to 29.
And, including the Main Branch employee Suwabara,
30 people have attained the right to the finals.
Regulations require 32. The other 2 will be selected after sampling their food items.
What’s with 30 people being selected without their rolls being sampled?
There’s only 2 more after this, right?
So strict!
Before that,
the 13 people who chose C...
That’s me!
It’s us.
I judge you to be TRASH!
Eh? Trash?
All of you are disqualified!
Disqualified
Disqualified?
Azuma is... disqualified?
W-Why?
Why are we disqualified?
Very well. Let me tell you what C was!
It was margarine, you idiot!
Trash like you who can’t even figure the difference between margarine and butter
are not even worth talking about.
Margarine?
That’s a lie, isn’t it?
Don’t mess with us!
Is that fair?
Believing in you, we selected C and still...
What are you going to do about this, huh?
Dammit!
What are you talking about?
Don’t play innocent.
Apologize!
Come on!
W-Why?
Stand back.
Stand back, you vomit!
Scary!
That rotten spirit of yours,
to depend on another’s choice instead of your own strength...
it makes me want to puke!
In addition, if the choice made is wrong, then it’s his fault, is it?
Learn some shame!
Please spare my life, at least.
And, Kuroyanagi...
An artisan of your level,
not noticing Azuma’s “Ultra C,” which reversed the
handicap he had when he chose C...
What did you say?
Oh? Very impressive, Suwabara.
He’s seen the miracle that Azuma has created.
“The miracle that Azuma has created?”
In order to create an excellent sword,
it’s not just about selecting good steel.
The delicate conditions while forging it are also important.
Conditions while forging?
You still don’t get it?
At that time...
Azuma chose the margarine and made the dough...
and finished baking the bread in 3 minutes, almost like he’d given up on the challenge.
It’s a good fragrance.
3 minutes!
D-Don’t tell me...
Azuma, hand over your bread.
What are you getting mad about?
Never mind that and hand it over, will you?
T-This is...
This is...
Vapor action!
Ac-choon! Ac-choon!
Kuroyanagi-san’s birthday is...
Ac-choon! Ac-choon! Ac-choon!
Annoying!
Not paper, but vapor!
Vapor
Paper
What’s “vapor action?”
Rather than that, who were you talking to, Kuroyanagi?
What?
What in the world is “vapor action?”
To not even know what vapor action is...
Well then, let me tell you.
Listen well.
The butter roll is normally baked for about 15 minutes at a temperature of
less than 200°C.
But if you expose it to a super high temperature of over
300°C for the short period of 3 minutes,
you would make the water content within the bread dough explode instantly,
causing the bread to puff up and be done.
That is vapor action.
At a glance, the logic appears to be simple,
but baking it at such high temperatures is the worst for an artisan.
You’re back to back with the possibility of burning it,
and going just 3 seconds over the time period would result in burning it.
The timing is so difficult that only a first class baker can handle this technique.
Where in the world did you learn such a technique?
Um... the butter roll of my school lunch in primary school wasn’t very tasty.
So I tried various improvements.
And then, this happened some way or another, but...
was it all that great a thing?
“Some way or another,” he says...
To have not just the Japan up his sleeve, but such techniques as well...
I really can’t underestimate this guy.
Kuroyanagi.
Azuma Kazuma’s disqualification is withdrawn as a special case.
You’ve passed the preliminary.
Is that all right?
Hey, wait one moment!
Like we could be satisfied with that!
You can’t call it a butter roll if it has margarine in it!
Anything other than A, G, and E are snotty or trashy butters!
There can’t be much of a difference with it.
But, with margarine, it’s...
Sample the others as well!
Shut up!
Then, I’ll give a chance to the others who’ve selected C as well.
Decide who the last person will be amongst the remaining 27 via rock-paper-scissors.
Rock-paper-scissors?
Don’t mess with us!
What are you thinking?
Hey, all you trash.
You’re all the same level as garbage and crap.
It’s better to choose someone who at least has good luck.
As usual, he’s out of the ordinary.
And in one sense, he’s extraordinarily stupid.
You can say anything.
After eating that tasty a butter rol–
no, margarine roll,
I don’t want to sully my mouth with your trash breads.
The announcement of the drawing of your names for the finals is at 3:00.
All of you who’ve passed should stand by around the hall.
Again, the finals will start tomorrow at noon.
That’s all. Disperse.
It can’t be helped.
Shall we do rock-paper-scissors?
Note: This is the rhyme that the Japanese say while playing. “Saisho wa gu. Jan-ken-pon!” It means, “First comes rock. Rock-scirrors-paper.”
It’s rock first, right?
I was afraid for a moment as to what would happen.
Tsukino.
Yes?
That tomboy of a girl passed as well, didn’t she?
It appears as if there really is no choice but to fight it out.
Sooner or later, it’s a route that we’ll have to take someday.
All right!
I’ll be working hard from tomorrow.
Hey, you...
You’re amazing, aren’t you?
You passed, even though you made something that’s different from the theme.
Huh? Who are you?
Me?
Note: Mizuno uses “boku” instead of “watashi” or “atashi” to refer to herself. Since “boku” is usually used by young boys, this emphasizes her being a tomboy.
I’m Mizuno. Of the New Tokyo Branch.
Mizuno?
By Mizuno, you mean that...
Siberia Super Express 5
Note: Siberia Super Express are a set of 4 cult movies by Mike Mizuno (Haruo Mizuno). The leading character is famous for his gentlemanly ways.
Siberia Super Express 5
Movies are really good things...
You have the same name as Haruo-sensei, whom I really admire.
Would you happen to be related?
Huh? Haruo-sensei?
No, no...
I’m Azusagawa Mizuno, of the New Tokyo Branch.
Note: “kun” is a suffix usually used to denote a young boy of a similar age. It is less formal than -san.
Azuma Kazuma-kun, you’re really interesting!
W-Why do you know my name?
That’s obvious.
Azuma Kazuma-kun, of the Southern Tokyo Branch.
I can’t possibly not know you, someone who’s even appeared on TV.
You’re a person to be watched out for.
You’re heavy, so don’t hug me!
They’re beginning to get friendly, aren’t they?
For all her playing around,
that little girl is an enemy as well.
She’ll trip us up if we let our guards down.
Kawachi-san, that’s great!
Exactly.
I just said the obvious thing, though...
All right, then,
I have to greet just one more.
Let’s go.
Mizuno...
Hello.
Tsukino-san, are you well?
Hey! You shouldn’t be calling your own older sister Tsukino-san, should you?
Older sister?
Azusagawa Tsukino and Azusagawa Mizuno.
Of course, the two of you are siblings, are you?
You’re really late in noticing.
You’re cute!
Don’t hug me for everything.
Geez...
Can’t I get you to stop sticking to my employee for every little thing?
Note: Here she’s now shortening his name to Kazu. Not something you do in Japan unless you’re very close.
She’s scary, Kazu-kun.
Kazu-kun?
By doing something like that, my employee will again be...
You thieving cat.
Thieving cat?
Isn’t that your mother?
Stop, Tsukino!
That hurt!
No way! I-I’m sorry. I...
Tsukino, you idiot!
Siblings should get along well together!
She got scolded!
Return to your station, Mizuno.
This is a good opportunity.
There’s something I’d like to tell you.
Come with me.
Their mothers are different!
Tsukino’s and Mizuno’s?
Is that so...? Then, they’re just strangers to each other, aren’t they?
Are you an idiot?
It means that their father is the same, and their mothers are different.
Old man Azusagawa’s son Sadamichi had a woman
other than his wife whom he loved.
Tsukino was born of the relationship between him and that woman.
That is why this newcomers’ battle holds a great significance for Tsukino.
A great significance?
Old man Azusagawa has, in fact, 3 granddaughters.
Tsukino and Mizuno. And Yukino, who’s the eldest.
These granddaughters each control a Pantasia group branch:
The Aoyama Main Branch
The Southern Tokyo Branch
the Southern Tokyo Branch,
The New Tokyo Branch
the New Tokyo Branch,
The Central Shinjuku Branch
and the Central Shinjuku Branch are under their management, but...
In reality, these three sisters are being made to compete against each other,
in order to determine the future successor.
Compete?
In the case of Tsukino, this competition should be called a trial.
Tsukino’s older sister,
Azusagawa Yukino, is the manager of the Central Shinjuku Branch.
Amongst the branches, it has the honor of having the #1 sales in Japan,
with employees 10 times our number, that is, 40 people. It’s the top branch.
It was old man Azusagawa who recommended that she go there.
And Azusagawa Mizuno is Tsukino’s younger sister, but...
she’s the next Representative Manager Candidate of
the New Tokyo Branch, which is under the Azusagawa Grand Hotels.
This New Tokyo Branch has young employees,
and is highly successful, as it targets young customers.
It employs over 30 people and is #4 in sales out of all the branches nationally.
It really is in the upper stratum.
The #1 and #4 country-wide...
And the person who recommended Mizuno
was the President of the Azusagawa Grand Hotels,
and the father of the three sisters...
Azusagawa Sadamichi.
And, as you know, Tsukino is the representative of
the Southern Tokyo Branch, but...
there are 5 employees, and...
That’s enough!
This is like a race that’s been fixed.
Tsukino doesn’t have a chance of winning.
Her own father is partial towards the youngest, Mizuno,
and her grandfather is partial towards the oldest, Yukino.
Why? Why is it that only Tsukino has no one to push her on from behind?
Kawachi...
Just because her mother’s different...
Wasn’t that old man acting all friendly with Tsukino?
Was he just posing?!
It leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
No, I don’t think that’s the case.
Old man Azusagawa is a good man.
Note: “Iromegane nashi de” is literally translated to “without colored glasses.” It is used to denote impartiality.
I think that he distributes his love between all three granddaughters equally.
However, it’s a fact that within Pantasia,
Tsukino, who’s not a legitimate child, is not thought of well.
The scheme of things ended up like this
so as to avoid such critical eyes as well.
To sum up, the old man is quite aged now.
We don’t know when he’ll die...
It can be said that he couldn’t help being partial to
the oldest, who has already graduated from college.
She’s in a state in which nobody expects anything of her.
But she’s always bright and living to the fullest.
That’s probably her being obstinate.
However, with only obstinacy to support your heart,
you never know when you’ll just flitter away.
One of the reasons I left the Main Store and volunteered to be the manager of
the Southern Tokyo Branch was because I’d hoped to reinforce that support.
I-Is that what happened?
I thought that you’d been driven out.
Hey...
Hey, Manager...
If we were to win this newcomers’ battle, then...
we’d also become reinforcement for this support, wouldn’t we?
Of course you would.
If it was a competition of sales between the branches, then we’d have no chance of winning.
However, if we were to have found the person who wins the newcomers’ battle,
and were to be nurturing his growth,
the higher-ups would have no choice but to acknowledge Tsukino.
That was the main reason that Tsukino joined the Main Branch employee examination,
found the two of you, and is helping you towards
the newcomers’ championship.
I... called Tsukino an idiot...
I... I...
It’ll be okay if we win.
You, too.
In this newcomers’ battle,
the two of us should place first and second.
Rather than being simply reinforcement,
it would become a pillar made of the strongest, most precious wood.
Azuma!
Really? Kawachi...
Yeah.
If so, would Tsukino forgive me?
Yeah.
I’ve decided.
I’ll win the championship for Tsukino’s sake.
You moron!
I’ll be the champion, so you should be satisfied with being runner-up.
No!
I’ll be the one to win the championship for Tsukino’s sake!
Kawachi must deal with being the runner-up!
What?
Don’t be so selfish. You moron!
Look here, you two.
I’m really happy right now.
Pantasia...
Pantasia Southern Tokyo Branch...
There it is...
This is quite a poor and boring looking store, isn’t it?
But, oh well. I can’t be saying that about other people.
Shinobu
Sushi
I hope that kid’s doing well...
Hello!
W-What is he...?
H-He disappeared...
Was that an afterimage?
Welcome!
W-What are you?
I’m just regular personnel.
Is that so?
I’m actually not a customer.
Is there a pointy-haired boy holding his hair back with a band like this
working at this store?
Ah, you mean Azuma-kun?
If you mean him, then...
Sumitomo
Koushi
Mizuno
Azusagawa
Kazuma
Azuma
Michiru
Andou
It looks like you’ll be against her in the very first round.
Azuma is against Mizuno in the very first round, eh?
That’s quite the responsibility.
I’m...
Kawachi
Kyousuke
Yuuko
Motohashi
Shomai
Shoumasa
Motohashi Yuuko?
I’m also against a woman, am I?
I’m in the B block.
I can’t fight with Azuma unless I reach the finals.
In other words, the possibility of me and Azuma being 1st and 2nd is still possible.
Also, Suwabara is in the same A block as Azuma.
God also has given me the luxury of not having to fight both of them.
Suwabara
Kai
Suwabara
Kai
Suwabara
Kai
Suwabara
Kai
Suwabara
Kai
His opponent hasn’t been decided yet?
Rock-paper-scissors!
Note: “aiko deshou” is another rock-paper rhyme. Which means “it’s a tie, so let’s do it again.”
Once more.
They’re still doing rock-paper-scissors.
Yahoo!
I’ve won.
I can participate in the finals.
No way...
I chose C because of that idiot. But it’s not over.
Did you see that? My super-strong luck.
With this luck, may my first opponent be weak...
I will enter that blank space, and...
Who do you mean by Suwabara...
Don’t tell me...
I sense a thirst for blood...
Is it you who is to be my opponent?
Scary!
There are people who say stupid things like luck being a part of your skill,
but don’t expect such nonsense to work with me.
At this pure place of confrontation,
see what happens if you make an unsightly bread!
Understand that you can no longer live.
My... my life!
Please spare my life at least.
Ah... it’s no challenge, right from the very start.
Hey, Azuma.
That newcomer called Koala... he’s to be looked out for.
Koala
Soushi
He has an unusual appearance, so I’ve been observing him since the preliminaries,
but he carries himself in a way that makes it hard to believe he’s a newcomer.
That’s a newcomer?
I’ve taken a fleeting glance at him,
but I thought he was Pantasia’s mascot.
He’s cute, isn’t he? My Koala-chan.
Azusagawa Mizuno!
Yup!
My koala, you say?
He’s dressed as a koala for a reason,
but he’s a newcomer in the same branch as me.
What have you come for?
That’s quite the greeting, isn’t it?
We’re against each other in the first round, and are therefore rivals, so to speak.
Don’t touch me!
Someone like you is not a rival!
Azuma-san...
I seem to be quite hated, aren’t I?
I don’t know what that sneaky woman
may have whispered to you,
but she’s the one who’s in the wrong, okay?
Don’t talk like that!
Tsukino is your older sister, isn’t she?
Calm down, Azuma.
Note: Nee-chan means older sister, and is how people refer to their older sisters in Japan.
Call her nee-chan. Nee-chan!
To those who are taking the finals,
Note: Melon bread is rarely melon flavored. It’s a sweet bread roll with an outer layer of sugar cookie flavor that looks like a melon (which could be where the name is from).
melon bread has been decided to be the theme for the finals.
Any special ingredients should be prepared individually.
And gather at noon tomorrow for the finals.
That is all.
Lucky!
It’s the topic that I’m best at.
Well, I think that it’s impossible to win against me at this topic,
but Kazu-kun, hang in there to the end, okay?
Wait!
Promise me one thing.
Promise?
If I win, call Tsukino nee-chan as you should.
Azuma-san...
Huh? Why should I do something like that?
Moreover...
Wait a minute...
That’s okay. I’ll do it.
In exchange... if Kazu-kun loses,
I’ll have you come over to the New Tokyo Branch as an employee.
W-What?
Please wait one moment!
Something unreasonable like that...
You’re the one who started it, right?
Or is it that you don’t have confidence in Kazu-kun?
Don’t talk nonsense.
I won’t lose to someone like you.
Then, it’s a promise.
All right, then.
It’s a promise.
Hey, Azuma!
I’ll have you keep your promise at all costs, okay?
Bye bye...
Azuma, don’t decide things so easily.
Even though you don’t know anything about her skill...
Moreover, are you especially good at making melon bread?
Hmm... I’m bad at it...
What do you mean, you’re bad at it?
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
The topic for the first round of the finals is... Melon Bread!
I don’t know what your Japan is, but it won’t work against me.
melon
sushi
Kazu-kun, try your hardest, okay?
Next time, on Yakitate!! Japan.
Note: “Mero mero” is a silly rhyme, which means to be high on anything. It can also mean to be blown away, or to be really impressed by something.
Sorry for the wait!! High on Melon Bread!
Sorry for the wait!!
High on Melon Bread!
Be sure to see it!
Yakitate!! Seed of knowledge.
The roots of the word Margarine
The root of the word “margarine” comes from the Greek word for “pearl.”
Greek word for pearl
It is named so because during the synthesis process,
the droplets of oil look like beautiful pearls.
Note: Margarine was created in the 1860’s by Hippolyte Mege-Mouries in response to an offer by Emperor Napoleon III, who offered a prize to the person who could produce an edible fat substitute for butter.
It was given this name by a French chemist named Hippolyte.