In the stormy Pantasia newcomers’ battle,
Azuma Kazuma and Kawachi Kyousuke were representing the Southern Tokyo branch.
They had triumphed over the themes of dinner bread, from the first preliminaries,
and the butter roll, from the second preliminaries.
They then faced the theme of the first round of the finals – melon bread.
The opponent Azuma had to face was Tsukino’s little sister, Azusagawa Mizuno.
She took up the challenge by using the highest grade muskmelon in her melon bread.
Azuma, who opposed her, made...
Japan #58. Melon sushi bread!
O-Oh, no!
I guess it came, after all!
MELON!!
Victor: Azuma Kazuma!
It’s a promise. Address Tsukino as “nee-chan.”
I’ll have my Koala-chan take my revenge for me,
so until then, the promise is on hold!
Hey!
Don’t go changing the promise like that!
It’s all right, Azuma-san.
It’s settled with you not having to go anywhere.
Just that is enough.
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?
Delii-cious!!
The trap of the yakisoba bread!
Delii-cious!!
The trap of the yakisoba bread!
Azuma Kazuma
Azusagawa Mizuno
Kawachi, are things all right over at your end?
Melon bread’s a specialty of mine.
Moreover, I now have these Solar Gauntlets. I’m invincible.
The Solar Gauntlets are not a tool to satisfy your self-conceit, Kawachi!
Kawachi, see that lady over there?
Huh? Oh yeah...
Her name’s Motohashi Yuuko.
Motohashi Yuuko
Kawachi Kyousuke
She’s your opponent.
Really? That’s a real let down.
An old lady like that as my opponent is...
Don’t underestimate her!
You can’t judge people by their appearances.
She has reigned over the school lunch industry for 30 years.
She’s the Top Queen of the School Lunch Center.
Possessor of “Mother’s Hands,”
Motohashi Yuuko!
What?!
Mother’s Hands?!
What in the world...?
Little boy, I’m sorry, but I’m getting a running start from the very beginning.
W-Wrist weights!
How can wrist weights be so heavy?!
It’s as though the whole Earth’s trembling...
M-O-TH-ER HA!!!
The fearsome Mother’s Hands..
To think this old woman possessed these miracle hands...
A formidable enemy in the very first round...
Can I win?
Everyone is at their places, right?
Then, the B group may begin their work for the first round of the finals!
What can I do...?
What can I do to win?!
Victor: Kawachi Kyousuke!
Eh?
Yes!
We did it!
Good going, Kawachi!
Using crunchy pie dough instead of cookie dough,
and mixing it in with the bread dough...
It was a wonderful melon bread.
It’s a complete victory for you.
Eh...? Eh...? Eh...?
Aww... I guess I really can’t match up to someone young.
At this age, I had suddenly decided to change my occupation to a baker,
but it’s really hard, isn’t it?
But you know, since at least I got to the finals, I have no regrets.
Thank you very much, little boy.
Hang on, ma’am.
You’re not the Top Queen of the School Lunch Center?
Huh?!
Ma’am!
Don’t you use the Mother’s Hands?
A Mother’s Hands?
I definitely have 3 children,
but what relation does that bear to anything?
You’re really a funny kid...
Continue working hard in the next round as well, okay?
Hold on a second!
Saying that she was the school lunch industry’s Top Queen,
and having Mother’s Hands or something... Scaring me with crazy stuff like that...
What are you thinking?!
Hey!!
Are you making fun of me?!
Calm down, Kawachi!
Please calm down, Kawachi-san!
Desperately, with great trouble, I used pie dough instead of cookie dough in my bread!
I made my Super Sunrise Crush Melon Bread, and...
There’s nothing special about that!!
W-What?!
Letting your guard down is your worst enemy.
Blood had gone to your head.
Huh?
You definitely may have matured a little.
But just because you’ve attained the Solar Gauntlets,
or because your opponent was an old lady...
you had clearly let your guard down.
Competing with such an attitude,
you can’t win against the stronger enemies to come from now on.
Am I wrong?
It’s mortifying, but it’s true...
At that time, I had let my guard down.
Manager, what’s so funny?
I’m really sorry.
Thank you for watching out for me, Manager...
Not at all... it’s okay if you understand...
Oh, well...
Yoohoo... How are you all doing?
Tsukino-oneesan.
Mizuno...
Mizuno!
Hold on, don’t misunderstand anything here.
It’s just that I kept my promise, that’s all.
Once I thought it over...
Being-stubborn over not calling you “oneesan” is...
Well, it’s no big deal, after all...
No matter how much you hate that person...
How dare you!! I can’t forgive that!
Oh, no! I can’t stop!
He’s a moron.
So, what is it that you want?
If we go in order,
Kuniya Shousei
Andou Michiru
Azuma Kazuma
Azusagawa Mizuno
then our Koala-chan and Kazu-kun will be challenging each other in the third round.
Over there...
Based on that result,
how about either Tsukino-oneesan or me stepping down
from the battle over the succession of the Pantasia group?
Don’t be talking nonsense!
We understand!
Even if that koala loses,
you probably plan to run off on us like before.
Like we could trust a spoiled brat like you...
I thought you’d say that...
Here, take a look at this! A written contract!
Written Contract
Azusagawa Mizuno
Written Contract
Azusagawa Mizuno
Written Contract
If necessary,
it’ll be fine to have you guys keep this until the challenge is over.
However...
I’ll have Tsukino-oneesan properly sign the same thing as well.
Written Contract
Fine, then.
Azusagawa Tsukino
Okay!
So, were all decided, aren’t we?
I think you know this,
but if Kazu-kun loses before fighting with Koala-chan,
then that counts as your loss, okay?
That’s our line!
If that koala is to lose in the second round,
then it’s automatically your loss, okay, idiot?
Exactly!
Koala-chan, lose?
Is this really okay, Tsukino?
Yes. Becoming the successor isn’t everything to me.
Of course, I have my pride, but...
Right now, I have Azuma-san,
Kawachi-san, and Manager.
I have such a charming store...
I’m really happy with just that.
Just now, I felt really alienated.
I wonder why...
Anyway, we just have to win.
Yeah!
Fight!
Yeah!
I hope it goes well...
Oh, no!
Note: The names come from the names of two baseball teams, the Nagoya Dragons and the Nishinomiya Tigers.
The Drasans have lost, huh?
Nikkuki Tigers, what are you going to do about this?
What?
There’s some weird foreigner speaking fluent Japanese mixed in among us.
Huh? Kansai dialect?
Hey, you! Seeing that you speak a Kansai dialect, I’m guessing that you’re from Kansai?
If so, what about it?
An enemy!
Why?
No why’s or but’s.
Azuma.
I saw that you had an excellent first round.
Who are you?
Oh, sorry for the delay in introductions.
I’m the representative from Nagoya prefecture, Spencer Henley Hokou.
Note: The building in the background is Nagoya Castle. Shachihoko is a Chinese sea monster with the head of a tiger and the body of a fish, and is covered with poisonous spikes. Nagoya Castle has a gold sculpture of Shachihoko at its pinnacle as a symbol of its feudal lord’s authority.
You can shorten it and lovingly call me Shachihoko!
Shachihoko?
Spencer Henley Hokou,
shortened to Shachihoko.
He’s your next opponent.
S.H. Hokou
Sumitomo Koushi
Azusagawa Mizuno
Azuma Kazuma
S.H. Hokou
Sumitomo Koushi
Azusagawa Mizuno
Azuma Kazuma
S.H. Hokou
Sumitomo Koushi
Azusagawa Mizuno
Azuma Kazuma
S.H. Hokou
Sumitomo Koushi
Azuma Kazuma
Azusagawa Mizuno
Oh, that’s true.
Best regards.
Me, too! Bang!
How could you possibly be from Nagoya prefecture?
There’s no such prefecture.
Japan may say anything it likes,
but I’m a true citizen of Nagoya prefecture.
You dumbass!
That’s why I’m trying to tell you, there’s no such thing!
Hey, there!
Can you not feel this Nagoya spirit here?
I’m the #1 citizen of Nagoya prefecture!
Moreover, are you even a Japanese citizen?
If you’re a Japanese citizen, then you shouldn’t be dyeing your hair blond now, should you?
So, get a little level-headed, will ya?
This is... this is tiring.
But with a fellow like this, it’s an easy win, right?
Kick him in my place, Azuma.
And then, that reputed Koala fellow, too.
Kawachi, doesn’t that hurt?
Spencer Henley Hokou,
who was trained in Italy
and is the American California state bread guild examination champion.
I tried to scout him for the New Tokyo Branch,
but he has a real Nagoya fetish,
so he turned down my invitation.
A self-styled Nagoya prefecture citizen.
Kazu-kun...
you probably won’t even be able to make it to the third round to fight Koala-chan.
Those who have passed the first round are to gather at Assembly Hall #4.
I repeat,
those who have passed the first round of the Pantasia newcomers’ battle finals,
gather at Assembly Hall #4.
Well then, I will announce the theme for the second round.
Note: “Yakisoba” is fried buckwheat noodles.
It’s yakisoba!
When you say yakisoba, do you mean yakisoba bread?
Yes.
However, this time, you don’t have to make the bread.
We have prepared the bread,
and we’ll have you use these French rolls.
You people have to make the yakisoba that goes with this bread.
Moreover, this time,
we plan to choose the best yakisoba bread from amongst the winners,
and present them with a reward of 100,000 yen!
Wow! That’s really generous!
Furthermore, in reverse order from the first round,
the competition, to be held the day after tomorrow, will start with the B group,
with the A group proceeding on the day after that.
Good luck to all of you.
That’s all. Disperse.
This time, it seems to be kinda fun...
There’s a reward, too.
But why is it yakisoba bread?
Originally, Pantasia had never considered becoming a chain.
If was a small store, managed personally by the owner,
Azusagawa Sadano, with just eight people.
However, it earned a really high reputation,
and began to increase its tempo, later expanding into a chain.
The Pantasia enterprise was established and rose to its present status,
but until now, it’s been an over-the-counter sales store.
The lines of school and college lunches are still not up to par.
From now on,
they are considering adding convenience store products to their stores.
They plan to increase marketing of products other than those available over the counter.
The butter rolls from the preliminaries is an example.
The same goes for this round’s yakisoba bread.
They must plan to come up with new products from
the accomplishments of you young newcomers, and thus meet their target.
I see.
Hey! Azuma. What’s wrong with you? You don’t seem to be very energetic.
I’ve...
never made it... yakisoba...
Note: As you may have guessed, yakisoba bread is an indigenous Japanese bread. That’s why Kyousuke is so surprised.
You talk about Japan, but you’ve never made a yakisoba bread?
I’ve made yakisoba bread,
but the yakisoba for the filling was always made by my sister.
I’ve never made anything but the bread.
You’ve really never made it?
Nope.
Come to think of it... I’ve never really seen him cook regular food...
At most, I’ve only seen him make sauce for flavoring bread... and butter.
No way...
Then, it’s pretty much like we’ve lost...
Don’t tell me that all possibility of my becoming
the successor is going to disappear because of an idiot like you...
You dullard.
Manager, what is it that you’re doing...?
Oh, nothing. I just thought to act as a proxy for Tsukino’s inner voice.
I’m thinking no such thing!
What’s this!
We can’t afford to lose!
Let’s start by selecting your noodles. I’ll introduce you to someone amazing!
You can just learn to make it over there, too.
So, everyone follow me!
Let’s go!
Ah, he ran off...
Ryuusei Noodles
Chinese noodles wholesale retail
Yo. Ryuu-san, it’s been a while.
Oh! It’s Ken. Ken, you been well?
Ryuu-san, you too. Glad to see you’re well.
Very nostalgic. How long it been?
It’s been since we annihilated Ya-san’s group for messing with us at the coaching classes...
so it must be about 3 years...
Oh, that’s right.
We may have gone a little overboard that time, right?
I’ve reflected upon it.
Little Rabbit
OX Theatre
But at that time, Ken was really scary.
You did about 50, right?
Can you really say anything?
I mean, you nearly killed about 70, didn’t you?
I... remembered something important...
These are young employees of ours.
Hey! Greet him.
Ah! They bow heads well.
Noo
dles
This here is Ryuu Ryomen-san.
He’s an expert at noodle-making,
and is the successor of the ancient Chinese assassination group, Ryuuke Shinken.
We got to know each other a long time back, in a faraway place...
Noo
dles
Noo
dles
Noo
dles
Nothing but a really bad image comes to mind.
So, Ryuu-san...
as you may have guessed, we’ve come here today for...
Don’t be so distant, Ken.
If it’s a request from Ken, then...
I’ll take on anything.
So, who is it I have to kill?
No, I don’t need an assassination.
I just need you to teach them something...
Okay! So, it starts from the stance,
in order to send your opponent to the other world in one blow, then sengetsu.
Make a pose like this, keep your legs apart,
and lower our hips!
That’s enough regarding the assassination stuff.
Then, what is it?!
Noodles, right? Noodles!
I-I wonder if he’s all right? This person...
Yes, yes... yes...
You, too, don’t obey him while being so scared.
Yakisoba bread?
If you want noodles that go with yakisoba bread,
Note: Mushimen – steamed ram doodles.
then I guess you need mushimen.
Mushimen?
Steamed noodles are less watery than they seem,
and this way, taste sets in. It go well with yakisoba bread.
Good to come this way.
Hot!!
Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot!!
Hot! This is hot!
It’s really hot!
Amazing frying pan technique.
Try it, try it.
Itadakimasu!
Note: Men (麺) means noodles. Umei (美味い) means delicious. Yet another pun on “delicious”...
Delii-cious!!
Delii-cious!!!
The noodles are swelled up and are completely holding the taste in. This is really good.
This is the first time I’ve eaten such delicious noodles!
Of course.
My noodles are the best in the world.
Come on, next.
It’s your turn.
Ah! It’s hot. It’s hot. HOT!
There’s hope for the Kansai-state boy.
There’s no such state, but this is really unexpected.
I had to make food everyday for my siblings,
so yakisoba, curry, and croquets...
I can make all of the common people’s food.
For a commoner like me, I’d also say that this is good...
Dammit...
I can also...
Hot! It’s Hot! It’s H-h-h-hot! It’s very hot!
But the hairband kid’s not quite up to the mark, is he?
It’s my first time seeing such an Azuma-san.
That’s really unsightly.
However, should he practice here all day,
even the hairband boy might improve a little.
If not, he will be executed.
All right! I’ll work hard!
Oh well, I can relax a little with this...
That Shachihoko guy’s a westerner...
He may be good at baking bread,
but as for making yakisoba, he must be a novice.
And Nagoya residents don’t really have anything to do with yakisoba in particular anyway...
A westerner who’s a resident of Nagoya.
Shachihoko...
S.H. Hokou...
Spencer Henley Hokou...
That’s...
This, right?
Book Title: Monthly Publication – The Noodle Experts 100 selections of delicious stuff
Nagoya specialty Koumi sauce and
The Kouchinmi yakisoba bread incorporation
Nagoya’s famous local Kouchin chicken
is a great success of the Pantasia Nagoya Branch!!
S.H. Hokou-san
This is...
What’s this?
“Nagoya specialty Koumi sauce and Nagoya’s famous local Kouchin chicken.
The Kouchinmi yakisoba bread incorporation is a
great success at the Pantasia Nagoya Branch.”
Note: Koumi sauce is a spicy, strongly-flavored soy sauce, and kouchin is a locally bred chicken in Nagoya. So, he’s using a sauce that combines the kouchin and the koumi — kouchinmi.
Koumi sauce!
Its real name...
High Grade Koikuchi sauce.
Note: Koikuchi (こいくち) sauce: koi (こい) – dense; kuchi (くち) – mouth.
Just as the name indicates, it’s a sauce with a strong taste.
Mie prefecture
From this intersection, with Nagoya in the center,
Note: Toukai is a region south of Tokyo on the Pacific Ocean side of Japan.
Aichi prefecture
Gifu prefecture
Nagoya
there’s an overwhelming response to it in the Toukai area.
Of course, liking its taste depends on each individual person.
There are people who like light taste as well.
However, when it comes to yakisoba bread, there’s another thing to keep in mind.
Right, Ken?
Exactly!
As you know,
things that are put in bread have to be stronger-tasting than normal.
Just like hamburgers, and hot dogs.
And of course... yakisoba bread!
Azuma, your enemy, Spencer Henley Hokou,
is Italian-trained, but he’s an American.
He’s probably an expert on the methods of making food taste strong.
In other words, for this theme,
he can be called the ultimate enemy!
Now everybody move
Can you get a little somethin'
Got to do
So better believe in
Better believe in
Better believe in yourself
C'mon!
"D-r-e-a-m"
"Dream"
Kono mune ni dekkaku tsuyoku
On this chest, big and strong
Hikari kagayaite makenai manazashi
A look that glitters and doesn't lose.
Tesaguri de sagashita kaze n naka
That's what I searched for, fumbling in the wind.
Kotae nanka mada Un...
The answer for now is...
ima wa mada Chance ukagatte matsu I got shitatakasa
For now, I'll watch the situation and wait for a chance. I got the patience to wait at a distance.
Sakenderu dake no Prisoner ja dame da
A prisoner who just screams is no good.
Just Follow Me! toki ni kata kasu kara
Just Follow Me! I'll lend you my shoulder occasionally.
Yo got
"D-i-g-g-y"
"Step into tha game"
It ain't nothin' nobody can say
'Cuz I neva can let my dream get away un
Kesshite hakanai yume ja nai
It's by no means a fleeting dream.
kono omoi todokeyou Heart to Heart, Soul to Soul
Let this sentiment reach you. Heart to Heart, Soul to Soul.
meguru kisetsu Spring Storm no you ni goukai
The seasons turn. Splendid as a spring storm.
Win Big ga motto
Win Big is the motto.
Some say, "Nothin' lasts forever"
eien no mono wa hatashite aru no darouka?
Does a thing like eternity really exist?
Dakara oretachi wa C'mon
And so we... C'mon.
Sou sa oretachi wa kirameku shunkan wo furu ni ikiteitainda
Yeah, yeah, we live to touch the one shining moment.
With all tha love
1-2 S.O. Cru
Stay true to you
So, what you gonna do? C'mon!
Now everybody move
Can you get a little somethin'
Got to do
So better believe in
Better believe in
Better believe in yourself
oikaze riyoushite kyou to tatakae ALL THA SOLDIERS
To all the soldiers fighting today using the tail wind...
Better believe in
Better believe in yourself
Next Episode
Can you really make delicious yakisoba bread?
In order to win against this unknown-prefecture person,
simply learning to make yakisoba isn’t enough!
What?!
After making us practice so much...!
Next time, on Yakitate!! Japan,
The best possible team!!
We’re going to win with Onono Komachi-san!
Onono Komachi – a famed female poet whose work is found in the Kokin Waka Collection. She is regarded as one of the six greatest poets of Japan.
We’re going to win with Onono Komachi-san!
Be sure to see it!
Yakitate!! Seed of knowledge.
The Worcester sauce used in yakisoba was
Note: Worcester sauce – Developed because the Governor of Bengal (India) wanted a taste of his favorite sauce upon returning to England. The initial batch was too pungent and was left for years in the cellar. One day it was rediscovered, and the aged product was now the famous sauce.
Worcester sauce
developed in the 19th century in the town of Worcester, England.
Vegetables
Fruits
It’s something that was accidentally produced from
Spices
the fermentation of vegetables, fruits and spices.
Fermentation
Really?!