It’s been four years, hasn’t it?
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?
With a little prayer!!
An oath on the grave!
With a little prayer!!
An oath on the grave!
From the Southern Tokyo Branch: Kawachi Kyousuke.
From the Sugaru Branch: Umino Katsuo.
We’ll now begin the third examination for the B block,
that is, the quarterfinals match.
Begin!
All right!
Katsuo! Hang in there!
Fight! Fight!
Okay! I definitely won’t lose!
T-This is definitely not what you’d expect...
To think that such a cute girl would come to cheer Katsuo on...
However, I now have...
Good luck, Kawachi!
A good companion and rival, Azuma;
a dependable Manager;
and the level-headed high school student who acts as
the stand-in manager, Tsukino.
Tsukino’s not there!
Manager! Where’s the little miss?
Tsukino, eh?
She said that she wouldn’t come today.
Apparently, there’s something important that she had to do today.
Something important?
When she says that it’s “something important,”
does that mean it’s more important than my match today?
I haven’t been there for a long time.
However, I’m sure I’ll be forgiven.
Because... that person is very kind.
What is it?
A thing that’s more important than my match?
It’s probably a guy.
What?!
Whatever... Either way, I was...
Nobody was expecting anything great out of me from the very beginning, either way...
In the end, I’m just an extra, compared to Azuma...
That’s not the case.
So, what is it you’re trying to pull here...?
No, handicrafts are just a hobby of mine...
Is he trying to comfort me or something?
Listen up, Kawachi.
Tsukino didn’t decide not to come today to slight you.
It’s because she believes in you.
She’s sure that you’ll win!
What?!
Was that what it was?
In that case, I must answer to her expectations...
All right! Let’s do this!
Exactly! Good luck Kawachi!
What a simple-minded fellow...
Let’s do this.
I have many people firmly on my side.
It’s nice to see that the idiots over there are having a good time, right?
Yeah, they’re people that make you feel good.
You’re from the B block...?
I’m Kanmuri Shigeru.
Nice to meet you.
From the Central Shinjuku Branch, right?
I’ve heard about you from Kuroyanagi.
Not surprisingly, that man has always been a gossip, hasn’t he?
But, oh well...
It’s an honor to think that the person considered to be the strongest here
in the newcomers’ battle, Suwabara-san, knows me.
Enough with the tedious talk!
Moreover, aren’t you supposed to be in a match right now?
What in the world do you want from me?
Oh, my...
Please don’t make such a scary face.
I was making no such thing...
I just came by to say hello.
And just like you, I also have...
a default win.
Isn’t it strange?
As a symbol of friendship, I usually present my opponent with
my bread for a taste before the match,
but for some reason,
after they eat it, everybody retires from the match as though they are avoiding me.
Honestly... Adults these days are really not up to mark.
That man over there, competing in B block...
Kawachi Kyousuke.
Even you will no longer be able to speak like this, after meeting him.
That’s some sort of joke, right?
If you say it with such a scary face, you might get taken seriously...
I do not joke.
And this is a normal face!
I give this to you as a symbol of our friendship.
All right, then. I’m off...
I don’t like this person.
But...
To make bread that stimulates my palate so much...
He’s definitely something out of the ordinary!
I’m done!
Me, too!
Kawachi has a simple crab, eh?
He’s just trying for the Dotombori-crab look because he’s from Osaka, eh?
Note: Dotombori is an area in Osaka that’s famous for its restaurants and the oversized crab that wiggles its claws above the entrance.
Since I had such high expectations, I’m even more disappointed.
Boring...
Compared to...
Umino’s animal-bread that I hadn’t really been expecting much of...
This is...
a person.
The idea of classifying humans as animals is pretty unique.
And it is somewhat cute...
Hey, the pig over there.
What is this?
It’s my “Momma.”
That rather beautiful person is...
your mother, Katsuo?
There’s a limit to your being able to say, “She looks rather young for her age.”
And by the way, how old was she when she had you?
What are you blabbing, Kuroyanagi-san?
That’s my Momma. My wife.
Momma
Wife
Darling!
What?!
What was that?
Impossible!
You... How old are you?
I’m 31.
You’re older than me?!
It’s not possible!
He’s the same age as me!
He’s twice as old as me!
Tsukino’s a high school student.
How much of that is true?
All of it.
When I just joined the Sugaru Branch,
Sa-chan was a part-timer there.
You’re so forceful, Katsuo...
We got married after three months.
Sa-chan likes my bread, and so...
If I were to win the Pantasia newcomers’ battle,
then she said that she’d do this and that...
You got married while working part time?!
That’s too short a time!
You’re fired!
I shouldn’t have helped him!
That’s so impure...
Oh, Katsuo, sweety.
That’s true, but it was a secret...
Is that so?
Sa-chan!
You’re so quick with your hands.
But, let’s stop at that...
This is what you should be looking forward to after you win...
Just one...
Victor: Kawachi Kyousuke.
Wait just one moment!
You haven’t even done the grading yet!
Y-Yeah, Kuro-yan.
Don’t be getting all hot and bothered. The judging should at least be done properly.
Hey, why’s Kawachi complaining even though he won?
He’s probably got some trick to that crab-bread that he wanted him to see, at any cost.
I haven’t lost my calm while making this decision.
Look!
points
Katsuo
points
Katsuo
points
Katsuo
Dave-sensei has already graded it as -500 points worth.
points
Katsuo
points
Katsuo
points
Katsuo
points
Katsuo
He doesn’t even seem to have been able to scream.
There’s no possibility here of any more tasting.
You’e lost!
This is some gourmet battle...
You have no right to say that!
Thanks to that moron, I couldn’t demonstrate this “moving crab-bread”...
This, here...
is a chiffon cake with three times the flexibility of sponge cake...
and if you press it...
it moves!
It’s cute, right?
You see?
I feel kinda sorry for Kawachi.
Come on...
Boy, has Suwabara-san overestimated him...
Man...
That was a really low level fight there.
Do I really have to fight with everything I have against such folk?
Of course.
No matter how clean a kitchen is...
cockroaches somehow find their way in.
The present favorite, Mizuno, couldn’t
stop even one of them,
so you can take care of them all.
Oh man...
You really work us hard, don’t you...
Miss Yukino.
The flower
Yonraizu
The flower
Yonraizu
The flower
Yonraizu
The flower
Yonraizu
That person really loved these flowers.
The person that I really loved.
Well then, I will now announce the finalists,
the best four of the Pantasia newcomers.
From A block:
Azuma Kazuma of the Southern Tokyo Branch.
Hey, Azuma,
this crab bread can move...
And his opponent from the Main Store, Suwabara Kai.
See, see, Suwabara-chan,
try pressing it here!
It really moves in a cute matter.
You’re an embarrassment.
And from the B block:
Kanmuri Shigeru of the Central Shinjuku Branch.
You’re Kanmuri-kun, eh?
Just try pressing it here. It moves really well.
Really. It’s very cute, isn’t it?
His opponent is Kawachi Kyousuke of the Southern Tokyo Branch.
Hey, Kuro-yan, it’s amazing, isn’t it?
Please give me a proper reaction.
Annoying!
Okay, a crab.
Does this satisfy you?
It... it was tiny.
As for the schedule...
we will have both the A and B groups together in three days.
The B block match starts at 9 a.m., and the A block match will start from 1 p.m.
The theme will be...
your choice.
Our choice?
That’s right. Your choice.
You can make any bread.
But...
we expect you to make a masterpiece to the best of your abilities.
Furthermore, from the semifinals onward, in addition to the owner Azusagawa,
the General Manager, Meister Kirisaki, will also be coming to watch.
Don’t even think of being late.
Make sure that you don’t do anything rude.
Old ma... I mean, Mr. Kuroyanagi’s really rude.
Opening the door with his legs like that...
Kuroyanagi-senpai probably just couldn’t use his hands.
My hands...
Kawachi’s crab-bread is fearsome.
Because of that bread...
I won’t be able to play rock-paper-scissors for a while.
Crab, crab, crab, crab, crab, crab, crab, crab...
I’m... I’m no good anymore...
Cheer up, Kawachi.
Kawachi-san, it was an amazing bread.
Yeah. Old man Kuroyanagi was still a crab on the other side of the door.
Really?
Of course.
So, cheer up, and let’s work hard. Both of us.
Kanmuri-kun...
See you in three days.
Let’s fight it out fair and square.
Okay!
He seems like a nice guy.
I wonder if that’s really true...
He must have become afraid after seeing
my strength, and it may’ve been a plan to get into my good graces.
Oh?
That’s amazing, Kawachi.
How’s that?
I’m amazing, right?
Just what we’d expect of you, Kawachi.
I’m awesome, right?
You’re awesome, Kawachi.
Right? More, more!
Kawachi.
Mother.
I’ll be there soon.
I really hate the smell of cigarette smoke.
Helping the enemy out like that...
What could you be thinking?
Well, I must have him try his best,
because even I need to be able to give it my all...
Shut up, boy!
It’s not enough to just win.
We must have the cockroaches of the
Southern Tokyo Branch shamed and crushed
in front of the owner before they leave.
Okay, okay. I understand,
Miss Yukino.
You’re amazing, Kawachi!
Your crab-bread is the best!
Say more, say more!
You’re amazing, Kawachi!
You’re the Kawachi amongst Kawachis!
Obviously.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
By the way, Manager,
what was it that Tsukino had to do today?
Oh yeah, that’s right.
Why do you want to know?
Well... there’s three days before the next match.
With both of us making it to the best four, I thought that at least for today,
all four of us from the Southern Tokyo Branch could
party big time!
That sounds like fun.
What could it be...?
I have goose bumps.
Then, let’s go see...
Where?
To where Tsukino is.
It’s a graveyard. So, we’re going to visit a grave?
But whose?
Today is the anniversary of Tsukino’s mother’s death.
What?
Tsukino’s mother was originally a baker with the ability
to have become the General Manager of Pantasia’s Main Branch.
At that time, Tsukino’s father
was aiming to be a baker, and polishing his skills at the Main Branch.
Azusagawa Sadamichi was...
captivated, and they fell in love at first sight.
Then, Tsukino was born, but...
Today, four years ago, she passed away.
We’re here.
Azusagawa House
It’s an amazing grave.
It’s really extravagant.
It’s a shameful grave, isn’t it?
What are you saying?
It’s a tree. And a withered one, at that.
Why is she praying there?
Tsukino...
That withered tree is...
Tsukino’s mother’s gravestone.
What?
What do you mean?
After Tsukino’s mother’s funeral service was over,
while laying her ashes to rest at the grave...
Stop!
Give me back my mother!
In the story of Old Man Hanasaka,
Note: A reference to an honest old man who made lifeless trees bloom in a famous Japanese folktale.
if you scatter a dog’s bones, the cherry trees will blossom, right?
I wonder what’ll blossom with the thieving cat’s bones?!
Please, stop! Miss Yukino!
Here you go!
Mother is...
Here you go!
Mother is...
No!
I understand you getting angry.
But, calm yourselves.
Yukino is not like Mizuno.
Yukino’s really a scary woman.
She won’t back off from any means to win.
That Kanmuri Shigeru of the Central Shinjuku Branch
has won by forfeits three times in a row.
He’s probably quite an expert,
hired specifically for the newcomers’ battle.
I will definitely defeat Kanmuri!
Absolutely and completely defeat him.
I won’t forgive you if you lose.
You understand?
Of course!
The finals will be Southern Tokyo vs. Southern Tokyo, okay?
It’s decided.
You see, Mother?
It’s these people.
These people are my dear friends.
So...
Mother...
I’m not lonely.
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
I definitely won’t lose, for Tsukino’s sake, too!
All right, come! I’ll beat you to a pulp.
Bring it on, quickly!
Let’s do this together!
Man, that really takes the wind out of your sails.
Next time, on Yakitate!! Japan,
The nightmarish semifinals.
The nightmarish semifinals!!
Yukino’s despicable trap!
Yukino’s despicable trap.
Be sure to watch!
Yakitate!! Seed of knowledge.
The chiffon cake that Kawachi used for the crab-bread...
Chiffon Cake
uses vegetable oil instead of butter.
Butter
Vegetable oil
The low calorie, non-cholesterol vegetable oil
gives rise to that soft, fluffy dough.
Is that so...?