It has been a while.
Mother, it’s Kageto. Is everybody doing well?
I am well.
Right now, there are many newcomers at the Pantasia store that I am working at.
My juniors, Kawachi Kyousuke and Azuma Kazuma,
are doing well and have reached the semifinals.
During this time, taking care of the Southern Tokyo Branch has been left entirely to me.
But today, Manager, Azuma-kun, Kawachi-kun, and Tsukino-san...
are all coming back.
I’m really happy having everybody back.
I’m really relieved.
The big surprise this time was the hearts circling us.
However, it really surprised me to find that Katsuo and Manager are the same age.
He’s twice as old as me!
Is that so?
But...
I wonder if the fact that I’m the only one working...
is all my imagination...
Welcome!
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?
The nightmarish semifinals!!
Yukino’s despicable trap!
The nightmarish semifinals!!
Yukino’s despicable trap!
Oh, yeah, Kawachi...
What?
I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while. Is Old Man Kuroyanagi our senpai?
I’m only 22 years old! I’m not an old man!
Yeah, of course.
If we’re speaking of the order in which we joined Pantasia, Kuro-yan is way before us.
So, he’s a senpai, in those terms.
Oh, I see!
What about me...?
What about it...?
No, it’s just what Kanmuri said.
He called Old Man Kuroyanagi, “Kuroyanagi-senpai.”
Kuroyanagi-senpai probably just can’t use his hands.
It just struck me as odd then.
Is that so?
Well, that may be so, but it’s probably for the reason that I was just talking about.
Kuroyanagi-senpai...
I could never speak like that.
I get it!
I’m beginning to see who Kanmuri really is.
Who he really is?
Kuroyanagi was put in charge of the Main Store at the young age of 22.
Do you know what the trick behind that was?
Because he’s an excellent examiner?
Actually, he can probably make fantastic bread!
That’s true... However,
in the mere three years after he joined,
the reason he managed to get to the position he’s presently at is...
that he’s...
Ha...
Va...
Harvard University.
It’s because he’s a graduate from Harvard’s Food Sciences research program.
Right, Manager?
Kuro-yan’s a Harvard graduate?!
But, isn’t Harvard an elite amongst the elite of America’s universities?!
You could never even imagine this from his moronic reactions...
Ahh, annoying!
Not paper!
Melon!
Yakisoba...
Dog!
Kou... chin... mi...
The monster from outer space...
Is that true, Tsukino?
Yes, it is...
Please get the rest of the story from Manager.
Is it true, Manager?
Listen up!
This is an age of research being done even on bread.
Chemical seasoning. Flavoring. Preservatives.
The creation of additives that are tasty,
yet 100% harmless for consumption, is the dream of the bread industry.
No!
It would not be wrong to call it the dream of humanity as a whole!
That’s true...
That’s why once every few years,
even Pantasia hires students with an outstanding background in Food Science research.
And this year,
there was a rumor that a newcomer even better than Kuroyanagi had been hired.
And you think that’s Kanmuri?
Probably.
Kuroyanagi was able to skip grades and graduate from Harvard at the age of 19.
But, it seems that this particular newcomer graduated at age 16.
Well, at least age-wise, Kanmuri appears to be one level higher.
I don’t know anything about him being a genius,
but if it comes to studying all the time, I won’t be losing to him.
That’s the way to go, Kawachi!
I wonder...
Their research involves...
the study of something that is most desired by the industry right now.
Native yeast.
Note: “Native,” or “rural” yeast, is highly sought after by fermentation industries who wish to replace “commercial” or “industrially prepared” yeast, as many believe that interventionist techniques often lead to a loss of taste.
Native yeast?
Native yeast is usually extracted from raisins and apples,
but hundreds of varieties of yeast other than that exist.
Ones which are able to transform the taste of bread into infinite varieties.
Unless you have many facilities and much knowledge,
you can’t isolate a special yeast that produces a good taste.
In other words, with the monetary backing of Azusagawa Yukino,
if Kanmuri is able to isolate a special native yeast,
then Kawachi, you wouldn’t...
No, even I definitely can’t win.
Kawachi?
That’s not funny!
All the time that you don’t spend baking bread is spent holed up here, isn’t it?
It makes me wonder what you’re made of.
The little ones here are delicate.
If you don’t care for them properly, they die quickly.
Please do not smoke in the laboratory.
I believe that “No smoking” is written in up to eight languages over there.
However, yeast are ultimately germs, aren’t they?
Germs?!
To be treating these things with such care...
I really don’t understand this “race” of bakers.
So, are you done with what I asked of you?
The endo-proteases, right?
They’re done.
Here you go.
Well done.
Endo-proteases,
hydrolytic enzymes that can cleave proteins.
As the name indicates, it can digest proteins,
but what are you going to be using such a thing for?
Oh, that’s right,
you don’t like me asking any unnecessary questions.
Keep quiet and do your work if you want to continue to receive funding.
There’s no learning curve with her, is there?
Oh well...
As long as I’m funded,
I need not get involved any further with someone who dares
call my cute, little yeasts “germs.”
I’m sorry, Azuma.
It doesn’t look like the finals will be Southern Branch vs. Southern Branch.
Kawachi...
Against the Shinjuku Central Branch...
Against Kanmuri... I can’t...
It’s too early to be giving up!
There has to be a way.
If we try thinking about it with all we have...
It’s easy to say that, but...
How can you be saying something so cowardly?
The two of you vowed to win at Tsukino-san’s mother’s grave, didn’t you?
I’ll cooperate, too.
Come on, now. Stand up.
I wonder if I should put it more aggressively?
Something to help us win against the native yeast...
What can we do?
What can we...
What...?
Note: Hatsuga Genmai (発芽玄米) means “germinated brown rice.”
This is hatsuga genmai yeast...
apparently.
Hatsuga genmai yeast?!
Chomp!!
Delicious!!!
This is the hatsuga genmai yeast
that Manager uses to make his ultimate,
delicious French bread?
This is actually an original, native yeast made by Manager.
Back then, he created this without any facilities or money.
That’s why Kuroyanagi really respects Manager.
Please make me a student of yours!
All right.
With this, we might have a chance!
It’s too early to be celebrating.
Huh?
Manager made this batch of yeast three years ago.
As far as the fickle research community is concerned, this is an ancient yeast.
“Don’t forget that the enemy is still leading, in terms of favorable conditions!”
That’s what he said.
After having all this done for me,
if I were to lose now, I’d be nothing more than a clown.
Yup, a clown.
Azuma, I’ll definitely win against Kanmuri.
So, you win against Suwabara.
Yeah.
Let’s win!
And let’s make our finals the best possible match.
I really want to fight it out with you, Kawachi.
We can do it, right?
Of course.
Good luck, brats.
Looks like you guys have finally figured it out.
Come, I’ll cooperate, too.
So let’s make it together. A complete bread!
Hmm... is that a little too high and mighty?
It might be better to be a little friendlier...
If he slacks off any more than this,
he’s fired.
What’s with this crowd of people?
From the semifinals onward,
spectators aside from authorized personnel are allowed to watch.
In addition to regular folk, we have gourmet critics and magazine journalists.
Newspaper journalists and various other people come, too.
Wow... However, while it’s the semifinals, it’s still a match amongst newcomers...
So much free time for... I mean, I should be saying that Pantasia’s amazing.
That’s true,
but most of them have probably really come for... him.
Kirisaki, look over here!
Please remove the mask.
It can’t really cover the beauty that lies beneath, anyway.
He’s a strange guy who appears only during the newcomers’ battle.
Meister Kirisaki that is...
Other than that, he doesn’t appear very much at all.
Regardless of the reason for which they’ve come...
Customers are customers.
Let’s show them our amazing skills, and have all their gazes turn toward us!
Yeah!
Exactly, that’s how it should be.
You seem to have found some wonderful newcomers, haven’t you?
Let’s both do our best, shall we, Tsukino?
Stop!
Give me back my mother!
Who’s that?
What’s wrong?
You’re not going to introduce your sister to them?
What a troublesome child you are.
Stop it.
Tsukino doesn’t like it.
You’re Yukino-han, right?
What? Yukino?
I don’t know what you’re trying to pull here, but don’t be touching our Boss like that.
Yeah!
I seem to be quite hated here...
But, I guess it can’t be helped...
Tsukino, I’m really sorry.
Your onee-chan was really young then.
I couldn’t bring myself to acknowledge you then.
But now... now...
Stop with the bad acting, Yukino.
The Southern Tokyo Branch has nothing to discuss with you.
Ken-san... You, too?
But I guess it’s me who’s to blame.
But...
But someday, I hope you can forgive me.
Tsukino...?
I believe that such a day will come. Someday...
Is she really that Yukino?
I think so...
A true villain never really appears as one.
It’s time,
but Dave Hashiguchi-sensei is not here yet.
We plan to begin as soon as sensei arrives.
Okay.
And...
Kuroyanagi-senpai.
Hello. It’s been a while, Kuroyanagi-senpai.
Shigeru, eh?
And why are you here?
This is the assembly hall for the newcomers’ battle.
I’m the examiner, and you’re the newcomer,
so stop calling me senpai!
As time passes, people change, don’t they?
What?
At Harvard...
you loved me so much.
What?!
Love...
Love
Hey, stop making announcements that invite misinterpretation!
As you came to America at the age of 12,
I merely helped you out a little because you were from Japan too!
It was nothing more, and nothing less than that!
Oh my, there’s no need to get all worked up.
It’ll just make it be taken all the more seriously, Examiner Kuroyanagi.
But, more importantly, there was something I wished to report.
In the three years after Senpai graduated...
I’ve finally completed... that.
W-What?
You’ve completed it, you say?
I’d wanted to announce it earlier,
but I won by default every time, haven’t I?
But, it appears that I’ll have a proper match today.
So look forward to it, okay?
Is something wrong?
No.
Oh, that’s right.
I had something to report to Kuroyanagi-kun as well.
Yes.
Love is rather like the chaos found in outer space.
No matter what form it takes, I will not be taken by surprise.
Love is infinite. Love is a spiral.
Ah, busy. Ah, busy. So busy...
Hello, for the second time.
So, there is no need to be embarrassed regarding your relationship with Kanmuri.
Starting now, we’ll begin the semifinals of the newcomers’ battle for the B block!
From the Souther Tokyo Branch: Kawachi Kyousuke.
All right, let’s do this!
Good luck, Kawachi!
Kawachi-san, good luck.
From the Shinjuku Central Branch: Kanmuri Shigeru.
Step forward.
I guess, there’s no impact when you repeat it a second time.
Ah, busy. Ah, busy. So busy.
Good luck to you.
A true villain never appears as one, eh?
As long as I don’t know what they’re planning,
I’ll just ignore them.
Ah, so cold...
But, if we don’t have at least that, I wouldn’t get fired up, either.
Oh well, try your best, please.
The basic ingredients have been prepared from our end.
Should you need anything other than this, you may request it now.
I don’t need anything else.
I have this.
What Kawachi is holding in his hand...
Without a doubt, it’s the hatsuga genmai yeast.
I see... Matsushiro, eh?
But, Kawachi... you can’t...
No. Regardless of what anyone uses, the results of this match are clear.
If Kanmuri has really completed the yeast of dreams...
Note: Kaiyou (海洋) – Marine
The Kaiyou yeast of fantasy...
This is your reward.
Semifinals for B block,
the theme is anything that you like.
There’s no time limit.
Begin!
The thing he has there...
Hatsuga genmai yeast?
Hatsuga genmai yeast plus... solar gauntlets!
Put into operation!
Hatsuga genmai yeast and solar gauntlets, eh?
It’s in the style of the old gourmet battle shows, isn’t it?
But I quite like such people, Kawachi-san.
What’s with that dough?
It’s already risen so much...
How has he...?
Don’t tell me... he also...
Good luck, Kawachi!
Hang in there, Kawachi-san.
Why do I feel so uneasy?
That’s strange...
Kawachi-san’s dough is not rising at all.
Even if it’s the fault of the hatsuga genmai yeast,
with solar gauntlets, it should have firmed up by now.
Don’t tell me...
The endo-proteases!
Here you go.
Earlier, the man in black brought in the ingredients.
Hydrolytic enzymes that can cleave protein.
If he mixed in the endo-proteases with the flour,
then the dough won’t become firm, no matter what.
What has she done...?
If we had just played out the match as normal, my win would be a 120% sure thing.
That woman!
You would go that far...?
Why...?
Why won’t it rise?
Did I mess up the quantity of water?
No, that can’t be.
Is it because the hatsuga genmai yeast is too old to ferment?
No, Manager wouldn’t have given me something like that.
Then, is it because my solar gauntlets are incomplete?
What in the world...?
What’s happening?
Do I just...
Do I just not have enough spirit?!
Mother,
Kawachi-san seems to be having a hard time at the newcomers’ battle.
However, do not worry.
I am just fine.
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
Why?
Why won’t the dough firm up?
Next time, on Yakitate!! Japan,
The indomitable fighting spirit!! Use adversity as a springboard to success!
The indomitable fighting spirit!!
Be sure to watch!
Yakitate!! Seed of knowledge.
Various proteases are present in fruits such as pineapple.
Endo-proteases
They reduce the stomach’s workload,
reduces burden on stomach
and help increase the rate of digestion and absorption.
Increases digestion & absorption
But, I don’t add pineapple to sweet and sour pork!
Is that so?