Yakitate!! Japan - A youth story about making the ultimate bread "Yakitate!! Japan" is a TV anime series that aired on TV Tokyo from 2004 to 2006 and is based on the manga of the same name by Takashi Hashiguchi. This work is a coming-of-age story that depicts the growth and challenges of young people who pursue their dreams through bread baking, and has captivated many fans with its unique setting and humorous development. ■ Story The staple food of Japan is rice, and everyone agrees that it is delicious. However, bread is also delicious to eat and fun to make. There are many different types of bread in the world, such as French bread, English bread, German bread, and Italian bread, but there was no Japanese bread called "Ja-pan". However, one boy was determined to make it. His name was Azuma Kazuma. With his extraordinary warm magical hands, "Sunny Hands," which are the strongest weapon in bread making, and unconventional ideas, Kazuma faces many strong opponents and various difficulties in order to fulfill his dream of making "Ja-pan," a Japanese bread that Japan can be proud of in the world. The story depicts him continuing to take on challenges with a strong will to make it, no matter how long it takes to complete. ■Explanation "Yakitate!! Ja-pan" tells the story of Higashi Kazuma, who faces many strong opponents and challenges in order to achieve his dream of making "Ja-pan," a Japanese bread that the world can be proud of. The manga was originally written by Hashiguchi Takashi and serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday from 2001 to 2007, and was adapted into an anime due to its popularity. Animation is handled by Sunrise and directed by Aoki Yasunao. The appeal of the work is the coming-of-age drama depicted through the familiar theme of bread making, and the adventures of the humorous characters. There are also many episodes in which viewers can learn skills and knowledge about bread making, bringing new discoveries to the viewers. ■Cast・Kazuma Azuma/Yumiko Kobayashi/Kyousuke Kawachi/Shuhei Sakaguchi/Tsukino Azusagawa/Chihiro Otsuka/Ken Matsushiro/Hiroki Tochi/Kagehito Kinoshita/Setsuji Sato/Ryo Kuroyanagi/Takehito Koyasu/Kai Suwahara/Takayuki Sakazume/Shigeru Kanmuri/Marina Inoue/Meister Kirisaki/Sho Hayami/Yukino Azusagawa/Atsuko Yuya ■ Main staff・Planning: D-Rights, Aniplex ・Original story: Takashi Hashiguchi (serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday)
・Director / Aoki Yasunao・Series Composition / Sumisawa Katsuyuki・Character Design / Maezawa Hiromi, Tobe Atsuo, Hishinuma Yoshihito・Art Director / Ikeda Shigemi・Color Design / Sato Miyuki・Director of Photography / Ogami Yoichi・Editor / Tsurubuchi Tomoaki・Music / Iwasaki Taku・Sound Director / Kimura Eriko・Planning Producer / Sugiyama Kota・Associate Producer / Furuse Kazuya, Iwakami Atsuhiro・Producer / Yamakawa Norio, Tomioka Hideyuki・Animation Production / Sunrise・Planning, Production / Pantasia (Sunrise, D-Rights, Aniplex)
Produced by TV Tokyo, Sunrise ■ Main Characters Kazuma Azuma was inspired by an uncle who worked at a bakery when he was a child to create "Ja-pan". With his extraordinary warm magical hands, "Taiyo no Te" (Hands of the Sun), which are his strongest weapon in bread making, and unconventional ideas, he aims to create "Ja-pan", a Japanese bread that Japan can be proud of around the world.
A Kansai native who aims to be the best baker in Japan and whose catchphrase is "What on earth?", Kyosuke Kawachi is not particularly gifted, but his hard work more than makes up for it, and he overcomes many obstacles, including obtaining the "Sun Gauntlet."
Azusagawa Tsukino is the granddaughter of the owner of Pantasia, a charismatic bakery. She is in charge of the South Tokyo branch of Pantasia and has a superb eye for bakers, but because she is not the legitimate successor, she is treated unfairly and has a sad past behind her smile.
Ken Matsushiro is the manager of the Minami Tokyo branch of Pantasia and a skilled baker who is also known as "Japan's No. 1 French bread craftsman." He has a passionate soul as a craftsman (creator) and is a nice guy who looks good with an afro.
A baker at Pantasia's South Tokyo branch. He works hard behind the scenes to support the South Tokyo branch while Kazuma and the others are away, but he continues to work every day without any particular reward for his efforts. Do your best!!
・Ryo Kuroyanagi Baker at Pantasia Aoyama Main Branch. He has a keen sense of taste and is in charge of judging the taste of bread in many situations. His reaction when he eats delicious bread is so amazing that it can never be expressed in words.
Kai Suwahara is the youngest person ever to obtain the first-class bread-making technician certification, and a talented baker who won the New Baker King Championship. He is a samurai-like man who pushes himself to an abnormal degree to make bread.
Shigeru Kanmuri A genius who graduated from Harvard University at the age of 16. A brilliant scientist, he applies his scientific knowledge to bread making and aims to create the ultimate bread. He has the same "Sun Hands" as Kazuma.
・Meister Kirisaki Pantasia The head store general manager and the only craftsman to have been given the highest title in the group, "Meister," by the owner. He hates appearing in public, so few people know his true face under the mask.
Azusagawa Yukino is the granddaughter of the owner of Pantasia and Tsukino's sister-in-law. She is a beautiful woman who serves as the manager of Pantasia's Shinjuku Central branch. However, beneath her beautiful mask, she is a devilish woman with ugly ambitions. ■Subtitle Episode 1: Here Comes the Boy with the Sun's Hands! (2004/10/12)
Episode 2: Maharaja!! The day Mount Fuji fell! (2004/10/19)
Episode 3: Burnt Black!! Is this the ultimate Kurowa-san!? (2004/10/26)
Episode 4: Heehee!! Make horse-tasting bread! (2004/11/02)
Episode 5: Beautiful!! The secret is the ultimate butter! (2004/11/09)
Episode 6: The Main Store! The Dancing Meister! (2004/11/16)
Episode 7: Surprise Hattori!! Transform with the secret sauce! (2004/11/23)
Episode 8: Kawachi (revised)!! The Gauntlet of the Sun! (2004/12/07)
Episode 9: I won't lose! Let's compete with Osaka bread! (2004/12/14)
Episode 10: The start of each season! The Pantasia Newcomer Tournament begins! (2004/12/21)
Episode 11: Shit!! Kazuma's Choice of the Worst Butter! (2004/12/28)
Episode 12: Kazuma is disqualified!? Ultra C is a life-saving comeback! (2004/12/28)
Episode 13: Hey, wait! Melon melon with melon bread! (2005/01/11)
Episode 14: Beautiful noodles!! The pitfalls of yakisoba bread! (2005/01/18)
Episode 15: The Strongest Team!! Let's Win with Ono no Komachi! (2005/01/25)
・Episode 16: Midori's Miracle!! Kazuma the Magician! (2005/02/01)
Episode 17: The Big Battle!! Koala's Ryu vs. Kazuma's Kamepan! (2005/02/08)
Episode 18: With a prayer!! A vow at the grave! (2005/02/22)
Episode 19: The Nightmare Semi-Finals!! Yukino's Dirty Trap! (2005/03/01)
Episode 20: Indomitable fighting spirit! Use adversity as a springboard to rise! (2005/03/08)
Episode 21: The strongest prototype bread ever made!! Ja-pan No. 44! (2005/03/15)
Episode 22: Just before the finals!! A dark shadow approaches Kazuma! (2005/03/22)
Episode 23: Mochimochi showdown!! Higashi Kazuma vs Kanmuri Shigeru! (2005/03/29)
Episode 24: Flying Meister!! Who will win? (2005/03/29)
・Episode 25: What the heck!! Kawachi's intensive training in making French bread! (2005/04/05)
・Episode 26: The Final Match of the Rookie Tournament!! French Bread Sings and Dances! (2005/04/19)
Episode 27: Let's all make bread together!! It's Ja-pan No. 2! (2005/04/26)
Episode 28: The 10 Billion Man!? Pantasia's Extinction Crisis! (2005/05/03)
・Episode 29: Attack!! The birth of Black Japan! (2005/05/10)
Episode 30: Off to France! Aim for the Monaco Cup! (2005/05/17)
・Episode 31: The explosive end of the road!! The forbidden Rodan operation! (2005/05/24)
Episode 32: This is world class!! Storm-bringing roulette! (2005/05/31)
Episode 33: 3 o'clock snack!! Ja-pan No. 21! (2005/06/07)
Episode 34: Lupin No. 3!! Pan de Epice Kai (revised)! (2005/06/14)
Episode 35: The world is watching! The Monaco Cup finals begin! (2005/06/28)
Episode 36: Speed Match! Heat it up with that! (2005/07/12)
・Episode 37: Survival!! Baker on a Deserted Island! (2005/07/19)
Episode 38: Let's go swimming!! Taiyaki-kun from the southern island! (2005/07/26)
・Episode 39: Dive into Hell!! A New Plot! (2005/07/26)
・Episode 40: Clown's Big Miscalculation!! How does the Last Supper taste? (2005/08/02)
・Episode 41: The King's Question!! Who will be the first to eat the delicious bread? (2005/08/9)
Episode 42: Mysterious!! The Kaiser's True Identity! (2005/08/16)
Episode 43: Nutritious!! Sports bread showdown! (2005/08/23)
Episode 44: The Sonic Threat!! Gopan No. 97! (2005/09/06)
Episode 45: Naked, Naked, Naked!! The Great Bread Battle! (2005/09/13)
・Episode 46: Clown Escort!? Bread Packed with Love! (2005/09/20)
・Episode 47: Victory!! Revolutionizing the bread industry! (2005/09/27)
・Episode 48: Detective Pierrot!! A life-threatening reaction! (2005/10/04)
・Episode 49: Reunited in the VIP seats!! Heaven Again! (2005/10/11)
Episode 50: Fascinating Space!! The Man Who Succeeds Gopan! (2005/10/18)
Episode 51: The ultimate ingredients are gathered! The biggest final in history! (2005/10/25)
・Episode 52: The Clown Who Transcends Time!! To the Top of the Ja-pan World! (2005/11/01)
・Episode 53: Challenge from Kirisaki!! New program "Yakitate!! 9" starts! (2005/11/08)
Episode 54: Local Bread Showdown! Idols After All! (2005/11/15)
Episode 55: Awaken!! Super Kuroyanagi! (2005/11/22)
・Episode 56: Kuroyanagi in Danger!! The Lost Reaction! (2005/12/06)
Episode 57: Woo, Mango! CMAP's Great Counterattack! (2005/12/06)
Episode 58: Love Saves Saito!! The Hand of the Sun vs. the Arm of Flame! (2005/12/20)
Episode 59: Ninninnin!! This is my ninja way! (2006/01/10)
・Episode 60: I Hate Crooked Things!! Kai and Monica's Three-Legged Race (2006/01/10)
・Episode 61: The Secret of the Crown!! A ruthless jam showdown! (2006/01/10)
・Episode 62: Brothers' showdown! A first-class man chosen by his father! (2006/01/17)
・Episode 63: Seaweed bread showdown! A super famous person will appear! (2006/01/31)
・Episode 64: The Taste of Tradition! We are all one in our hearts and think of Japan! (2006/02/07)
Episode 65: Fearful Revenge!! Panda Man Appears! (2006/02/14)
・Episode 66: Miracle Steamed Bread!! The Day the Panda Became a Panda! (2006/02/14)
・Episode 67: Taiyo vs. Fubuki! The ultimate tart showdown! (2006/02/28)
・Episode 68: Is this the path I'm on?! Lord of the Loquat! (2006/03/07)
・Episode 69: Who will give us the best bread? Japan, forever! (2006/03/31) ■ Theme songs and music・OP1
・Period: 1-29
・Broom Cloud・Lyrics by RYTHEM
・Composition: RYTHEM
・Arrangement: CHOKKAKU
・Song: RYTHEM
・OP2
・Period: 30-53
・Promise
Lyrics: Natsumi Kobayashi; Composition: Masanao Kitaura; Arrangement: Kei Kono; Singer: TiA
・OP3
Period: 54 to 69
・Small Poem・Lyrics by Maiko・Music by TATTSU
・Arrangement: Iwai Eikichi ・Singer: MARIA
・ED1
・Period: 1-12
・SUNDAY
Lyrics: Akihito Tanaka Composition: Akihito Tanaka Arrangement: Susumu Nagata, Seiichi Kawai, The Babystars
・Song: The Babystars
・ED2
Period: 13-29
・To All Tha Dreamers
Lyrics: Diggy-MO', Bro.Hi
・Composition: Diggy-MO', Shinnosuke
・Arrangement: Shinnosuke
・Song／SOUL'd OUT
・ED3
・Period: 30-42
・Hummingbird ・Lyrics by tetsuhiko
・Composer: tetsuhiko
・Arrangement: tasuku
・Song: Little by Little
・ED4
・Period: 43-53
・Re:START
Lyrics: Keiji Shiina; Composition: Keiji Shiina, Takao Nagatani; Arrangement: Zentaro Watanabe, Takao Nagatani, Keiji Shiina; Singer: surface
・ED5
Period: 54-62
・Merry Go Round
Lyrics: Mai Hoshimura Composition: Mai Hoshimura Arrangement: CHOKKAKU
・Song: Mai Hoshimura
・ED6
Period: 63-68
・Kokorobydama ・Lyrics by RYTHEM
・Composer: RYTHEM
・Arrangement: CHOKKAKU
・Song: RYTHEM
・ED7
・Period/69
・Broom Cloud・Lyrics by RYTHEM
・Composer: RYTHEM
・Arrangement: CHOKKAKU
・Song: RYTHEM ■ Evaluation and recommendation "Yakitate!! Japan" was loved by many viewers for its unique setting and humorous storyline. In particular, the youth drama, which is told through the familiar theme of bread making, provides viewers with emotion and laughter. There are also many episodes in which viewers can learn bread making techniques and knowledge, providing them with new discoveries. The characters' growth and challenges realistically portray young people chasing their dreams, resonating with many people. This work is recommended not only for those who are interested in bread baking, but also for those who like youth dramas and comedies. In particular, the protagonist, Kazuma Higashi, strives to create "Ja-pan" and gives courage and hope to viewers. In addition, the various breads and their baking methods that appear in each episode will surely whet the viewer's appetite and make them want to try bread baking. Furthermore, "Yakitate!! Japan" depicts universal themes such as friendship, effort, and growth, making it enjoyable for a wide range of generations. Watching it with family and friends will make you feel even more attracted to it. Please enjoy the fun of baking bread and the brilliance of youth through this work. |
