The story focuses on Kazuma Azuma, a boy on his quest to create "Ja-pan", a national bread for Japan itself. He initially heads to Tokyo to expand his horizons at the bread-making chain Pantasia; the story continues with Azuma's exploits with his other coworkers. The characters cook the bread using sheer anger and the power of their burning passion. This mimics the legendary Kanjitake cooking style of Hokkaido. Besides the desire to create his Ja-pan, Azuma also possesses the legendary Hands of the Sun. These hands are warmer than normal human hand temperature, and allow the dough to ferment faster. This gives him some advantage at the beginning of the series, but his innovation is his greater talent.
Media
Manga
Yakitate!! Japan is written and illustrated by Takashi Hashiguchi. It was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday from January 16, 2002 to January 24, 2007. Shogakukan compiled its individual chapters into twenty-six tankōbon volumes published from March 18, 2002 to April 18, 2007. In North America, Viz Media licensed the manga in late 2005. The first volume was released on September 12, 2006. Hashiguchi announced a new series titled Yakitate!! Japan Super Real, serialized on LINE Manga app since August 16, 2019. The manga is written by Kenzo Irie and illustrated by Hashiguchi. The first volume was published on September 13, 2019.
Volume list
Anime
Yakitate!! Japan was adapted into a 69-episode anime television series. It aired on TV Tokyo from October 12, 2004 to March 14, 2006. Aniplex collected the individual episodes on DVD. The first arc, Pantasia Newcomers Battle arc, was compiled on seven DVDs released from March 25 to September 28, 2005. The second arc, Monaco Cup arc was compiled on six DVDs released from October 26, 2005 to March 29, 2006. The third arc, Yakitate! 9 arc, was released on five DVDs from April 26 to August 23, 2006. In North America, the series was licensed by Nozomi Entertainment in July 2014. Nozomi released the series on three DVD sets on March 3, May 5, and July 7, 2015. Crunchyroll started streaming the series in November 2015. In July 2019, Funimation announced the streaming rights to the series on its FunimationNow platform.
Music
The music from the anime series was composed by Taku Iwasaki. Two original soundtracks albums were released on March 24 and November 23, 2005. The first opening theme for episodes 1 to 29 is "Houki Gumo" by Rythem. The second opening theme for episodes 30 to 53 is "Promise" by TiA. The third opening theme for episodes 54 to 69 is Chiisana Uta by Maria. The first ending theme for episodes 1 to 12 is "Sunday" by The Babystars. The second ending theme for episodes 13 to 29 is "To All Tha Dreamers" by Soul'd Out. The third ending theme for episodes 30 to 42 is "Hummingbird" by Little by Little. The fourth ending theme for episodes 43 to 53 is "Re: START" by Surface. The fifth ending theme for episodes 54 to 62 is "Merry Go Round" by Mai Hoshimura. The sixth ending theme for episodes 63 to 68 is "Kokoro Bīdama". The first opening theme "Houki Gumo" is used as the final ending theme for episode 69.
Reception
Along with Fullmetal Alchemist, Yakitate!! Japan won the 49th Shogakukan Manga Award for the shōnen category in 2004.
