Writer and Artist: Takashi Hashiguchi
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| via Amazon |
For those of you new to the program, Yakitate!! Japan is a manga series about a bakery in Tokyo. There's a gifted hero (Azuma), a scrappy sidekick (Kawachi), a brooding mentor (Matsushiro) and a fawning female potential love interest who is also technically the boss (Tsukino). Picking up where we left off in Volume 4, Azuma and Kawachi are competing in the company's rookie baker tournament. Not surprisingly, Azuma ultimately wins. While I understand following the classic comic book superhero narrative with fidelity, occasional failure might make Azuma more interesting. But I digress.
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| via Amazon |
After the tournament, the gang's next adventure is a trip to France. There will be a tournament there, too, but first our friends must explore the baking culture of one of the world's most important bread nations.
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| via Amazon |
A couple of important characters gain prominence in this run:
- Shigeru Kanmuri, Azuma's opponent in the newcomer tournament - a talented baker and also a nice guy, a friendly rival in the end. After the tournament, he chooses to join the South Tokyo branch where our heroes work. Now he's one of the gang - and a bit of a schemer.
- Yukino Azusagawa. A new good guy is counterbalanced with a new antagonist. Yukino is Tsukino's oldest sister. She's slinky and sexy but evil. Initially, Shigeru worked for Yukino's branch but was understandably a bit put off when she blew up his research lab as punishment for losing to Azuma.
There are 19 more books in the series, though no more currently on our shelves. I'd read more given the chance. The stories are highly entertaining, if a touch predictable. The cliffhangers are effectively intriguing and I do learn a bit about baking along the way.
Sounds like an interesting way to learn about Japan and baking (I was working in a bakery when I spent three weeks in Japan right after college so was always on the lookout. I remember being surprised that their "white bread" often didn't have crusts, it being cut off).
ReplyDeleteI don't know if the series is such a great way to learn about Japan per se. The intention, really, is to teach Japanese people more about bread. A better for series for learning about Japan itself - particularly the food - is Oishinbo.
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