Are you ready for the Iron Chef of bread?! Manga shall not live by bread alone. England. France. Germany. What common thread binds these three nations together? Answer: each is famous for producing unique, distinctive, delicious bread. But what about Japan, home to rice and delicacies of the sea? Is there not a doughy, gastronomic delight they can claim as their own? The answer is no...until now! Kazuma Azuma, a 16-year-old-boy blessed with otherworldly baking powers, has taken it upon himself to create Ja-pan, the national bread of the land of the rising sun!
The main competition in the Pantasia Rookie Tournament is finally over with Kazuma coming in first and pulling off a mind-blowing upset for Tsukino's South Tokyo Branch. But wait, what of Kazuma's rival/baking brother-in-arms Kawachi? Not content to simple sit on the sidelines, Kawachi challenges the dangerous and deadly Kai Suwabara for the third-place title. Suwabara claims that he can bake a French bread that's so good it literally dances. Can Kawachi counter Kai's terpsichorean treat with a loaf of bread that sings?
About the AuthorTakashi Hashiguchi was the recipient of Young Magazine Gekkan Shinjinsho (Newcomer's Award) in 1987 from Kodansha and received an honorable mention for the Tetsuya Chiba Award. He made his debut in 1988 with
Combat Teacher. Hashiguchi says that for a time he tried his hand at being a comedian, but differences with his partner led him to return to manga. His major works include
Street Fighter II Bakusho Yon-koma Gag Gaiden (Street Fighter II Hilarious 4-panel Gag Outside Story),
Chosoku Spinner (High Speed Spinner),
Windmill,
Scissors, and
Yakitate!! Japan. His most recent series,
Saijo no Meii (The Ultimate Great Doctor) is currently serialized in
Weekly Shonen Sunday.