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The Pantasia Rookie Tournament is in full swing with Kazuma going up against a daunting opponent in every respect--Tsukino's half-sister Mizuno and rival for control of the entire Pantasia chain! Mizuno is ready to knock Kazuma out of the ring with her super-tasty-- and super-expensive to make--patented melon bread. Can Kazuma compete against this high-class recipe with a can of regular old melon juice? Plus, some exciting side information on the origins of Ken Matsuhiro, the afro-sporting manager of the Pantasia South Branch!

195 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2002

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61 people want to read

About the author

Takashi Hashiguchi

69 books22 followers
Takashi Hashiguchi (橋口 たかし) is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for his manga series Yakitate!! Japan, for which he won the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 2004. Hashiguchi won a newcomer's award in 1987 (published in a magazine), and Combat Teacher debuted the following year in the same magazine.

A prevailing theme seen throughout his manga is the realization of childhood dreams, such as making bread in Yakitate!! Japan or becoming a yo-yo master in Super Yo-Yo (Chousoku Spinner). Hashiguchi mainly focuses on unusual occupations or sports.

He enjoys comedy as well, and took a brief interlude from drawing to try his luck as a comedian.
Source: Wikipedia

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5 stars
101 (30%)
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130 (39%)
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89 (26%)
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for D E N Z.
365 reviews16 followers
October 7, 2020
Continuation of the Newcomers' Battle Arc! The breads made were also really good and delicious! Really made me wish I could try them now. I'm really enjoying this manga soooo much. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Profile Image for Jacob.
474 reviews6 followers
January 1, 2020
We still find ourselves in the throes of the Pantasia rookie tournament as Azuma competes in a task that... isn't baking? We all know Azuma can bake--that was established volume 1. But how can he survive in a baking competition where one of the tasks requires noodle making?

I find myself surprised at how Yakitate! Japan treats Azuma. He's definitely the protagonist, but he's rarely the perspective character. Instead we view him through the eyes of the people around him, particularly the manager of his store and his rival/co-worker. There's several perks to this perspective: 1. We often don't know Azuma's "battle plan" until it is being enacted--or even until the results are in front of the judge. Each "bout" is able to be experienced by us as it's being experienced by the audience. 2. This allows for additional context and commentary from more knowledgeable characters; I mean, let's be honest--Azuma is pretty clueless about many things and might not make a great perspective character. But the trade-off is that he remains somewhat enigmatic--the text keeps him at arm's reach, rarely giving us insight as to his own thoughts and feelings. I think it's a necessary trade-off, at least for the character as he is at this point in the story, but it's one that does come at a cost.

Anyway, nothing here to change the mind of anyone who has read the first three volumes. Either you're digging what Yakitate! Japan is laying down or you don't.
Profile Image for Hana Eka.
1,387 reviews5 followers
May 18, 2017
Re-read

Ceritanya sudah serius sih walaupun reaksi-reaksinya makin kocak.
Ada 1 atau 2 chapter yang terlewat ketika membaca ini dalam bentuk kompilasi Shounen, dulu.
Profile Image for Diana.
1,475 reviews7 followers
October 16, 2018
I think I'm officially calling this my second favorite manga. Love this!
Profile Image for Amara.
1,367 reviews3 followers
July 5, 2020
Best volume yet! That use of colour in the end was genious (major Wizard of Oz vibes) and the omake Takitate Gohan was hilarious.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kurtis Burkhardt.
6,000 reviews51 followers
August 16, 2021
This is a pretty decent cooking manga, it was really good and interesting at the beginning but got bored the second half probably because it’s solely just about bread 😂👌❤️
Profile Image for MissAnnThrope.
561 reviews3 followers
Read
May 26, 2013
25 May 2013

If your idea of a good time is cuddling up with a warm, delectable confection rather than a warm body, Yakitate!! Japan, Volume 4 is just the manga for you. Not only will it leave you more satisfied, but it will also provide one helluva frolicking good time. You will drool, your sides will ache from laughter, and it will leave you craving more.

This fourth volume continues with the melon pan challenge. I luuuuuurve melon pan. After reading how difficult the process is I have an even deeper appreciation for this scrumptious treat. I have always loved the over-the-top responses the characters have when they taste the baked goods, but Kuroyanagi takes it to a whole other level.



In the next challenge, Azuma faces off against S.H. Hokou to see who can make the better Yakisoba bread. To help Azuma and Kawachi with this task, Matsushiro enlists the help of his friend, Ryu Romen, a high-strung, martial-artist, noodle-master.

Azuma's creativity is always impressive, but Kawachi's die-hard dedication is turning him into a force to be reckoned with. These two are the perfect balance of the yin and yang, which makes them a terrific and hilarious team.

At the end of the volume, the teams receive yet another challenge. This time the teams are faced with the difficult task of knitting bread, which just happens to be the Koala's forte. When the Koala's true identity is revealed, everyone fears the challenges is lost. But leave it up to Azuma to come up with a unique solution.



The comedy in this series is freakin' ridiculous. It's just what I need to escape the stress of life. I love the short story, "Takitate! Go-Han," and wish that it would become its own series. This is such a fun manga that doesn't take itself seriously and just makes me really happy. With all of its carby goodness and hilarious moments, this series will always hold a special place in my heart.
Profile Image for Kayla.
1,647 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2014
I really didn't like the bonus stories in the beginning of this. They were stupid, and took up 50 pages. However, I did enjoy how this ended in color. It makes me hope that the beginning of volume 5 will be in color as well.
Profile Image for Earl.
749 reviews18 followers
January 3, 2015
Bread for the volume: the green turtle bread and the crab bread.
Profile Image for Sulhan Habibi.
805 reviews63 followers
December 18, 2016
3,5/5

Lezatnya roti melon sampai bikin kayang. Hahahaa...

Mie di sini bikin lapar.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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