by Takashi Hashiguchi (Author)
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! Kazuma and Team Japan emerge victorious from the Monaco Cup, but has all their hard work been in vain? Now that the Pantasia bakery empire rests solely in the hands of the diabolical Kirisaki, it appears that rival chain St. Pierre will rein supreme over the Japanese bread world. But what's this? Will Kirisaki really give Pantasia the chance to win back their bakery if Kazuma and his friends defeat Kirisaki's own cabal of bread craftsmen on a nationally televised show? It appears a brand-new--and most likely absurdly outrageous--bread challenge is about to begin!Author Biography
Takashi 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.