Ep 45. E 45

In this episode of Yakitate!! Japan, titled "E 45," our protagonist Azuma is still on his journey to become the best bread maker in Japan. He's been working hard at the Pantasia bakery, and things are starting to look up for him. He's even gained the respect of his fellow bakers, who used to mock him for his unconventional bread-making techniques.

However, Azuma's world is turned upside down when a new challenger arrives on the scene. His name is Yuichi Kirisaki, and he's the founder of a rival bakery called St. Pierre. Kirisaki is the epitome of cool, with his slicked-back hair and sunglasses, and he's got a reputation as a master baker.

Kirisaki wastes no time in making his presence known. He shows up at Pantasia and challenges Azuma to a bread-making contest. At stake is the honor of Pantasia and the pride of Azuma's team.

Azuma is nervous but determined. He's never been one to back down from a challenge, and he's eager to prove himself as a baker. The two of them set a deadline of two days to bake the best bread they can.

Azuma spends the next two days working tirelessly on his bread. He's pulled out all the stops, using special ingredients and techniques he's learned along the way. Meanwhile, Kirisaki seems to be taking things easy. He spends most of his time relaxing instead of baking.

As the deadline approaches, Azuma is feeling confident. He's created a beautiful loaf of bread, called Yakitate 31, which he's sure will impress the judges. However, when he presents it to Kirisaki, the rival baker dismissively sniffs it and declares that it smells terrible.

Azuma is crushed. He had put his heart and soul into making that bread, and Kirisaki's dismissive attitude feels like a slap in the face. But he's not about to give up. He decides to make another bread in the short amount of time available to him.

This time, Azuma decides to use a classic Japanese ingredient, matcha, in his bread. He spends hours perfecting the recipe, and he's thrilled with the result. The matcha bread is absolutely delicious, and he's confident it will win the judges over.

However, when he presents it to Kirisaki, the master baker once again dismisses it. He declares that the bread lacks "soul" and tells Azuma that he should give up on being a baker.

Azuma is devastated by Kirisaki's words. He had put everything he had into making that bread, and it felt like a personal attack on him. But he's not one to give up easily. He decides to try one final time to create a bread that Kirisaki will appreciate.

This time, Azuma decides to base his bread on traditional Japanese sweets. He spends an entire night working on the recipe, and he's exhausted by the time he's finished. But he's also confident that he's created something truly special.

When he presents the bread to Kirisaki, the master baker seems genuinely impressed for the first time. He declares that the bread has "soul" and that Azuma has finally become a true baker.

The two of them then share a touching moment where Kirisaki tells Azuma about his own struggles as a baker. He reveals that he had to work hard to become the master baker that he is, and that he sees a bit of himself in Azuma.

In the end, the judges declare Azuma the winner of the bread-making contest. He's overjoyed, but he's also humbled by the experience. He realizes that he still has a lot to learn as a baker, but he's ready to take on the challenge.

Overall, E 45 is a heartwarming episode of Yakitate!! Japan that shows the power of perseverance and dedication. Whether you're a baker or not, it's a story that anyone can relate to.