Yakitate!! Japan

Mr. Kirisaki has bought out Pantasia and merged it with St. Pierre! He then throws down to the gauntlet to Kazuma and the others by issuing them this challenge: If they want to save Pantasia, they must compete in his Yakitate 9 contest!

The first opponent that Kazuma and the others face is the enigmatic Takumi Tsubozuka, a member of CMAP, a team of celebrity chefs. Can Kazuma, Kawachi, and Kanmuri come up with a bread that will defeat Tsubozuka and make use of Oma’s local ingredients?

The bake-off has begun! Will Tsubozuka win with his charred tuna, or will Kazuma come from behind with his chawanmushi bread made with sea urchin?

After an accident, Kuroyanagi lost all sense of taste. Will he have to retire from being a judge forever? Meanwhile, Kazuma has to think of a way to defeat his old friend, Liu, in a match to make Chinese-style steamed buns!

Tsubozuka has become a friend of Kazuma and the others. But the other members of CMAP aren’t so forgiving. Now they’re dueling against Kazuma in Saito. How in the world can Kazuma beat three excellent bakers, and use a little clay haniwa statute to do it?

CMAP not only has incredible knowledge and unbeatable talent, but one of their members even has the Arms of Flame, which burn even hotter than Kazuma’s Hands of the Sun! Will Kazuma’s love of good food and good friends be enough?

A familiar pair returns, but something is different about them! Kazuma, Kawachi, and Kanmuri must do battle with a duo of ninjas using the local specialty of Omagari. Can Kazuma win even though both he and his opponent are using the same ingredients?

The ninjas are revealed to be Kai and Monica, and Kai makes a shocking declaration. If he can’t defeat Kazuma, he’ll commit suicide! Will his determination let him finally beat Kazuma? And will he really go through with it if he loses?

Kanmuri’s past is brought to light and he may have to retire from his life as a baker! Will he be forced to leave his friends at Pantasia and become… a gangster!? And what’s worse, after getting sick, Kazuma has to sit this match out!

It’s a showdown between estranged brothers. Neither wants to succeed, because both love cooking. Will their thoughts reach their father?

Kazuma is up against his most powerful foe yet, the famous TV celebrity and comedian Norihei Miki! Can Kazuma possibly compete against such a legend, especially when the theme involves using seaweed, Norihei’s specialty?

It’s time for Kuroyanagi to decide who will win the sixth round: Kazuma or Norihei. Kuroyanagi delivers his most expressive reactions yet in a battle that leaves Kazuma and the others stunned!

Mokoyama has returned a changed man. Though he doesn’t wish to assist Yukino or Mr. Kirisaki in any way, he desperately wants to prove his worth by displaying his new form, Panda Man, and his new weapon, Super Baking Powder!

The hot springs battle is boiling over and things start getting really bombastic when Panda’s bread explodes… three times! How can this possibly be? Has Mokoyama made the bread he’s always dreamed of making?

Tsukino’s sister steps in to challenge Kazuma and the others in the semi-finals, in a match she is well-suited for: making tarts. After insulting a local fruit vendor, Kazuma decides to fight against her using the vendor’s specialty, preserved loquats!

Kazuma has been thrust into a fantasy world, and most take the “loquat” to the fires of a volcano and destroy it before the evil Snowza can use it to take over the world! This sounds an awful lot like a certain story about a ring…

The final showdown. Kazuma faces off against Yuichi Kirisaki’s son in a legendary battle in Kazuma’s own hometown. However, Kazuma won’t just have to win over Kuroyanagi - Yuichi Kirisaki and Pierrot also step up to the plate as judges!