Yakitate Japan Ep 41

Azuma, Suwabara and Kawachi are saved after Pierro manages to swim underwater and gets help. They are surprised to see the King of Monaco before them and find out that the troubles they have gotten into are all the doing of the committee chief of the Monaco Cup. The King promises that there will not be anymore of such happenings in future and says that he will take over the running of the content from the semi-finals onwards. As such, the semi-finals are set to take place one week later where the contestants have to make sports bread for the F1 drivers.

Azuma mentions that he has made such a bread before, Japan No.51 which he says it's flawless. However, Kuroyanagi and Sophie reminds them that it is better not to underestimate their competitors especially the French team consisting of the Kaiser brothers. Upon hearing that the King will be giving free ingredients for the contestants, Azuma and the rest head for the palace to get what they want.

At the same time, the Monaco police come to Sophie to ask about her father Kirisaki Yuichi, the owner of St Pierre as they find that he had contact with the committee chief of the Monaco Cup. Sophie recalls with anger about how her father left her and Meister behind at a young age and even ate bread in front of the hungry siblings. As such, she would not be surprised if he's really behind what's been happening to the Japanese team.

At the palace, Azuma, Suwabara and Kawachi meet the King who decides to ask them one question before granting them to get whatever ingredients they need. They are stumped when the King asks them if they have a bread which looks delicious, who would they give it to first? Azuma answers almost immediately that he will eat it first because looking delicious is not a guarantee that it will taste as good. Thus, he will eat it first to confirm the taste before giving to others. The King is very pleased with this answer and grants them access to the ingredients.

When the trio return to the hotel and relate this to Sophie and Kuroyanagi, she is shocked to hear this question as this was what Kirisaki had asked her and Meister when he ate bread before them. The secret police also reveal that Kirisaki is an old acquaintance of the King so he would have the chance to stop the Japanese team from winning. This does not deter the trio and fires their determination to grab the title despite the obstacles in their way...

No contests in this episode but we'll get to see them against the French team in the next episode. Now that we are at the semi-finals of the Monaco Cup, are we nearing the end of this anime? I've been following this for close to a year so if it's ending, it will be kind of sad even though I wouldn't say this is one of my top favourites but it's enough to keep me entertained.