* An ongoing manga series in Japan-over 24 volumes released to date. * First VIZ Media offering from the vast manga sub-genre devoted to heroic tales of gourmet food and cooking (think Iron Chef!) * Volume 1 profiled in Saveur magazi≠ an unconventional item for the gourmet gift market. * Winner of 40th Annual Shogakkukan Award (2004) * Inspired an anime series, currently airing on TV in Japan. * Published in Hong Kong / German as "King of Bread" (iron chef) * Released Bi-monthly (every other month). 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 of the island nation of 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!   The championship round of the Monaco Cup continues to build in intensity with Kyosuke Kawachi butting breads with Azuma's former rival, S.H. Hokou. Recently chastised for his slackerish approach to the tournament by his Pantasia compatriots, Kawachi must reach back to the memory of his dearly departed wannabe-baker father for inspiration. Will Kawachi's creation be a living testament to his family's hardships or an inedible embarrassment?