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[Matsushiro Ken] The manager of Pantasia's southern Tokyo store.
  Despite the lack of employees and daily renevue loss, Ken will often seat himself in the back room reading or else spend the day at the horse tracks. Still, behind his mostly carefree attitude is a masterful French bread artisan and a strong-willed man. Ken quests for making bread all people can enjoy, ever since his younger sister had an allergic reaction to his bread. He uses a variety of means to rile up his employees (reverse psychology, doubting victory so as to have them "prove him wrong", etc.), but his main method is getting them "fired up". Getting fired up means to take each challenge seriously, putting all your effort in to do your best, never underestimating your opponent. He's also keen on his philosophy of being a man, which includes "getting an afro". Story-wise, Matsushiro has personal ties to many characters in the series, including master noodle cook Ryu-san, St. Pierre rival Mokoyama, and even food judge Kuroyanagi Ryou.
*manga omake spoilers* When asked his motives for becoming a French bread baker, Ken confided that he wanted to bake because French bread saved his life- that is, during a rough fight in his youth, a stale loaf of French bread saved him from a knife attack.

[Fired Up] The fanlisting for Matsushiro "Manager" Ken, officialized by tafl. Fired Up has been online since 04/12/21 (December 21, 2004). Version 2 went up on 07/01/12 (January 12, 2007).

[Yakitate!! Japan] The intense journey of a rice farmer's boy turned baker. All that you need to know can be found here.

"Yakitate!! Japan" and Matsushiro Ken © Hashiguchi Takashi, graphic work by Domo, brunos-honeypot.net for
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