Ep. 54 Antique Bakery pt.2
cover design by Cordelia Shan
Written by Cordelia.
Listen to the full episode :
Queer Representation in Antique Bakery
One of the most fascinating aspects of Antique Bakery is how it subtly queers relationships without adhering to the typical BL (Boys’ Love) formula.
Unlike many BL narratives that focus on romantic and sexual tension between male characters, Antique Bakery presents a more nuanced and realistic portrayal of queer identity. Rather than centering on an explicit romance, it explores how queerness manifests through emotional intimacy, unspoken bonds, and the ways people navigate relationships in a heteronormative society.
Take Tachibana and Ono, for example. Their dynamic is complex, shaped by both history and personal growth. Ono is openly gay and has a history of heartbreak, while Tachibana—who is straight—has a complicated past with Ono, dating back to high school when Ono confessed his feelings and was met with harsh rejection. This moment had a lasting impact on both of them: for Ono, it reinforced his experiences of rejection and isolation as a gay man in a conservative society; for Tachibana, it became one of his biggest regrets.
Yet, years later, they find themselves working together at the bakery. Their relationship isn’t romantic, but it carries layers of unresolved emotion, personal evolution, and quiet understanding. Instead of framing their connection through a traditional love story, Yoshinaga allows them to rebuild their relationship on different terms, showing how queerness is not just about romance but also about reconciliation, self-acceptance, and forging bonds beyond societal expectations.
Subverting BL Tropes & Avoiding Stereotypes
Antique Bakery plays with BL tropes but never fully indulges in them. Yoshinaga deliberately avoids reducing queerness to a fetishized romance for straight audiences. Instead, she presents queerness as an integral part of life—something that exists naturally within relationships, workplaces, and everyday interactions.
For example:
Ono’s queerness is never a joke or a “phase.” In many older BL and mainstream manga, gay characters are often written as tragic figures or comedic relief. Here, Ono is neither; he is an accomplished pastry chef, confident in his sexuality, and respected for his skills.
Tachibana’s friendship with Ono challenges toxic masculinity. He starts as a man burdened by his past mistakes but grows to respect and value Ono, proving that intimacy between men doesn’t have to be sexual to be meaningful.
Eiji’s acceptance of Ono is immediate and effortless. Unlike other characters who treat Ono’s sexuality as a defining trait, Eiji simply sees him as a mentor and friend. This challenges the idea that queer people must constantly “prove” themselves to be accepted.
Food as a Space for Queerness
Beyond the characters themselves, Antique Bakery also queers space through food.
The act of baking and sharing food becomes a metaphor for love, identity, and acceptance. The bakery itself is a space where people—regardless of gender, sexuality, or background—find comfort and connection. It offers a rare safe haven in a world that often demands conformity.
For Ono, baking is a form of self-expression, a way to channel his emotions into something beautiful. As a gay man who has faced rejection, the kitchen becomes a sanctuary, a place where his talent speaks louder than societal prejudices. Through food, he is able to communicate his passion, love, and longing—all of which might be harder to express openly in his personal life.
Likewise, the customers who come to Antique bring with them their own quiet stories of longing, loss, and desire. From the lonely salaryman treating himself to a slice of cake to the older hostess reminiscing over past romances, the bakery becomes a space where people can indulge, heal, and momentarily escape societal expectations.
Food, in this sense, becomes deeply intertwined with queer identity—a way to nurture oneself and others, to communicate emotions without words, and to carve out a space where queerness is simply a part of life, rather than something that must be explained or justified.
Queer Narratives Beyond Romance
Ultimately, Antique Bakery challenges the idea that queer stories must always center on romance or tragedy. Instead, it presents a diverse and layered portrayal of queerness, showing how it exists in friendships, workplaces, and acts of creation.
It reminds us that queerness is not just about love stories—it’s about the spaces we build, the food we share, and the ways we support and understand each other.
Food, Culture, and Global Relevance
In Japanese culture, food often carries deep symbolic meaning, reflecting everything from seasonal traditions to social bonds and personal expression. Yoshinaga masterfully integrates this into Antique Bakery, crafting a story where pastries become symbols of identity, longing, and human connection.
Japanese Food Culture & the Symbolism of Pastries
In Japan, food is more than sustenance—it is deeply tied to ritual, memory, and emotional expression. Meals are often a way to convey feelings that words cannot fully express, and this is especially true for sweets and pastries.
French-style pastries, which are central to Antique Bakery, hold a unique place in Japanese culture. While Japan has a rich history of wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets), Western-style desserts, particularly French pâtisserie, became popular in the 20th century. They are often associated with luxury, nostalgia, and personal indulgence—something special yet accessible in everyday life. Yoshinaga taps into this cultural significance, using cake as a metaphor for personal and emotional nourishment.
For example:
Cakes in the manga are tied to major emotional moments. Customers visit Antique not just to buy sweets, but to mark significant events—birthdays, celebrations, even heartbreak. The bakery becomes a place where people seek comfort, closure, or a fresh start.
Food as a language of care and connection. Unlike dramatic confessions or grand romantic gestures, in Antique Bakery, love and care are often shown through food—whether it’s Ono’s meticulous craftsmanship in his pastries, Eiji’s enthusiasm in learning the art of baking, or even Tachibana’s growing appreciation for the world of sweets.
Cake as an everyday ritual. In many cultures, desserts are reserved for special occasions, but in Antique Bakery, cake is something to be enjoyed anytime, by anyone. This reflects a growing shift in modern Japanese culture, where Western pastries have become a small indulgence in daily life, rather than just a rare luxury.
The Emotional Power of Food in a Global Context
But beyond Japan, Antique Bakery resonates globally because it explores universal themes of gender, queerness, trauma, and food as an emotional language.
Food is often one of the most intimate and nostalgic aspects of culture, capable of evoking memories, relationships, and even grief. Yoshinaga’s portrayal of food as a form of healing and communication is something that resonates across cultures.
Food as a bridge between past and present. For many of the characters, their relationship with sweets is connected to their personal histories. Tachibana, despite his love for pastries, harbors a buried trauma from childhood, tied to his abduction. Yet, he chooses to create a space where others can enjoy sweets, perhaps as a subconscious way to reclaim control over his past.
Food as a queer-coded space of acceptance. Many marginalized groups, including queer communities, have long used food spaces—cafés, bakeries, restaurants—as places of belonging. In Antique Bakery, the shop itself becomes a kind of safe haven where people from different backgrounds and identities can connect without judgment.
Shared meals as a form of silent communication. In many cultures, food is a way to say what cannot be spoken—whether that’s expressing love, grief, or reconciliation. Yoshinaga captures this beautifully, showing how the simple act of serving or sharing a cake can carry deep emotional weight.
Why Antique Bakery Resonates Across Borders
Though deeply rooted in Japanese culture, Antique Bakery speaks to a global audience because it touches on universal human experiences:
The search for belonging. Whether through friendships, work, or food, every character in Antique Bakery is searching for a sense of purpose and connection—something that transcends nationality or background.
The intersection of food and identity. Across cultures, food plays a major role in shaping identity—whether it’s the recipes passed down through generations or the comfort foods we turn to in times of need. Yoshinaga’s work taps into this universal relationship between food and self-expression.
Breaking gender and societal norms. The manga challenges traditional expectations about masculinity, queerness, and emotional vulnerability, offering a refreshing take on male relationships and personal growth.
The healing power of everyday rituals. Whether it’s drinking a cup of tea, baking a cake, or simply sharing a meal with a friend, Antique Bakery highlights the beauty in small, everyday moments—reminding us that joy and healing can come from the simplest things.
In the end, Antique Bakery isn’t just about cakes—it’s about how food connects us, how it reflects our identities, and how it creates spaces of love, memory, and acceptance across cultures.
In the end, Antique Bakery reminds us that food is more than just sustenance—it’s a way to connect, heal, and challenge societal norms. Whether you love manga, food, or queer storytelling, there’s something in this series for everyone.
Call to Action
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And if you’ve read Antique Bakery, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your favorite moments with me and the editorial team.
Until next time, stay warm, stay cozy, and treat yourself to something sweet.
MLA Citations
Here are MLA citations for Antique Bakery and relevant sources. If you have additional sources you'd like me to cite (such as the Aoyama essay), let me know the details!
Primary Source
Yoshinaga, Fumi. Antique Bakery. Translated by Sachiko Sato, Digital Manga Publishing, 2005.
Additional Sources
Aoyama, Tomoko. Reading Food in Modern Japanese Literature. University of Hawaii Press, 2008.
Allison, Anne. Permitted and Prohibited Desires: Mothers, Comics, and Censorship in Japan. University of California Press, 2000.
Counihan, Carole, and Penny Van Esterik, editors. Food and Culture: A Reader. Routledge, 2012.
