Hello! I am Madoka.
Thank you for coming on this page.
I am very happy to have this chance to inform you about Japan.
My English and sentences probably be wrong, please be fast and loose. ( ^v^)/
And I appreciate you for giving the opportunity of my English practice.
Today I will introduce on the New Year’s Eve Event in Japan, 1)Eating “Soba” !
Let’s eat soba noodles, if you are in Japan on the last day of the year !!
Enjoy!
The table of contents
1, What is “Soba “noodles ?
2, Why do Japanese eat Year crossing “soba” noodles on the last day of the year ?
3, What time is it better to eat it?
4, Where can you eat it ?
5, Why do Japanese slurp when eating “soba“?
6, What is “Soba water” that is served after eating “soba” ?
1, What is “Soba” noodles ?
It is buckwheat noodles , and it has seasoning soy sauce, traditionally.
You may find another kinds of sauce, ex) seasoning curry sauce, chill sauce…etc.
And You can choose hot or cold type.
You may notice the difference color of noodle, from off-white to dark grey.
It is the reason that poloshing degree of soba is different.
2, Why do Japanese eat “Year crossing soba noodles” on the last day of the year ?
There are mainly three theories.
1) It is to wish for a long lasting life, because the noodle length is long.
2) It is to wish for breaking off bad luck within the last day, because “soba” noodle is softer than other noodle , “Lamian” and “Udon“, so it is easy to break.
3) It is to wish for becoming the rich, because in the old day goldsmiths gathered gold residues with “soba-ball”.
3, What time is it better to eat it?
Under ordinary circumstances, you should eat it while listening the temple’s bell at night.
It is about 11:30 until 11:59PM on Dec.31.
But if you eat in a “soba” noodle restaurant , they would be out of service at night.
So It is OK to eat it at anytime on the last day of year.
The restaurant could be crowded with many people from morning till night on New Year’s Eve.
4, Where can you eat it ?
In “soba” noodle restaurant
There are many standing-style “soba” restaurants, you can eat it reasnable.
At home or hotel
If you can not cook there, you can eat an instant “soba“.
5, Why do Japanese slurp when eating “soba“?
One main theory is that they make it express delicious by making noises.
It’s OK to make noises. Don’t hesitate. Here is in Japan !
6, What is “Soba water” that is served after eating “soba” ?
It is the hot water that “soba” has been boiled in.
So it includes many minerals which come from “soba” noodles into boiled water.
(VitaminB1/B2, iron, protein, potassium..etc)
Please drink it.
How to drink is two.
One is to drink “Soba water”as it is.You can enjoy the original “soba” smell and taste.
The other is to add it into seasoning sauce and drink it. This is like a soup.
Thank you for reading until the end.
Have a good day !
Madoka
