“I Ate a Year’s Worth of Soba"

May 19, 2025 | News On Japan

HYOGO, May 19, 2025 (News On Japan) - A soba noodle eating contest featuring the famed "Izushi sara soba" was held in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture, drawing 278 participants who competed to see how many small plates of soba they could consume within a set time.

At the sound of the start signal, contestants began vigorously slurping down plates of soba. This marked the 50th edition of the annual Izushi Soba Eating Contest, where competitors aim to eat as many servings of the local specialty as possible before time runs out.

The event featured both individual and group divisions, including family teams. More than 10,000 plates of soba were served to the participants.

One contestant commented, "I feel like I ate a whole year's worth. It was delicious." Another added, "My son and daughter-in-law were giving it their all, so I couldn’t let them outdo me." A child on the sidelines exclaimed, "Dad was amazing!"

The individual competition was won by a contestant who managed to eat 106 plates in just 10 minutes.

Source: YOMIURI

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