Food

New Record Set at Japan's Famous Soba Eating Contest

HYOGO, Apr 20 (News On Japan) - In Izushi, a district of Toyooka in Hyogo Prefecture known for its soba culture, the annual Izushi Soba Eating Contest was held on April 19.

With a booming signal marking the start, contestants began racing through plates of the town's specialty, 'Sara Soba,' or buckwheat noodles served in small dishes. The event is staged each year to promote the local delicacy and marked its 51st edition this year.

Participants competed to see how many plates they could finish within the time limit. One of the most popular categories was the 'Family Harmony Match,' in which teams of three made up of parents and children took part. Children were seen stuffing their mouths full of noodles as the venue filled with excitement.

One participant said, 'I can still eat more.' Asked whether it tasted good, another replied, 'I can't even taste it anymore.'

This year's winner was a family team from Kagawa Prefecture, which consumed 166 plates — around 30 more than the previous record, setting a new all-time high.

Source: YOMIURI

Japanese Food Companies Strip Down Packaging to Save Ink

The “ink shock” caused by tensions in the Middle East is beginning to spread across Japan’s food packaging industry, prompting manufacturers to simplify designs and reduce ink usage as concerns grow over naphtha supplies and rising printing costs.

Japanese Cinema in Cannes Spotlight

The Cannes Film Festival opened this week with three Japanese films nominated for the festival’s top prize, the Palme d'Or, including 'Sheep in the Box' directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, 'Nagi Notes' directed by Koji Fukada, and 'Suddenly Feeling Unwell' directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi.

Japan Greenlights Coverage for iPS Parkinson’s Treatment

Japan has approved the application of public health insurance to a regenerative medicine product using iPS cells to treat Parkinson’s disease, marking the world’s first practical use of iPS cell-based regenerative medicine.

Chinese Buyers Drive Property Surge in Japan’s Luxury Districts

Foreign acquisition of Japanese land has become a growing topic of debate in recent years, and now the trend is reaching Ashiya, one of the Kansai region’s most prestigious residential areas, where soaring property prices are increasingly being linked to demand from wealthy Chinese buyers.

Azerbaijan Crude Oil Arrives in Japan

A tanker carrying approximately 45,000 kiloliters of crude oil from Azerbaijan arrived in Japan on May 12th, marking the first time Azerbaijani crude has reached the country as the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Food NEWS

Koshihikari Rice Prices Fall Below 3,000 Yen

Brand rice variety Yumepirika was being planted one after another in rice paddies in Higashikawa, Hokkaido, as rice planting work accelerates across Japan ahead of the autumn harvest, with attention now turning to how much this year’s new rice will cost.

Inside Tokyo’s Coolest Foreign-Owned Food Spots

Japan byFood and Shizuka are going behind the scenes to meet the international visionaries who are redefining the Tokyo food scene today. (Japan by Food)

Visitors Cry for Shirako Onions

Visitors began arriving early on May 10th for the Shirako Onion Festival in Shirako Town, Chiba Prefecture, where the region’s famous fresh onions—known for their mild flavor and rich sweetness—were sold in large quantities, with the town ranking as the prefecture’s top onion producer.