"Wankosoba" is one of Morioka's three great noodles, along with "Reimen" and "Jajamen." Furthermore, Iwate Prefecture's Wankosoba is also listed as one of Japan's three great soba noodles, along with Nagano Prefecture's Togakushi soba and Shimane Prefecture's Izumo soba.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of Wankosoba.

Characteristics of Wankosoba

Wankosoba, a local dish representative of Iwate Prefecture, is characterized by the style in which mouthfuls of soba noodles are added one after another to the bowl. "Wanko" refers to the small bowl in which soba noodles are served. The best part is savoring the mouthfuls of warm soba noodles that fit into the bowl, refilling as many as you like, until you're full. As a rough guide, 10 to 15 bowls is equivalent to one bowl of kake soba noodles.

Watching the waiters rhythmically serve the soba while shouting "Hai, Dondon!" and "Janjan!" gives you a taste of Iwate's unique hospitality culture. Some restaurants refrain from shouting, allowing you to enjoy the atmosphere of each restaurant.

Condiments for Wankosoba include grated daikon radish, spring onions, and seaweed. It is recommended that you start without any condiments and enjoy the original flavor of the soba, and then add the condiments to enjoy the change in flavor. When you're full, put the lid on your bowl as a sign of "thank you for the meal." Be careful, because if you don't put the lid on, the other person will add more soba.

Another way to enjoy wankosoba is to compete to see who can eat the most bowls. Some restaurants will give you a commemorative handprint if you eat more than 100 bowls. However, wankosoba is not about "eating a lot" or "eating quickly." The charm of wankosoba is enjoying the warm atmosphere and conversation with the waiter while slowly savoring the freshly boiled soba.

The history of Wankosoba

There are various theories about the origin of Wankosoba, but the most famous are the Hanamaki theory and the Morioka theory.

According to the first Hanamaki theory, during the Edo period, when Lord Toshinao, the 27th head of the Nanbu clan, stopped in Hanamaki on his way to Edo, he loved the soba that was served to him in a flat bowl by the locals and asked for multiple refills. On the other hand, the Morioka theory says that it spread when the commoner Prime Minister Hara Takashi, who was known to be a soba lover, ate soba in Morioka and praised it by saying, "Soba should only be served in a bowl."

Wankosoba is also said to have originated from the ancient custom of "soba-furi" (serving soba as a special treat) in the Nanbu region. The original form of wankosoba is said to be when small bowls were used to serve freshly boiled soba to many guests at once. Furthermore, the custom of asking for more soba in a bowl immediately after finishing one meal is a form of hospitality for guests called "otebachi."

With this history and culture as its backdrop, Wankosoba has been passed down as a local dish that symbolizes Iwate Prefecture. Its unique style, playfulness, and warm hospitality continue to fascinate many people even today.

February 11th is "Wankosoba Memorial Day"

The "Wankosoba Memorial Day" on February 11th every year was established by the "Wankosoba All Japan Tournament Steering Committee," which runs the Wankosoba All Japan Tournament in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, and is also recognized by the "Japan Anniversary Association." This anniversary was established with the aim of spreading awareness of Hanamaki City, the birthplace of Wankosoba, throughout the country.

The Wankosoba All Japan Tournament began in 1957 (Showa 32), and has been held every year on February 11th since 1980. Participants compete to see how many bowls of Wankosoba they can eat within the time limit of 3 to 5 minutes. One bowl of Wankosoba is 10g, and 15 to 20 bowls is the equivalent of one bowl of Kakesoba.

This tournament is modeled on sumo, a pastime enjoyed during the farming off-season, and is characterized by the fact that the contestant who eats is called a "food master," the contestant who eats the most is called the "yokozuna," and the tournament is overseen by a "gyouji" (a referee). "Food masters" gather from all over the country and engage in heated battles.

The Wankosoba Memorial Day not only promotes Iwate's traditional food culture nationwide, but also contributes to revitalizing the region. Many participants and tourists from all over the country visit Hanamaki to experience the fun of eating and the excitement of the competition.

Tourist spots in Iwate Prefecture

Iwate Prefecture has many tourist spots where you can enjoy wankosoba. Here we will introduce three particularly popular spots.

Morioka Castle Ruins Park

Morioka Castle Ruins Park was developed on the site of Morioka Castle, construction of which began in 1597, and has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles and Japan's Top 100 Historical Parks. Beautiful Momoyama-style stone walls remain at the castle ruins, and a major attraction is being able to compare the different ways of stacking the stones depending on when the castles were built.

It is also known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, with around 250 Somei-Yoshino and Edo-Higan cherry trees in full bloom in mid-April, and the Morioka Cherry Blossom Festival offering a fantastic nighttime view of the cherry blossoms. In addition, you can enjoy seasonal nature, such as wisteria trellises in May, hydrangeas in July, and autumn leaves. There are also many events, making it a popular walking spot for families and history buffs alike.

Ishiwari Sakura

The "Ishiwari Sakura" tree in the front yard of the Morioka District Court is an Edohigan cherry tree that is said to be about 350 to 400 years old and was designated a national natural monument in 1923. The best time to see the tree is usually from early to mid-April, and many tourists visit during this season to catch a glimpse of the Ishiwari Sakura.

It grows in a cleft in a gigantic granite rock, 21m in circumference and 7.2m in diameter, and gives a sense of the strength of nature and the tenacity of life. The trunk juts out from the gap in the rock, and the sight of its branches branching out into the sky is a spectacular sight, and in spring countless flowers bloom. The sight of the petals swaying in the wind against the blue sky never fails to fascinate visitors.

Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building

The Iwate Bank Red Brick Building was built in 1911 (Meiji 44) as the head office of Morioka Bank, and is the only architectural work in the Tohoku region designed by Tatsuno Kingo, who also designed Tokyo Station. It ceased to function as a bank in 2012, and after undergoing preservation and repair work, it has been open to the public since 2016 (Heisei 24). With its beautiful and elegant red brick appearance, it has been designated as a national important cultural property.

The building is divided into two zones: the free "Iwate Bank Zone" has a multipurpose hall and a library introducing Morioka's industrial history, while the paid "Morioka Bank Zone" has a tour of the vault and reception room, and a video theater introducing the bank's history. It is now a beloved landmark of Morioka city and loved by many people.

How to get to Iwate Prefecture

Iwate Prefecture, which is attractive for its gourmet food and sightseeing, has a variety of ways to access the prefecture, including convenient access from Japan's three largest cities: Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.

From Tokyo, you can take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Morioka Station in about 2 hours and 10 minutes. There are also express buses available, taking about 8 hours.

From Osaka, take the Tokaido Tohoku Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Morioka Station via Tokyo, which takes about 5 hours and 30 minutes. If you fly, it takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Itami Airport to Hanamaki Airport, then take a bus to Morioka for about 1 hour.

From Nagoya, take the Tokaido Tohoku Shinkansen to Morioka Station via Tokyo, which takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes. There are also direct flights from Nagoya Airport to Hanamaki Airport, which takes about an hour.

We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Iwate Prefecture. Find the best way to get there.

Location of Iwate Prefecture

summary

Wankosoba is a local dish that represents Iwate Prefecture and is widely loved due to its unique style and warm hospitality. Not only can you enjoy the original flavor of the soba, but the fun of stacking the bowls and the interaction with the waiter further enhances the appeal of Wankosoba.

If you visit Iwate Prefecture, be sure to try wankosoba.

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