Last Meal of the Year - Toshikoshi Soba

Noodles are a popular meal in Japan where several types are enjoyed on a regular basis. Soba is a particularly delicious type of noodle which is made from buckwheat flour pounded into a paste and cut into very long and thin noodles. Soba can be enjoyed hot or cold and is popular year round with specialized soba noodle shops found throughout the country.

An interesting year-end custom in Japan is the consumption of soba as the last meal of the year. Families all over Japan will make soba at home or go to their favorite soba noodle shop in the early evening hours of December 31st to share the years final meal among friends in a warm and friendly setting. This special meal is called toshikoshi soba. This name roughly translates as soba noodles to end the old year and begin the new. The basic idea is that long noodles may bring long life and this may explain the origin of the toshikoshi tradition. Any of the various sorts of soba will do and people select their favorite soba dish to eat quickly before settling in for a happy evening spent with family and friends waiting for the temple gongs to sound the passing of the old year and the start of the new.

Our family always enjoys toshikoshi soba at our favorite at our favorite soba restaurant Iwaichi located near downtown Shizuoka City. Iwaichi is a very old, family-run restaurant which caters mainly to workers, taxi drivers and other busy folks who shuffle through the doors in rapid procession throughout the day. My father-in-law has been patronizing Iwaichi for over 50 years and our daughter Emily has grown up eating soba at this special restaurant.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Japan
• Japanese
• Toshikoshi
• Soba
• Noodles
• New
• Year
• Meal
• Tokaido
• Softypapa

[maximefcom]

It's fun, I can feel like being in Japan and part of this event while in fact I'm at home and could never been there without theses videos =)

[softypapa]

@maximefcom I'm so happy to hear that this video helped to provide a sense of connection with Japan. I promise to do my best to bring more and better videos in the future. Thank you for watching and commenting! -Kurt :-)

[kurisutokaochan]

Omoshiroi, ne. Kono video o miru to, mae no Nihon no seikatsu o omoidasu na! I wonder if I would have had this lifestyle if Kao-chan and I had stayed together. I intro-ed my parents to soba last week here in PA. Was fun watching them go at the soba with chopsticks for the first time. Very proud of them for trying. Yoroshiku.

[softypapa]

Hello kurisutokaochan, Thank you for watching and for your nice words about the video. I'm glad that you had a nice time with your parents enjoying soba in PA. Have a great week! -Kurt :-)

[Peekingduck]

Tempura soba Omori !

That's what I would have ordered too.

Great clip

Thanks

[softypapa]

Hello Peekingduck, I simply love tempura soba and rarely order anything else at this restaurant. My sister-in-law love the zaru soba which includes fresh (and very spicy!) wasabi which is very tempting at times though I always wind up with the tempura soba in the end. If you ever come to Shizuoka then let me know and I will take you to this restauant and we can each get a bowl. -Kurt :-)

[kmah88]

it seems to be a "dad thing" to make dishes hotter! lol ~my dad does it too. he adds chilis to everything... and then cries like a baby when he eats!

[PinkBabey]

I just love the bit at 6:48!

[beachfeet1000]

Omg Emily had gotten so big I'm sure she is all grown up now :)

[janoyish]

That shrimp tempura and soba look so delicious. >_<

[Keichan2501]

I just saw your channel and I love your videos.

[misterjaiho]

I gotta say. I love your videos. The family atmosphere always brings a smile to my face. I love Japanese food and hope that after I graduate I can visit Japan and it's everything I'm expecting it to be! Have subscribed and hope to see more videos in the near future!

[SacDiscoQueen]

Thank you very much for your posting. My husband and I are going to start "homeschool" our youngest daughter who is in 1st Grade soon. I am going to teach Japanese culture, tradition, language, and religion to her soon which it makes up half of her. We are going to hit the "Joyanokane" and going to "Hatsumode" this year at the Northern CA Koyasan Temple. I am going to show her this video and others to give her an idea of Nenmatsu and New Year in Japan. Thanks again.

[ILPICCOLO55]

年越しそばを食べて元旦にはお雑煮食べて完全な日本人だｗ

[YoutuJ3eJ3lows]

Why can't Americans eat healthy like the Asian people? Always fattening themselves up with McDonalds and shit like that, no wonder so many people are fat asses. Man I miss China... Noodle soup is the best invention ever!

[legendragon]

lol, that's the hottest pepper you bought in Kyoto trip :)