【Japanese Culture】When do Japanese people eat soba the most? The answer is NYE! Why do Japanese people eat soba on NYE?

2022-12-21
boss
Konnichiwa everyone.
Today, we are going to explain an interesting Japanese phenomenon. It’s Boss from Japanese Snacks Republic.
saori/smile
Konnichiwa everyone~!
An interesting Japanese phenomenon......? Is it the fact that when we are on our phones, we apologize with a head-bow even though the other person can’t see it?
boss/fedup
I think that’s a matter of intentions. I think something more related to food! Like......!
boss/smile
The mystery surrounding the last day of the year!

【Japanese Culture】
What day do Japanese people eat soba the most?
The answer is NYE!
Why do Japanese people eat soba on NYE?

saori/smile
Ohh~...... you’re right, it’s almost NYE! It’s true that Japanese people eat soba on NYE, especially in the evening. That’s the norm...... culture...... or the common understanding.
boss
Well, to jump to the conclusion, the reason why Japanese people eat soba on NYE is because it’s ‘good luck’ to do so.
saori
Wow~! I thought it was because end of the year is busy with major cleanings, so we eat soba because it’s easy to cook and is delicious!
boss
That’s partly true too. What you Saori just said is a reason that’s tied to the modern ways. The original reason that started the soba-eating on NYE seem to be a different one.

Delicious cold or hot!
For Japanese people, soba is a healthy and ‘easy to eat’ food!

boss
Soba, to begin with, is a noodle dish that’s made from kneading ‘soba powder’ made from ‘soba seeds.’ In Japan, existence of soba has been documented since around the 700’s, and it became widely popular around 1600 (Edo Period).
saori/closeeye
Cultivation started quite earlier, but it seems it didn’t get popular until much later.
boss
Yes. Actually, during the Edo-Period, there was a Vitamin B1 deficiency disease (beriberi) that became widespread. Only upper-class aristocrats and wealthy people got this disease. It turns out that it was because the wealthier the person is, they eat more white rice and don’t have the opportunity to eat soba (this is one among various theories).
saori/smile
I see~! So, people focused on soba with a lot of vitamin B1 to cure that disease!
boss/smile
Yes. The more someone liked soba, the less likely they would get the disease. This was the how soba became well-known for its high nutrients, and it began to be recognized as a healthy food!

On NYE, eat soba to “wish for a long life as the long noodle”
And “wish to cut away with bad luck as swiftly as soba breaks off”!

boss
So because of these incidents, soba became famous as the food that ‘keeps sickness away and protects good health.’
As a result, Japanese people eat soba on the last day of the year, on NYE, wishing for ‘long life like a long noodle’ and for ‘cutting bad luck swiftly like the noodle’s easy-to-cut texture.’
saori/closeeye
Wow~! I had no idea...... Every year on NYE, there was just a habit to eat soba, so I went along with it and was eating soba. When I eat soba this year, I’ll try to think about what I learned today!
......actually, if this is the reason, it’s totally ok to eat soba in the new year day too, right?
boss/smile
Of course.
Those of you reading this article too, please try Japanese soba, obviously for NYE, but for the new year too! I recommend instant soba that you can eat easily as cup-noodle!
Recommended & the Classic! This is the typical Japanese people’s NYE soba! Comes with Tempura!
Touyou Suisan Maru-chan Midori no Tanuki Kanto Tempura Soba
https://japanese-snacks-republic.com/product/product_page_8592.html
Simple toppings! But rich flavor with depth, Soup’s Umami is the Best!
Nissin Foods Donbei Rich Dashi & Duck Meat Instant Soba is also recommended!
https://japanese-snacks-republic.com/product/product_page_8581.html
Check out Instant Soba line-ups from here!
saori/smile
Alrighty, that’s about it for now! Let’s meet at the next article!
See you~!

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