Soba

Affordable, casual and tasty.... Soba buckwheat noodles are one of the most popular foods in Japan. They are eaten nationwide, especially for lunch or at parties. In recent years, there is been a boom in home-made noodles. Soba-making classes held all over Japan attract many students. Soba noodles are served in many different ways.
some type of Soba which is eaten cold,with a dipping sauce. Wasabi horseradish and finely chopped Welsh onions are often served as condiments.Alternatively,Soba can be eaten hot. In many cases, it is served in a soup made by mixing broth with the rich dipping sauce used for cold soba. Varying the toppings opens up numerous possibilities.
1)KITUNE, or "fox"soba : according to Japanese folklore, foxes love deep-fried TOFU, and that is how this dish topped with deep-fried TOFU got its name, or so it's said.
2)TANUKI soba: which usually features bits of deep-fried TEMPURA batter.
3)TUKIMI or "moon-viewing" soba : because the egg yolk resembles the moon.
All these dishes are very popular in Japan.
When you eat soba, this is the way to do it. SHUSHU . the noise! Soba should be slurped up with GATSU! noisily slurping draws in plenty of air with the smell of the buckwheat. This courses through the nose, amplifying the aroma.
The cultivation of buckwheat in Japan dates back over 1000 years. In the old days, farmers had to submit rice as a levy to the ruler. In upland areas, however,rice production was low, whereas buckwheat was relatively easy to grow. So buckwheat became important to farming families. Both as an alternative crop to pay taxes and as a source of nutrition.
In japan , there is a custom to eating soba on New year Eve, known as TOSIKOSI-SOBA. The long, thin noodles are considered auspicious. By eating them, people wish for longevity and good fortune for their families. Soba noodles are more than just a deeply ingrained part of Japanese food culture; they are also regarded as a special kind of food imbued with people's wishes.