In an effort to globally promote Iwate’s culinary culture, Morioka City hosted the inaugural “Wanko Soba World Championship.” The event was sparked by Morioka’s feature as a “must-visit” travel destination in a prominent American newspaper this January.
Iwate Prefecture launched the championship on the first of the month at Morioka Castle Park, following the city’s accolade. Instead of a traditional ribbon-cutting, the opening ceremony featured a “noodle cutting” to inaugurate the event, with Governor Tasso and others demonstrating the art of Wanko Soba.
Drawing approximately 80 participants from eight countries and regions, including China, the United States, and Japan, the contest split into categories for children and adults. Competitors vied to see how many bowls of Wanko Soba they could finish in two minutes.
Cheered on by the audience, the contestants rapidly consumed bowl after bowl of Wanko Soba. A Japanese team emerged victorious in the adult category, collectively finishing 250 bowls.
Yuhiro Sato, a member of the winning team, expressed pride in the result, saying, “It was great to deliver a good result as Japan’s representative, and I was able to enjoy the food until the very end.”
Reiko Kitazawa, the head of the Iwate Prefecture Tourism and Promotion Division’s International Tourism Department, reflected on the event’s success: “I’m delighted that the championship was a hit. We hope to leverage Wanko Soba as one of Iwate’s attractions to draw visitors.”