Why is soba eaten on New Year's Eve?

To cut away the year's troubles

What is nagashi somen?

Noodles flowing down a bamboo flume

The cooking water from soba, drunk with dipping sauce

Japanese Noodles Quiz – How Much Do You Really Know?

Families across Japan eat soba on New Year's Eve to cut away the troubles of the year, and this Japanese noodles quiz explores the country's noodle traditions. Compare thick udon from Kagawa, buckwheat soba from Nagano, thin chilled somen, flat Nagoya kishimen and the flowing nagashi somen of summer.

Start Japanese Noodles Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Soba
What are soba noodles made from?
New Year
Why is soba eaten on New Year's Eve?
Udon
Which prefecture calls itself the Udon Prefecture?
Nagano
Which region is famous for soba?
Somen
How is somen usually served in summer?
Nagashi
What is nagashi somen?
Kishimen
Which city is famous for flat kishimen noodles?
Zaru
What is zaru soba?
Slurp
Is slurping noodles acceptable in Japan?
Sobayu
What is sobayu?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What are soba noodles made from?
Answer: Buckwheat
Some include wheat flour.
Q2: Why is soba eaten on New Year's Eve?
Answer: To cut away the year's troubles
It is called toshikoshi soba.
Q3: Which prefecture calls itself the Udon Prefecture?
Answer: Kagawa
Sanuki udon is famous.
Q4: Which region is famous for soba?
Answer: Nagano (Shinshu)
Cool mountain climate suits buckwheat.
Q5: How is somen usually served in summer?
Answer: Chilled with dipping sauce
The noodles are very thin.
Q6: What is nagashi somen?
Answer: Noodles flowing down a bamboo flume
Diners catch them with chopsticks.
Q7: Which city is famous for flat kishimen noodles?
Answer: Nagoya
They are wide and flat.
Q8: What is zaru soba?
Answer: Chilled soba on a bamboo tray
It is dipped in tsuyu.
Q9: Is slurping noodles acceptable in Japan?
Answer: Yes, it shows enjoyment
It also cools the noodles.
Q10: What is sobayu?
Answer: The cooking water from soba, drunk with dipping sauce
It is served at the end.

Japanese Noodles Quiz – Slurping the Japanese Way

Noodles are a central part of Japanese cuisine. The main traditional types are soba, made from buckwheat, thick wheat udon, thin somen and flat kishimen. Each has regional strongholds and seasonal ways of being served.

Nagano is famous for soba, and many families eat toshikoshi soba on New Year's Eve to cut away the old year's troubles. Kagawa calls itself the Udon Prefecture for its chewy Sanuki udon, and Nagoya is known for kishimen.

In summer, chilled somen and zaru soba are popular, and nagashi somen sends noodles flowing down bamboo flumes. Slurping is acceptable and shows enjoyment, and soba restaurants serve sobayu, the cooking water, at the end of the meal.

What This Quiz Teaches

Food lovers and travelers will enjoy these questions.

What soba is made from
Why soba is eaten at New Year
Where udon is famous
How somen is served
What nagashi somen is

Did You Know?

Kitsune udon has fried tofu.
Tempura soba is a favorite.
Inaniwa udon comes from Akita.
Hiyamugi is between somen and udon.
Yakisoba is fried noodles.