JAPAN IN
ONE MINUTE 
~ Chasing Noodles: Discover Japan’s Coolest Summer Food Tradition ~
Since it’s been getting hot lately, how about we do “Nagashi Somen” together this weekend?
Sounds fun!
Wait a second…what’s “Nagashi Somen“?
I saw it once in a Japanese summer festival.
It looked so fun!
“Nagashi Somen” is a unique Japanese summer tradition.
“Nagashi” means “flowing,” and “Somen” refers to “very thin wheat noodles”.
In this tradition, cold somen noodles are placed in flowing water, often through a long bamboo slide,
and people try to catch them with chopsticks before they’re swept away.
Once caught, you dip them in a light sauce and eat them right away.
It’s usually enjoyed outdoors with friends and family, especially on hot days.
The flowing water cools the noodles and adds a playful twist to eating.
Wait… you have to chase your food before eating it?!
That’s the most exciting meal ever!
I honestly thought it was just a game at first. But it’s such a fun and refreshing way to eat noodles!
I’d love to try it in summer.
Interestingly, “Nagashi Somen” isn’t an ancient tradition.
It actually began around 1955 in Miyazaki Prefecture.
The idea came from people who cooled noodles in bamboo and cold stream water during outdoor summer work.
Someone realized it could be a fun way to serve noodles, and the idea caught on.
But… do you even have a bamboo slide?
No, I don’t.
Nowadays, even if you don’t have a bamboo slide nearby, there are Nagashi Somen machines sold for home use. They spin the noodles in a circle with water, so kids (and cats?) can still enjoy the experience.
Spinning noodles at home!? Count me in!
Just don’t blame me if the noodles go flying across the room…
I think Pecco would just dive right into the water stream instead of catching the noodles properly!
Haha, true. But Pecco, don’t try to dive into the “Nagashi Somen” machine, okay?
Summary
“Nagashi Somen” is a fun and refreshing Japanese summer tradition where thin noodles flow down water filled bamboo slides and you catch them with chopsticks before eating.
