The national tournament will be held in Hanamaki, the birthplace of Wankosoba, a local Iwate dish that is now known throughout the country!

Held every year on February 11th (Wankosoba Memorial Day), this unique contest sees participants compete to see how many bowls of the local dish, wankosoba, they can eat within the time limit of 3 to 5 minutes.

It all started in December 1957, when a plan was made to popularize wankosoba as a Hanamaki specialty, and it has continued to this day.

In imitation of sumo wrestling, which was a pastime enjoyed during the farming off-season at the time, the player who eats is called a "food master," the player who eats the most is called the "yokozuna," and a "gyoji" (gyouji) oversees the bouts.

The amount of soba noodles eaten is standardized to 10g, so approximately 1 bowl of soba noodles with sauce will accompany 15 to 20 bowls of soba noodles.

Every year, food experts (participants) are recruited and those boasting the best stomachs from all over the country engage in a heated battle.

 

[Concurrent Events]

・Fun Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament

・Soba teahouse stall (selling hot soba noodles)

・Installation of a warm hand bath booth

・Many food stalls and food trucks will be set up

・Wankosoba and Cultural Exhibition

・Stages for Hanamaki local performing arts and citizen bands (large hall and medium hall)

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[Large Hall/Day Schedule]

10:00 Opening movie & opening ceremony (competition explanation, etc.)

10: 20 One mock battle by a sponsoring company

10: 30 Elementary school students

11:00 Group Division (1st)

11:30 Intermission dance performance

11:45 Special Match: Local Media Announcer Competition

12:15 Local performing art Shishi Odori(deer dance) performance

12: 30 Group Division (2nd time)

13:00 Group Division (3rd time)

13: 40 Team Division (4th time)

14: 10 Individual Division

14: 40 Visitor Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament (with prizes)

15：00 Award Ceremony

15：30 Closing

These scheduled times are subject to change or delay on the day.

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[Middle Hall Stage Presentation Time Schedule]

11:00~ Children's Folk Performing Arts Shima Kindergarten Japanese Drums

11:20~ Break

11:40~ Children's Folk Performing Arts Sasama Nursery School Daikoku Dance

12:00~ Break

12:20~ Children's Folk Performing Arts Yasawa Kindergarten Shingaku

12:40~ Break

13:00~ Ferio Brass Band

*These scheduled times may be subject to change or delay on the day.

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[Access information]

■Access to the Cultural Center ◯Private car/rental car: Approximately 6 minutes by car from "Hanamaki Minami IC" ◯City loop bus (100 yen per ride):

[Hoshi Meguri-go (counterclockwise)] Approximately 15 minutes by bus from Hanamaki Station, get off at "Bunka Kaikan-mae" bus stop, then 5 minutes on foot

[Fukuro-go (clockwise)] Approximately 23 minutes by bus from Hanamaki Station, get off at "Bunka Kaikan-mae" bus stop, then 5 minutes on foot

■ Parking *All parking lots are free. Please follow the instructions of the staff on the day of the event.
・Cultural Center Parking(approximately 350 cars)

・Temporary Parking(Hanamaki Insurance Center, Hanamaki City General Gymnasium, etc.)
*On the day of the event, a free bus (capacity 53) will be operating between Hanamaki City Cultural Hall and Hanamaki City General Gymnasium. Parking near the venue will be crowded, so please make use of this bus. (Please refer to the attached timetable and boarding location below.)

 

You can also check the latest event information here. ⇒ Hanamaki Original Wankosoba Tournament Official Instagram (Links to external site)