Curry Udon Day
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What Is Curry Udon Day?
August 2nd is "Curry Udon Day" in Japan, established in 2010 by the "Curry Udon 100th Anniversary Innovation Project," a group devoted to celebrating curry udon.
Why August 2nd?
The date's origin reflects both curry udon's history and a nod to two neighboring anniversaries.
- Its origin: curry udon is said to have begun in 1910, when the soba restaurant "Asamatsuan" in Meguro, Tokyo, first served "curry nanban"
- A 100th anniversary: 2010 marked exactly 100 years since that first serving -- a fitting milestone year
- Choosing the date: since June 2nd is "Yokohama Curry Day" and July 2nd is "Udon Day," August 2nd was chosen to follow naturally after both
Asamatsuan and the Debate Over the Original
According to the theory linked to Asamatsuan, Tsunoda Torinosuke, a soba chef trained in the Edo style, created a hit with "curry nanban" at his soba shop "Tokyo Soba" in Tanimachi, Osaka, and returned to Tokyo in 1910 to sell it there. That shop is the forerunner of today's Asamatsuan in Meguro, Tokyo. Another theory credits Sanchoan, a soba shop in Waseda, Tokyo (closed in 2018), which is said to have started serving it around 1904. Since all this happened in the Meiji era, many details remain unclear.
"Nanban" Means Green Onions
On soba shop menus, "nanban" refers to dishes made with long green onions. "Curry nanban" is therefore curry-flavored broth with green onions. The combination of a soba shop's savory dashi broth and curry won people over and spread across Japan.
Tips for Marking This Day
- Try curry udon yourself, whether at a restaurant or homemade
- Learn about Asamatsuan and the other shops said to have started curry udon
- Trace the history of curry udon as a fusion of Japanese and Western cuisine
- Think up your own favorite curry udon toppings or variations
A Japanese-Western Masterpiece, Born in a Soba Shop
Curry udon was born from the bold idea of combining curry -- still a novel Western dish at the time -- with the traditionally Japanese setting of a soba restaurant. Let August 2nd be a chance to savor this fusion, born more than a century ago, all over again.