Pho Day

What Is Pho Day?

April 4 is Pho Day in Japan. Acecook Co., Ltd., headquartered in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, applied to the Japan Anniversary Association, and the day was recognized in 2016. Because the number "4" is read "four" in English, which sounds like "pho," April 4, with its two 4s, was chosen.

Background of the Day

Since September 2015, Acecook has sold a brand of pho, noodles made from rice.

• Origin of the date: April 4 was chosen as Pho Day because it is the day when two "4s" ("fours") line up.
• The company's wish: The day expresses the hope that pho, Vietnam's national dish, will take root in Japanese food culture and be enjoyed by many people.
• What is pho? Pho is a flat rice noodle used in Vietnamese cuisine.
• The brand's reception: Acecook says its pho brand, launched in September 2015, has been well received.

Northern Vietnam Is Considered Pho's Home, and You Eat It with a Spoon

Pho is often thought of as a food of all Vietnam, but northern Vietnam is considered its home. When eating it, proper manners are said to be placing the noodles and toppings on a spoon rather than slurping the noodles or drinking from the bowl as with ramen. These different manners from Japanese noodle dishes are part of what makes pho interesting.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Enjoy pho for lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant
• Look for easy-to-make pho at a supermarket or convenience store
• Try eating it the way said to be proper, with noodles and toppings on a spoon
• Learn more about Vietnamese cuisine and food culture

Rice Noodles on the Day of Two Fours

Pho Day on April 4 combines the English word "four" with a Vietnamese noodle dish. Smooth rice noodles offer a different kind of flavor from the usual ramen or udon. Why not try a slightly different bowl today and get a taste of Vietnamese food culture?