🍜 Kawara Soba (BBQ Soba on tile)
A representative soul food of Yamaguchi Prefecture, widely known across Japan, is "Kawara Soba" (Tile Soba). This dish is served on a hot tile, topped with cha-soba (green tea buckwheat noodles), Kinshi Tamago (shredded omelet), beef, and other ingredients, and it is enjoyed with noodle dipping sauce. Often accompanied by lemon and grated daikon radish, "Kawara Soba" offers a variety of flavors. The origin of "Kawara Soba" dates back to 1961 (Showa 36). At that time, a ryokan (Japanese inn) operator in Kawatana Onsen, who now runs a specialized "Kawara Soba" restaurant, was contemplating the need for a specialty in the area. The inspiration came from a story told by an elder about Satsuma soldiers during the Satsuma Rebellion, who supposedly grilled meat and wild plants on tiles in Kumamoto. Moreover, during the Edo period, Kawatana Onsen prospered as a therapeutic hot spring resort, and to maintain public order, ordinary people were allowed to use "kawara" (tiles) in their daily lives. Tiles were considered indispensable. There is also an anecdote about people grilling and eating various things on tiles, which contributed to the birth of "Kawara Soba." Although "Kawara Soba" disappeared with the closure of the ryokan where it originated, the dish made a comeback. Responding to the voices of customers who wanted to taste it again, dedicated restaurants opened, and it began to be offered in other ryokans and eateries. While it is a relatively recent addition to culinary history, "Kawara Soba" is expected to endure in the future of Yamaguchi Prefecture, becoming a local specialty.