Saitama’s 12th udon 祭典 (saiten), the 第12回埼玉うどんフェア (Dai 12-kai Saitama Udon Fea, 12th Saitama Udon Fair), will be 開催 (kaisai, held) for two days on November 14 and 15 at Boat Race Toda in Toda, Saitama Prefecture. According to Oricon, every bowl at the event will cost 500 yen including tax.
The fair is presented as one of Saitama’s top udon events. The source describes the prefecture as a 知る人ぞ知る (shiru hito zo shiru) udon kingdom, with regional styles beginning with Musashino udon and including Kazo udon, Kumagaya udon, Konosu’s Kawahaba udon, and Fukaya’s nibōtō, along with many Sanuki udon 名店 (meiten, famous shops).
A big lineup of Saitama udon shops
The event is produced by Takesho of the YouTube channel 埼玉うどん子TV (Saitama Udonko TV). Popular udon shops from around the prefecture will 大集結 (daishuuketsu, gather in large numbers) for the fair.
On Saturday, November 14, the lineup is:
- 翁の郷／株式会社岩崎食品工業 (Okina no Sato / Kabushikigaisha Iwasaki Shokuhin Kōgyō) from Hasuda: 埼玉名物 肉汁うどん (Saitama meibutsu nikujiru udon) — Saitama specialty meat-broth udon
- 手打ちうどんのこんこ屋 (Teuchi Udon no Konkoya) from Kumagaya: 熊谷まぜうどん (Kumagaya maze udon) — Kumagaya mixed udon
- うどん処篁園 (Udon-dokoro Kōen) from Kawajima: 自家製 (jikasei, homemade) 鶏団子の塩ちゃんこうどん (jikasei toridango no shio chanko udon) — salt chanko udon with homemade chicken meatballs
- 三丁目の手打うどん (Sanchōme no Teuchi Udon) from Sayama: ホルモン焼きうどん (horumon yaki udon) — grilled hormone udon
- うどんや藤 (Udonya Fuji) from Niiza: 肉うどん (niku udon) — meat udon
Sunday’s menu includes Kawahaba and roast pork udon
On Sunday, November 15, these shops are scheduled to appear:
- のすっこ製麺所 (Nosukko Seimensho) from Konosu: 川幅うどん (kawahaba udon) — Kawahaba udon
- 手打ちうどん田舎屋 (Teuchi Udon Inakaya) from Ageo: 山地蒲鉾のちくわと讃岐出汁の手打ちうどん (Yamaji Kamaboko no chikuwa to Sanuki dashi no teuchi udon) — hand-cut udon with Yamaji Kamaboko chikuwa and Sanuki broth
- 武蔵野うどん真打 (Musashino Udon Shinuchi) from Kawagoe: 香ばし (koubashi, fragrant and toasty) ネギ油の特製ローストポークうどん (koubashi negi abura no tokusei rōsuto pōku udon) — special roast pork udon with savory scallion oil
- 名代 四方吉うどん (Nadai Yomokichi Udon) from Yoshimi: 辛ねぎあぶらみそうどん (karanegi aburamiso udon) — spicy green onion oil-miso udon
- 延喜 (Engi) from Saitama City: 特製かれえうどん (tokusei karee udon) — special curry udon, and 坦々うどん (tantan udon) — tantan udon
Learn Japanese from This Article
Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 祭典 | saiten | festival; big celebratory event |
| 開催 | kaisai | holding; hosting an event |
| 随一 | zuiichi | best; foremost; number one among |
| 知る人ぞ知る | shiru hito zo shiru | known only to those in the know; a hidden gem |
| 名店 | meiten | famous shop; well-known establishment |
| 大集結 | daishuuketsu | gathering in large numbers; big lineup |
| 自家製 | jikasei | homemade; house-made |
| 香ばし | koubashi | fragrant and toasty; savory-roasted aroma |
Grammar Spotlight
〜をはじめとして — starting with; including; beginning with
From the article: 実は埼玉県は知る人ぞ知るうどん王国で、県内には「武蔵野うどん」をはじめとして「加須うどん」や「熊谷うどん」、鴻巣市の「川幅うどん」に深谷市の「煮ぼうとう」などにくわえ、讃岐うどんの名店も多数ある。 Jitsu wa Saitama-ken wa shiru hito zo shiru udon ōkoku de, kennai ni wa “Musashino udon” o hajime to shite “Kazo udon” ya “Kumagaya udon”, Kōnosu-shi no “Kawahaba udon” ni Fukaya-shi no “Nibōtō” nado ni kuwae, Sanuki udon no meiten mo tasū aru. Saitama is actually a hidden udon kingdom, and within the prefecture, starting with Musashino udon, there are Kazo udon, Kumagaya udon, Konosu’s Kawahaba udon, Fukaya’s nibōtō, and many famous Sanuki udon shops as well.
Example: 埼玉県には「武蔵野うどん」をはじめとして、いろいろなうどんがあります。 Saitama-ken ni wa “Musashino udon” o hajime to shite, iroiro na udon ga arimasu. In Saitama Prefecture, there are many kinds of udon, starting with Musashino udon.
Use 〜をはじめとして when you introduce a representative first example, then continue with other items in the same group.
〜にくわえ — in addition to; besides
From the article: 実は埼玉県は知る人ぞ知るうどん王国で、県内には「武蔵野うどん」をはじめとして「加須うどん」や「熊谷うどん」、鴻巣市の「川幅うどん」に深谷市の「煮ぼうとう」などにくわえ、讃岐うどんの名店も多数ある。 Jitsu wa Saitama-ken wa shiru hito zo shiru udon ōkoku de, kennai ni wa “Musashino udon” o hajime to shite “Kazo udon” ya “Kumagaya udon”, Kōnosu-shi no “Kawahaba udon” ni Fukaya-shi no “Nibōtō” nado ni kuwae, Sanuki udon no meiten mo tasū aru. Saitama is actually a hidden udon kingdom, and within the prefecture, in addition to Musashino udon, Kazo udon, Kumagaya udon, Konosu’s Kawahaba udon, and Fukaya’s nibōtō, there are also many famous Sanuki udon shops.
Example: うどんにくわえ、天ぷらも人気です。 Udon ni kuwae, tenpura mo ninki desu. In addition to udon, tempura is also popular.
Use 〜にくわえ to add one more category or point after listing other items.
Useful Expressions
- 第12回埼玉うどんフェア (Dai 12-kai Saitama Udon Fea) — The 12th Saitama Udon Fair
- 全品500円（税込み） (zenpin gohyaku-en, zeikomi) — all items 500 yen, tax included
- 知る人ぞ知るうどん王国 (shiru hito zo shiru udon ōkoku) — a hidden udon kingdom known by those in the know
- 県内の人気うどん店が大集結する (kennai no ninki udon-ten ga daishuuketsu suru) — popular udon shops from the prefecture gather in large numbers
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