Japanese Extreme Noodle Challenge Wanko Soba Morioka
Japanese Extreme Noodle Challenge Wanko Soba Morioka
Overview
In this extreme food challenge episode, John Daub travels to Morioka in Iwate Prefecture to tackle the legendary wanko soba challenge at Azumaya Honten. Established in 1904 during the Meiji era, this historic restaurant is the main branch of the famous soba shop known for its endless noodle service. Joined by Cody (Ramen Guy Japan), John attempts to eat as many small bowls of soba as possible in a single sitting.
The video documents the entire experience, from the initial intimidation of seeing the stack of bowls to the physical toll of eating over 100 servings. Unlike typical eating contests, wanko soba is an all-you-can-eat meal accompanied by numerous side dishes (ae-zuke) designed to complement the noodles. The staff continuously refill the bowl until the diner signals they are full by placing the lid on top.
This episode highlights not just the challenge itself, but the culture of hospitality in Tohoku, the history of the restaurant, and the camaraderie between John and Cody. It serves as both entertainment and a travel guide for those interested in visiting Iwate Prefecture using the JR East Welcome Rail Pass.
Highlights
- 00:01 John introduces the Great Wanko Soba Challenge outside Azumaya Honten.
- 00:32 Introduction to the historic restaurant dating back to 1904.
- 02:12 Explanation of the rules: close the lid to stop the service.
- 04:47 Staff explains the eating method and side dishes.
- 07:01 The challenge begins with rapid-fire noodle serving.
- 12:14 John reaches the halfway mark at 50 bowls.
- 14:28 John describes the experience as "cruel punishment" but delicious.
- 19:52 The competition heats up as Cody approaches 100 bowls.
- 27:31 John finishes with 122 bowls; reveals the shop record is 570.
- 35:11 Travel tip: Using the JR East Welcome Rail Pass to reach Tohoku.
Timeline / Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction outside Azumaya Honten
- 02:00 Entering the restaurant and menu explanation
- 04:00 Side dishes presentation and rules
- 07:00 Challenge starts
- 12:00 Halfway point (50 bowls)
- 20:00 Pushing past 100 bowls
- 27:00 Finishing the challenge
- 30:00 Results and Wall of Fame
- 35:00 Travel tips and closing thoughts
Japan Travel Tips
- Getting There: Morioka is accessible via Shinkansen from Tokyo (about 2.5 hours).
- Rail Pass: John recommends the JR East Welcome Rail Pass for foreign tourists to explore Tohoku.
- Cost: The Wanko Soba challenge course was 1,750 yen per person at the time of filming.
- Timing: No time limit for the challenge, allowing you to eat at your own pace.
- Location: Azumaya Honten is located near Morioka Station in a shotengai (covered shopping arcade).
- Capacity: Be prepared for a massive volume of food; it is a full meal with many sides.
Japanese Language & Culture Notes
- Wanko Soba: A traditional serving style from Iwate where small bowls of soba are continuously refilled.
- Itadakimasu: The phrase said before eating, meaning "I humbly receive."
- Shachō: Means "president" or "owner" of the company/restaurant.
- Closing the Lid: The signal that you are finished. Placing the lid on the bowl stops the staff from refilling.
- Ae-zuke: The various side dishes and condiments served with the soba to change flavors.
- Reiwa 2: Refers to the year 2020 in the Japanese era calendar (Reiwa era began in 2019).
- Tohoku: The northeastern region of Japan's main island, known for hearty food and hospitality.
Food & Drink Guide
- Wanko Soba: Small portions of buckwheat noodles served in lacquer bowls. 07:01
- Sashimi: Tuna served as a side dish. 03:54
- Tororo: Grated yam, served as a topping or side. 04:06
- Namako: Sea cucumber, a unique side dish offered. 04:06
- Isozuke: Pickles wrapped in straw. 04:06
- Isho-zuke: Spicy pickles with green chili peppers. 04:06
- Mochi: Rice cake served as dessert after the challenge. 30:06
- Tsuyu: The dipping broth for the soba noodles. 24:36
People
- John Daub: Host of Only in Japan Go. Takes on the challenge aiming for 100 bowls.
- Cody: Ramen professional and friend (Ramen Guy Japan). Competes alongside John.
- Staff: The servers who refill the bowls rapidly and encourage the diners.
- Babasan: Explains the history and rules; likely a senior staff member or family member.
- Shachō: The president/owner of Azumaya Honten (5th generation).
- May: Staff member who encourages John near the end.
Key Takeaways
- Wanko Soba is as much about hospitality and endurance as it is about the food.
- The record at Azumaya Honten is 570 bowls, set by a woman.
- The side dishes are crucial for flavor variation and helping digest the noodles.
- The challenge is open to anyone; there is no minimum requirement to participate.
- Traveling to Tohoku offers unique cultural experiences not found in Tokyo.
Notable Quotes
- 00:01 "Somebody told me if you don't eat 100, you're not a man. But then he said women can eat more, so what happens if a woman eats one? Does she become a man?"
- 05:19 "When finished, close the top—that's game over, like hitting the flag."
- 14:28 "This is cruel punishment! I can't feel my stomach! I drooled on myself! It's delicious!"
- 19:52 "I'm not Soba Guy Japan—I'm Ramen Guy Japan."
- 27:31 "Record is 570. Somebody ate 570—who? A girl—I'm not surprised. Japanese girl food fighters."
- 32:52 "My mouth is tired of soba shoved in. It just kept coming—she doesn't stop."
Related Topics
- Japanese Food Challenges
- Tohoku Travel Guide
- Soba Noodle History
- JR East Rail Pass
- Morioka Tourism
Search Tags
#only-in-japan-go #tokyo #travel #wanko-soba #morioka #iwate #food-challenge #noodles #soba #azumaya-honten #john-daub #ramen-guy-japan #tohoku #japanese-culture #eating-contest
Full Transcript
00:01 John Daub: Hello everybody, greetings! This is the Great Wanko Soba Challenge. Behind me is Azumaya Honten, the main branch of this amazing soba shop. Wanko soba is a food challenge anybody can do. There's no certain amount you need to reach. Somebody told me if you don't eat 100, you're not a man. But then he said women can eat more, so what happens if a woman eats one? Does she become a man? There's a lot I don't understand.
00:32 John Daub: Inside, we're meeting Cody, a ramen professional and noodle lover, as well as the shachō (president). Babasan is explaining too. I don't know if I'll eat 100 bowls. This place is historic—the building is beautiful. Azumaya Honten started in 1904, the Meiji era. The president is fifth generation serving soba. We've been invited inside. This is Morioka in Iwate Prefecture, two and a half hours from Tokyo, up north.
01:20 John Daub: There's a shotengai (covered shopping arcade) over there. If you come, you've got to try it. It's closed but open just for us. Bwahaha. Welcome. It's famous for cats—look at these inside. I saw alley cats but upset them meowing. They're used to humans. Let's go upstairs to start the Wanko Soba Challenge. Look at that preview! All those bowls—no way. I'm supposed to be excited but I'm really nervous.
02:12 John Daub: You're invited to enjoy this with me. Are you nervous? I'm hoping for 100. The menu's here—take a look. Whoa! This is the Wanko Soba Challenge with all-you-can-eat noodles and sides so it's a full meal, helping you eat more soba. The price is 1,750 yen.
03:00 Staff: Here's the wanko soba. Here's the maekake. Here's the aichiri.
03:07 John Daub: They give us a little reception. Do you have Wi-Fi? Reception's bad. We're fixing it. Welcome back—hopefully better now. Cody, check this out: sashimi, nori seaweed.
03:54 Cody: This is Japanese mushrooms with daikon radish.
04:06 Staff: This is pickles, Japanese pickles. Minced chicken. Dried seaweed. Sesame seeds. Tuna sashimi. Namako (sea cucumber). Tororo (grated yam) and isozuke (straw-wrapped pickles). Isho-zuke—spicy with green chili peppers. Please eat a little at a time for flavor change.
04:41 John Daub: Spicy! Signal better?
04:47 Staff: I'll explain how to eat wanko soba. Put sliced soba in the black bowl with soup and eat. When finished, soup fills the bowl—press the red button. Change flavors as you like. When full, close the lid.
05:19 John Daub: When finished, close the top—that's game over, like hitting the flag. Cody, I'm not sure I'm ready. I'm hoping for 100 but we'll see. This is a lot of non-soba food—more than I thought. How to eat 100 bowls with all this? Jeff Eng, thanks brother.
06:06 John Daub: This is Azumaya Honten, here since 1904, Meiji era. It starts! The yellow ID gets dirty—put it under the table. Are you ready? No timer—it's all-you-can-eat, no time limit. It takes the pressure off. Itadakimasu. Let's do our best.
07:01 Staff: Lift the bowl. Hold it—I'll put it in.
07:20 John Daub: Good luck! Come on! One more bite!
07:42 Staff: Faster! One more time! Come on!
08:21 John Daub: Are you chewing? I am not chewing—I'm just swallowing! Come on!
09:03 Staff: One more bite! Not yet?
09:53 John Daub: That's a lot! I don't know how to explain while constantly eating. How can I talk? Ok, change please.
10:11 Staff: Do your best. Good pace.
10:48 John Daub: I'm sweating. Ok, change please. It's no end.
11:00 Staff: Do your best.
11:21 John Daub: Ok, change. I'm sweating.
12:14 Staff: You've eaten 50—halfway.
12:20 John Daub: Half? There's still more. Do your best.
12:53 Staff: You both have 60 cups.
12:57 John Daub: 60! I can't go on. It's like Groundhog Day.
13:24 Staff: There you go. Do your best.
14:01 John Daub: I'm storing them like a hamster. This is cruelty!
14:12 Staff: One more!
14:28 John Daub: Cody, are you still hungry? How many more—200? This is cruel punishment! I can't feel my stomach! I drooled on myself! It's delicious! There's endless ammunition—this is a Tommy gun of soba! About 85 bullets. What do I do? Are you giving up? Cody, you can't do it?
16:13 Staff: 90 bullets! 91! Nice! Not yet! After this, 90!
18:07 John Daub: He got 97—I'm so full, never been this full. Once there was a big gyoza—I ate 35%, hurled for two days. Go go go—be a man, 200!
19:08 Cody: Go go go. 98—we're almost there.
19:52 John Daub: Sweating? Some of this—no. He did 101—you're gonna lose. This is a marathon. With this last one, I destroyed Ramen Guy Japan. Where's your pride? You're gonna let me beat you—a man who runs around screaming like a girl? I'm not Soba Guy Japan—I'm Ramen Guy Japan.
20:52 Cody: True—for ramen, you'd destroy me. Soba hits dead center.
21:24 John Daub: This is habit now—I can't stop. Shachō said it's all-you-can-eat—people eat a lot. Do you lose money? Sometimes. We're over 200. 107—like James Bond. She's not tired. Where's the escape hatch? I'm legitimately sweating.
23:09 Cody: Here's the escape hatch—that's nice.
23:20 John Daub: I'll eat more. You have 10 seconds to 500 likes—I'm serious. 10, 9... We didn't get it—497. You guys are slow. Do it. You don't have to drink the tsuyu (dipping broth), right? Notice how slow? What's a good number to end on? After 100, it's a battle against yourself. I'm fighting myself.
24:32 Staff: Don't overdo it.
24:36 John Daub: Thank you, May. This was a big mistake. Are you okay? I'm hungry—it's not enough. Done, done—I'm done. I can't do 222. This is 119. One more to 120—here's 120. Wasabi. We still have more noodles? There's more? Should I do it? Okay, go ahead—you did great.
27:15 Staff: Way to finish strong.
27:31 John Daub: I'm going to live to 121. So this is Babasan—he ate 222. Record is 570. Somebody ate 570—who? A girl—I'm not surprised. Japanese girl food fighters. This looks good—the cream is buckwheat. 122? This counts as one? Nice refreshing finish. Acidity helps break down the soba. Cody, the soba was gagging then filling up. I feel I could eat more but didn't want to push. I did 122.
29:46 Cody: You could eat more—no, you closed it.
30:06 John Daub: Abe Khalid did 173—could've done 200. Tony, congrats—I'm officially a man. My wife will respect me. Mochi for dessert. We get a prize above 100? Wall of Fame—even low, it's on it. Doshiyo? John—humble man. I drank 101 cups. This block—Reiwa 2, never forget. This is fun but not for everyone. I'll find a noodle in my hair tomorrow. Quite the experience—I don't know if I'd do it again.
32:49 Cody: You're coming back tomorrow.
32:52 John Daub: My mouth is tired of soba shoved in. It just kept coming—she doesn't stop. Fun but cruel. Pace made it hard to eat sides. Needs a taiko drummer—eat to the beat. This is cool—in Morioka at Azumaya Honten, historic since 1904 Meiji era. If visiting Iwate, experience this cultural phenomenon. Authentic here—not Tokyo. Feel the history in this old-school restaurant. Soba fantastic, sashimi great, grated daikon too—complete meal. All blood in my stomach—about to pass out. Room for sake or beer?
35:08 Cody: I could go for a beer. Jajangmyeon.
35:11 John Daub: This is our third meal—we hit a ramen shop before. Check that livestream, link in description. Shoutout to JR East Welcome Rail Pass—we came on this to eat. Shinkansen here—pass till end of February. Great to explore Tohoku and stretch your stomach. Diet starts tomorrow? No—more eating ahead. Noodle trip just started.
36:09 John Daub: Jennifer French, thanks. Brenda—that was awesome. Cody S., your twin needs therapy. Eugene Hover, Cobra Bebot—thanks. I can't feel my stomach. Nosh Abroad—stop, this isn't Karate Kid. Stomach doing crane kicks internally. Zato71 from Australia—thanks. Amazing challenge—little bowls add up quick. Didn't think I'd hit 100—lost motivation after.
37:16 Cody: Ramen challenges not as fun—this unique to soba. Served cold, shocked in water—doesn't get soggy like ramen. Cooked in batches, fresh every time—even 100+ are perfect.
38:06 John Daub: Buy JR Pass, come to Morioka, try it. Happy I did it once—maybe back. If you stop at 150, I'd do 151. Audience encouraged with Karate Kid music—how dare you, Nosh? That's it—we finished. Showing the room. Can't stand—feel pregnant. 500 bowls would fill this table. 570 record—insane. Food challenges tough in your 40s. Click like, comment questions for Morioka/ramen/noodles/Cody. Check his Instagram: Ramen Guy Japan. Big shoutout to Azumaya Honten for hosting. See you next livestream—Yaro ramen challenge. This one's in the books.