Hegi soba
へぎそばNoodleOct to Nov
Hegi soba suits anyone eating their way through Uonuma, and its one catch is the size of the tray, which is built for sharing.
The name
へぎ
剥ぎThe tray is a hegi, a box made from split boards, from hagu, to peel or split.
japanese
The agriculture ministry gives hegi as a local sound change of hagu to hegu, which names the split-wood tray. Its page states this plainly.
Where to eat Hegi soba · 2 places
Hegi soba is buckwheat noodles bound with funori, a seaweed, and laid out in bite-sized bundles on a square wooden tray called a hegi. The agriculture ministry's record of regional dishes traces it to the Uonuma area, where weavers already used funori to stiffen the weft threads on their looms.
The seaweed gives the noodles a smooth, firm bite. In Tokamachi, Kojimaya Sohonten says its founder created the dish after opening in 1922, and Kojimaya Honten in the town centre calls itself the original hegi soba house.
Each bundle is folded by hand in a motion the ministry likens to winding yarn. Dip it deep in the cold dashi and put a dab of mustard on the noodles themselves, the local way, with spring onion and sesame as the other condiments.
Quick answers about Hegi sobaよくある質問
How do you order Hegi soba?
Trays are sold by the number of people, so order one for the table. Ask for karashi (mustard) if it does not come with the condiments.
When is Hegi soba in season?
Hegi soba: Served all year. New-crop buckwheat, called akishin, arrives in autumn and has the best colour and aroma.
Where can you eat Hegi soba in Japan?
Places we list for Hegi soba include Kojimaya Honten, Kojimaya Sohonten.