A peek into a soba restaurant that uses a wooden school building [Internship article]

My name is Sugimura and I am currently interning in Kesennuma for one month. I am originally from Shizuoka prefecture and am currently attending a university in Miyazaki prefecture. I decided to intern in Kesennuma this time because I wanted to experience and learn various things in a place I have never been to before.

One day, the person at my internship invited me to "Let's go to Yase to make soba noodles!" I thought "Where is Yase?" and "I've never made soba noodles before," but I decided to go. This time, I'd like to introduce the soba restaurant I went to.

1. About Yase School

When you hear the word "soba restaurant," what kind of place comes to mind? Naturally, I imagined a Japanese-style building with a shop curtain hanging in front of it and a signboard. However, when I actually went there, I ended up in an old school.

This building is the wooden school building of the former Tsukitate Elementary School, constructed in 11. "Wow, this looks like something out of a Ghibli movie," I thought as I went inside and walked down the hallway, where I came across a shop curtain that read "Yase School Soba."

At Yase School Nearby, the Yoshidas and other residents of the Yase area provide soba noodles once a month. Here, you can not only eat delicious soba noodles, but also experience making soba noodles using buckwheat flour grown in Yase, and eat the soba noodles you have made yourself.

2. I tried making soba noodles

I've always loved eating soba noodles, but I've never made them myself. This is my first attempt at making soba noodles!

The first step is to mix the buckwheat flour with water.

I thought, "It's easy if you just mix water and buckwheat flour!" But when I tried it, it was hard to mix evenly and it was very tough. Also, you need to adjust the amount of water according to the temperature and humidity of the day.

The next step is kneading the buckwheat flour that was previously mixed with water.

After that, there is a process called "stretching" where the dough is stretched flat like pizza dough. You may have seen this at soba restaurants. This is difficult because it's not as simple as just stretching it. Soba is very delicate.

Next, we will cut the soba noodles. Personally, I have always wanted to own a soba knife. However, when I actually use it, it is very difficult.

I managed to cut it up, and then I boiled it in a pot...

Completed!

The soba noodles I made for the first time were all different in shape and thickness. But they tasted great! The tempura was also very good, and I ended up eating my fill.

The buckwheat chips they gave us as a bonus after the meal were also delicious.

3. About Yase School Soba Day and Soba Noodle Making Experience

Yase School Soba is open once a month on the third Sunday of every month at the old Tsukitate Elementary School building. Please come and try Yase's delicious soba!

Near Yase School

In addition, the soba noodle making experience is available in the program "A peek into Kesennuma's work and play areas." If you are interested, please come and join us!

A quick peek at the selection: Yase soba noodle making experience

4. Conclusion

This Yase School Neighborhood was started when local residents came together with the desire to "create something in Yase."

The grounds of the former Tsukitate Elementary School, where Yase Gakko Soba is located, were turned into a tent village for volunteers during the earthquake. During this time, the Yoshidas and other members of Yase Gakko Soba provided soba noodles to the volunteers for free and even built a kitchen and a bath.

Some people said that they didn't need to do such things because they were volunteers, but they continued this activity because they wanted to give back to the people who volunteer for Kesennuma. It was a wonderful experience to hear such valuable stories from Mr. and Mrs. Yoshida while enjoying the delicious soba noodles.

Why not try some soba noodles that you have made yourself near Yase School? Mr. and Mrs. Yoshida and the people of the Yase area will always welcome you warmly!