Lunch sorted: its got to be Udon with Octopus!

As I previously introduced, the 11th of every month is Noodle Day. But in addition to that, on one day of the year they also celebrate udon specifically. And that is today, July 2nd. In addition, it is also "tako no hi", Octopus day. I love that in Japan I can get inspiration of what to cook based on what day of the year it is! Not every day has a food anniversary (but there is an anniversary or "day of" at least one thing every single day of the year). But there are at least a few 'day of {food item}' a month to keep things interesting.

The date of the Udon Day, July 2nd, comes from the custom of farmers in the Kagawa region eating udon noodles around the time of the "Hangesho". The anniversary was established with the aim of increasing udon consumption. July 2nd for "tako no hi", Octopus day, was also selected for similar reasons. Some people in the Kansai region eat octopus on "Hangesho" around July 2nd. There is a lot of rain around this time, and the hope is that the crops will stick to the ground like an octopus's suction cups and take root firmly! Octopus Day is also celebrated on August 8th too. 

Udon Day was established by the Kagawa Prefecture Noodle Manufacturing Business Cooperative Association in 1980. Udon is a particularly popular dish in Kagawa Prefecture, and its per capita consumption is number one in statistics for all prefectures in Japan. In 2011, the Kagawa Prefectural Government and the Kagawa Tourism Association launched a tourism campaign to promote themselves as an "Udon Prefecture".

Will you have udon or octopus or both today!?