Noodle club members from a high school in the city of Fukui are hurriedly honing their soba-making skills to prepare themselves for the national high school championship in Tokyo later this month.
The noodle club, a rarity even in noodle-crazed Japan, was launched two years ago at Keishin High School and won third prize in individual competitions at last year's championship. It's aiming even higher this year, as it looks to land first place in both individual and team competitions.
"Do you think this soba looks great or delicious? You won't get a high score if you can't make your soba look tasty," says Eiichi Hoyama, 62, a soba master who supervises the club.