Udon Prefecture in Japan?

This article was written by Hanna Vasquez.

Kagawa is one of Japan’s many prefectures. Located on the island of Shikoku, the prefecture has elegant temples and shrines, lush mountains, and vast waters. But aside from its natural and man-made beauties, it’s most famous for one food: udon.

Udon is one of many staples of Japanese cuisine. It is a thick noodle made from wheat flour, typically submerged in dashi and topped with scallions and a pink-swirled rice cake. Udon can be served in many forms, and one can customize it to their preferences. From Japanese curry as the broth or just a raw egg, there are a variety of recipes that one can enjoy. 

Though the exact origin of udon is unknown, there are several theories about udon’s beginnings. The oldest claim is that it came from China in the 700s, eventually making its way to Japan. Even so, the dish didn’t become popular among the Japanese until the Edo era in the 1600s, ultimately becoming an integral part of Japanese cuisine.

You may ask why Kagawa, despite it being the smallest prefecture, is known for udon. Legend says that a monk from Kagawa named Kukai went to China as a research scholar, coming back to Japan with udon. Ever since, the people of Kagawa have proclaimed themselves as the “Udon Prefecture,” with the area having an udon consumption rate per household three times higher than the national average. 

Because udon became the representative food for Kagawa, another item would also come to represent the prefecture: the Pokémon Slowpoke. Though its name is not similar to the word udon, its Japanese name is. In Japan, the lazy Pokémon is known as Yadon. Not only does this name sound like udon, but Slowpoke’s tail is also known to secrete a sweet sap, a perfect match for Kagawa’s sweet desserts. Slowpoke can be seen in gift stores, representing the prefecture and garnering the attention of Pokémon fans.  

Over the past summer, I took a trip to Shikoku, staying in Kagawa for a couple of days. I ate udon every day I was there, even getting to try kitsune udon with the representative Pokémon Slowpoke fired onto the fried tofu.