TAKAMATSU--Kagawa’s efforts to brand itself as Japan’s “Udon Prefecture ... Nagano was among other prefectures ranking high on the list of noodle delicacies with “Shinshu Soba ...

Easy to make, these noodles taste delicious when stir-fried with teriyaki sauce. Throw in some veggies like mushrooms and carrots, caramalised pork strips (if you like) or just dunk them in dashi.

It has become a hotbed of Japanese noodles. Of ramen and soba and udon, with toppings and mix-ins both expected and exotic, both standard and madcap. Old Pasadena isn’t the Little Tokyo of the ...