It reads like the script of a Hollywood blockbuster … a wise and patient teacher shares the secrets of an ancient art with his young students, so they can use their new-found powers to build a better world.
But this is not a martial arts movie, it is the story of a contingent of Australian and American soldiers taking part in Exercise Yama Sakura 85, who were lucky enough to meet Chitose’s soba noodle ‘master’.
Mituru Yamaguchi is a soba noodle ‘shoshi’- or master – who, along with his friends, loves nothing more than teaching students the secrets of how to create the wholesome Japanese dish.
The ever-smiling 76-year-old, who discovered his passion for soba noodle-making two decades ago, and began teaching the process to others 15 years ago, was delighted to share his secrets.
“I am very happy to teach,” Mr Yamaguchi explained through an interpreter, as he supervised the sifting of the buckwheat flour into an enormous, purpose-built bowl.
“I get great pleasure from teaching young people, and non-Japanese people, the art of soba noodle-making.”
His first Australian students were six ADF members, who joined half-a-dozen personnel from the US Army’s 11th Airborne Division at a community centre in Chitose on a freezing Friday evening.
Once the students successfully passed the first test – tying their bandanas – and had put on colourful aprons, it was time to begin their noodle-making journey, led by Mr Yamaguchi and his team.
All but one of the instructors are former members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and they all now belong to a group called ‘taiyukai’, a JGSDF community-support organisation.
With the help of interpreters and a lot of hand gestures, the class began, with instructions ranging from how to finely sift the buckwheat flour, to perfectly cutting and cooking the fine 2mm noodles in a pot of boiling water.
As the students and instructors sat down together to share a sumptuous meal and put their noodles to the ultimate test, Mr Yamaguchi was asked if he preferred making or eating soba noodles.
“Eating,” he said with a broad grin, “I like eating”.
And judging by the smiles on the faces of the newest ‘graduates’ and the empty bowls on the tables, it was clear his sentiment was shared across the room, helping to deepen the appreciation and mutual respect for each other’s cultures.
More than 200 ADF members, the largest ever contingent, are in Camp Higashi-Chitose for Exercise Yama Sakura 85, with US Army and JGSDF personnel.
