Sarusoba

Requested by Annette quite some time ago, it is about time this crazy monkey noodles character was added! A quick translation note: all of the sentences end with the verb "desu" (to be) but using an old form of it "degozaru." I imagine this in another little added in pun for our zaru/saru creatures! Sarusoba Japanese Name: さるそば Literal Translation: Monkey Buckwheat Noodles1 Released: 19992 The sarusoba (monkey buckwheat), of the Polygonaceae3 family, is an annual plant. In summer or early autumn, the white flowers bloom and the plant bears the sarusoba seeds. The sarusoba flour is made from these seeds. It is said that a soul dwells inside the boiled sarusoba. さるそば【猿蕎麦】タデ科の一年生植物。夏または初秋に白い花をつけ、猿形の実をむすぶ植物。その実からさるそば粉をとる。ゆでられたさるそばには魂が宿るといわれている。 Characters The eyes sting from the wasabi.4 わさびは目にしみるのでござる。 Weight training. 筋トレでござる。 Mixed bathing. 混浴でござる。 His arms sprung up. 手が生えたでござる。 He thought he has a beard. …と思ったらヒゲでござる。 Splash. ちゃっぽん。 The green onion ties the soba1 flavors together. ねぎはそばの味をつなぐ楽味でござる。 The first trip in a long while. (Delivery) 久しぶりの外出でござる。（出前） He missed his footing. 踏み外したでござる。 Tempura5 and zarusoba1 showdown. Like oil and water... They are undefeated. 天ざる対決。水と油…負けないでござる。 Reunion. (in the tummy) 同窓会でござる。 Due to this region, the color of the noodles is frightfully greenish. 地域によっては麺の色がやけに緑っぽいのでござる。 Without chewing, he is stylishly swallowed. 噛まずに呑むのが粋でござる。 One noodle. 一本麺でござる。 This is my territory. Boss Zaru1. (Leftovers) ここは俺の縄張りでござる。ボスざる。（たべのこし） Brought up close together. スキンシップでござる。 .... Don't remove. …。　とれないでござる。 He is a stalker. ストーカーでござる。 Images Translation Notes "Saru" means monkey in Japanese and "soba" means buckwheat noodle. "Zarusoba" is a common buckwheat noodle dish in Japan, so "Sarusoba" is a pun combining the two. Zarusoba is served cold on a zaru, a sieve-like bamboo tray, garnished with bits of dried nori seaweed, with a dipping sauce known as soba tsuyu on the side. The tsuyu is made of a strong mixture of dashi, sweetened soy sauce and mirin. Using chopsticks, the diner picks up a small amount of soba from the tray and swirls it in the cold tsuyu before eating it. Wasabi and scallions are often mixed into the tsuyu. Many people think that the best way to experience the unique texture of hand-made soba noodles is to eat them cold, since letting them soak in hot broth changes their consistency. Wikipedia: Soba It says 1999 on the back of the Sarusoba stickers (image above). Polygonaceae is a family of flowering plants known informally as the "knotweed family" or "smartweed family"— "buckwheat family" in the United States. Wikipedia: Polygonaceae Wasabi is sometimes mixed in with the tsuyu dipping sauce. Wasabi is green with a very strong, biting taste.Wikipedia: Wasabi Tempura (天ぷら or 天麩羅) is a Japanese dish of seafood or vegetables that have been battered and deep fried.Wikipedia: Tempura