A delicious partnership: Kumagaya Udon comes to Schaumburg

A handmade udon noodle workshop occurred in Schaumburg on March 22. Yukiko Akai, Hanzo Akai and Mika Usuki of the Japanese nonprofit organization All Education Academy (AEA) hosted the event.

AEA, based in Kumagaya, Japan, promotes cultural exchange between America and Japan. On a local scale, the organization teaches English to students in Kumagaya. However, AEA also hosts interactive online meetings where students across the globe can learn from each other.

Udon, a traditional noodle dish, has been crucial in connecting the two countries. Since 2017, AEA has participated in numerous events relating to udon. In 2018, the organization organized a noodle-making demonstration at Nebraska State University. All Education Academy chose Schaumburg, as 2024’s workshop location.

Udon is a staple meal in Kumagaya, the second-largest wheat producer in Saitama Prefecture. In Kumagaya, it is customary for families to make their noodles instead of buying from a store. The recipes and equipment for noodle-making are passed down from generation to generation. Thanks to the dish’s traditional importance, the Kumagaya-based AEA chose to bring udon overseas.

The workshop served 63 bowls of noodles to members of the Schaumburg community. Participants enjoyed the authentic Japanese experience of making kama-age udon noodles.

AEA arranged the workshop with the help of American partners of AEA: Reina Horikawa, a dual language teacher at Addams Junior High School, and Edie Silker, a student at Schaumburg High School.

More information about All Education Academy can be found on the group’s Facebook (All Education Academy-AEA) or on Instagram (@all_education_academy) pages.