The Lost Art of Soba Delivery Written by Ronan

Forget Menulog: fast food delivery peaked with the soba noodle cyclists of early 20th century Japan. Like circus performers or overexerted domestiques, the dexterous couriers once transported mounds of soba to hungry customers in universities and public spaces around Tokyo.

Competition between soba traders – some of who are still open today – was friendly but fierce, as was the competition between cyclists, who vied to out-carry each other to secure the most work. (The record for the most bowls carried by a single cyclist: 100).

The stakes were high; a bump in the road or sudden braking maneuver could cost a cyclist their entire payload, as well, presumably, as their dignity. Certainly makes balancing shopping bags on your handlebars look easy.

It seems a shame that these feats of strength and precision are no longer a common sight. Though in this modern age, where we blithely order food from apps while lying prostrate on our couches, perhaps it’s saving us from feeling any lazier than we already do.