Editing Soba (section)

===Background===
Traces of buckwheat have been found at [[Neolithic]] sites in Japan, dating to 4000-2000 BCE, during the [[Jōmon period]].<ref>{{Harvnb|von Verschuer|2016|p=8}}</ref>

Buckwheat cultivation was first recorded in the ''[[Shoku Nihongi]]'', in an imperial edict of 722 CE issued by [[Empress Genshō]], instructing farmers to plant buckwheat in response to [[drought]] and [[famine]]. Another edict of 839 CE declared that buckwheat should be sown in August, and harvested in October, because the crop grows quickly in poor soil.<ref>{{Harvnb|von Verschuer|2016|p=25}}</ref> However, buckwheat did not seem to be widely cultivated, and was only sporadically eaten as [[porridge]].

In the 8th century, noodle-type foods of Chinese origin appeared in Japan.<ref>{{Harvnb|Naomichi|2014|p=77}}</ref> Later, the monk [[Enni]] (1202-1280) is traditionally credited for introducing noodles to Japan after returning from China.<ref name="faure p320" />

The first specific reference to buckwheat noodles (''soba-kiri'') comes from a record of 1574, kept at [[:ja:%E5%AE%9A%E5%8B%9D%E5%AF%BA|Jōshō-ji]] temple, which documents that ''soba-kiri'' was served to workers repairing the [[Main Hall (Japanese Buddhism)|main hall]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/29463?page=3|title=中国4000年より深い そばの歴史9000年 (9000 Year of Soba History)|publisher=JAPAN Business Press|author=漆原次郎|accessdate=2024-03-28}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Naomichi|2014|p=78}}</ref> More mentions of soba noodles follow throughout the early 1600s.