Chiba group places 2nd in 'B-1 Grand Prix' food contest

Chiba group places 2nd in 'B-1 Grand Prix' food contest

KORIYAMA, Japan - A member of a group from Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture, speaks after winning second prize for a spicy noodle dish called "tantanmen" at the ninth "B-1 Grand Prix" national food contest for popular local dishes in Koriyama in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Fukushima on Oct. 19, 2014.

Katsuura team from Chiba Pref. wins local food contest

Katsuura team from Chiba Pref. wins local food contest

Members of a team from Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, make tantanmen spicy noodles during the 10th B-1 local food contest held in Towada, Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan, on Oct. 4, 2015. The team won this year's grand prix with the noodles. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Katsuura team from Chiba Pref. wins local food contest

Katsuura team from Chiba Pref. wins local food contest

Members of a team from Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, celebrate on Oct. 4, 2015, as they won the grand prix at the 10th B-1 local food contest in Towada, Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan, with their tantanmen spicy noodles. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Team from small island runner-up in local food contest

Team from small island runner-up in local food contest

Members of the Tsushima Tonchan Butai team from the southern Japanese island of Tsushima rejoice in Towada, northern Japan, on Oct. 4, 2015, after their grilled pork dish finished second in the 10th "B-1 Grand Prix" regional food contest. The winner was the Katsuura Tantanmen noodle dish from Katsuura, eastern Japan, the runner-up in last year's competition. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Grilled pork from southern island runner-up in local food contest

Grilled pork from southern island runner-up in local food contest

Members of the Tsushima Tonchan Butai team from the southern Japanese island of Tsushima grill pork in the 10th annual "B-1 Grand Prix" competition on Oct. 4, 2015, in Towada, northern Japan. The team finished second in the regional food contest. The winner was the Katsuura Tantanmen noodle dish from Katsuura, eastern Japan, the runner-up in last year's competition. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo