Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture has a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Naval Base. The JMSDF Curry & Gourmet Festival 2025 was held on October 13. Sailors on the ships eat curry for lunch every Friday. During a long voyage, the view from the ship doesn’t change, so the sailors tend to lose track of what day it is. On Fridays, curry is served to remind them. Actually, each ship and submarine has its own special curry recipe. Some restaurants in Kure have learned the original recipes directly from the ship cooks. They get certified, and then their curry is allowed to be named after the ship. This year, 28 different booths were lined up with a large ship in the background. At the festival, curry was served in smaller bowls so that people could enjoy comparing the different tastes.   (139 words)

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