A typical packet of ramen

This article discusses Japanese food. For other meanings, refer to Ramen (disambiguation).

Ramen (ラーメン rāmen /ɺaːmeɴ/) is the Japanese name for a type of noodle or the soup dish containing these noodles, based on the Chinese noodle lamian (拉麵, lit. "pulled noodles"). Ramen is now manifested as a form of instant noodles and is prevalent in Japan, East Asia (including China and Korea), North America and Europe. Ramen has been firmly integrated into the Japanese culinary landscape, and many regional variations exist. Image File history File links Ramen-packet2. ... Image File history File links Ramen-packet2. ... Ramen can refer to: Ramen, a Japanese noodle dish Ramen (computer virus), a computer virus which infects computers running the Red Hat Linux 6. ... A chef making hand-pulled noodles. ... Soup is a savoury liquid food that is made by boiling ingredients, such as meat, vegetables and beans in stock or hot water, until the flavor is extracted, forming a broth. ... A brick of uncooked instant noodles Instant noodles are precooked dried noodles fused with oil, which can be prepared for consumption simply by adding hot water and a flavor packet. ... Geographic scope of East Asia East Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms. ... Korea refers to South Korea and North Korea together, which were a unified country until 1948. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... World map showing Europe Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiogeographic one. ... There are many views of what is fundamental to Japanese cuisine. ...

Unlike contemporary ramen, the original Chinese lamian is believed to have been served with sauce. The Korean version, a spicy instant noodle, is spelled "ramyun" or "ramyeon", from Korean 라면.

In Japan, ramen as a fresh noodle dish is often sold in fast food-like shops with only a counter or at food stalls in highly frequented areas. Japanese also commonly make ramen at home, as it is an inexpensive and easily-prepared meal. There are also many restaurants specializing in ramen. Almost every locality or prefecture in Japan is known for its own distinctive variation of ramen. It is also readily available as "instant ramen" in supermarkets and convenience shops in Japan as in much of the rest of the world. Some well-known brands in the US are Maruchan, Sapporo Ichiban and Nissin. Fast food is food prepared and served quickly at a fast-food restaurant or shop at low cost. ... The prefectures of Japan are the countrys 47 sub-national jurisdictions: one metropolis (都 to), Tokyo; one circuit (道 dō), Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures (府 fu), Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures (県 ken). ... A brick of uncooked instant noodles Instant noodles are precooked dried noodles fused with oil, which can be prepared for consumption simply by adding hot water and a flavor packet. ... Maruchan (マルちゃん) is a brand of popular ramen noodles. ... A brand of instant ramen noodles made by Sanyo Foods. ... Nissin Food Products Co. ...

Despite some health concerns detailed below, instant ramen is a diet staple with college/university students and the less well-off due to its ease of preparation and extremely low cost—as of 2005, one packet could be bought for as little as 10-15 U.S. cents. Instant ramen is also very resistant to spoilage and can be easily prepared with boiling water, making it a favorite of backpackers and other travelers in conditions offering few technological conveniences. 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Types of ramen

Within Japanese culture, a very wide variety of ramen exists; they differ from location to location even when they are sold under the same name. They can be categorized by the type of ingredients: noodle, soup, and topping.

Noodle

fresh ramen noodle

Most ramen noodle are made from four basic ingredients: wheat flour, salt, water, and kansui (かんすい). Originally, Kansui was water from Lake Kan in Inner Mongolia that contains a high amount of potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate as well as a small amount of phosphoric acid. It gives ramen a yellowish color and a particular flavor to the noodle. For a brief time after World War II, low quality kansui that was tainted or thinned with water was sold and kansui is now manufactured according to JAS standards. Ramen noodle may also be made with eggs instead of kansui. Some ramen noodles are made with neither eggs nor kansui, and should only be used for yakisoba. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1876x1364, 824 KB) Description: fresh ramen noodle (ja:ラーメンの生麺) Source: photo taken by Kropsoq Date: September 2005 Author: Kropsoq Permission: GFDL, cc-by-sa-2. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1876x1364, 824 KB) Description: fresh ramen noodle (ja:ラーメンの生麺) Source: photo taken by Kropsoq Date: September 2005 Author: Kropsoq Permission: GFDL, cc-by-sa-2. ... Inner Mongolia (Mongolian: ᠥᠪᠦᠷ ᠮᠣᠨᠺᠤᠯᠤᠨ ᠥᠪᠡᠷᠲᠡᠺᠡᠨ ᠵᠠᠰᠠᠬᠤ ᠣᠷᠤᠨ r Mongghul-un bertegen Jasaqu Orun; Chinese: 内蒙古自治区; Hanyu Pinyin: N i Měnggǔ Z qū) is an Autonomous Region of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Potassium carbonate is a white salt, soluble in water (insoluble in alcohol), which forms a strongly alkaline solution. ... Sodium carbonate or soda ash, Na2CO3, is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. ... R-phrases S-phrases , , Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War II, also known as the Second World War (sometimes WW2 or WWII or World War Two), was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the... JAS can refer to: Jedi Against Sith Jedi Knight gaming clan the Saab Gripen fighter aircraft Jane Addams School Japanese Agriculture Standards Just A Second Japan Air System Java Analysis Studio the name James; see List of abbreviations for names This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is... Yakisoba ), literally fried noodles, is a dish often sold at festivals in Japan. ...

Ramen noodles may come in any shape and length. They may be fat, thin, or even ribbon-like, as well as straight or wrinkled. Thin and straight noodles are used in ramen with thick broth as they catch less broth and thus prevent the flavor from being too salty or fatty. Wrinkled ramen noodles are used in ramen with thinner soup as they catch more soup, yielding a fuller flavor.

According to Nissin, there are five types of noodles according to their traditional methods. They are "handstretched noodle", "oiled and stick stretched noodle", "cut noodle", "pushed noodle", and "rice noodle". Nissin Food Products Co. ...

Soup

Shōyu rāmen, a popular variety of Japanese ramen.

Ramen soup are generally divided into four flavors: miso, shio (salt), shōyu (soy sauce), and tonkotsu (pork broth). The shio, or salt flavor, is probably the oldest of four flavors and, like the Chinese maotan (毛湯), is a simple chicken broth. The tonkotsu flavor is similar to the Chinese baitan (白湯), and is a thick broth taken from boiling crushed pork bones for hours. The shōyu flavor is similar to salt flavor, but instead of chicken broth, the stock may be made from konbu (kelp), katsuobushi, and niboshi. from ja wiki. ... from ja wiki. ... Miso (Japanese: 味噌) is a thick paste similar to doenjang made by fermenting soybeans with kōji (麹, Aspergillus oryzae) and sea salt. ... Soy sauce (US) or soya sauce is a fermented sauce made from soybeans (soya beans), roasted grain, water and salt. ... Katsuobushi (鰹節; かつおぶし) (Chinese: 柴魚; chai2 yu2; firewood fish), is the Japanese name for a preparation of dried and smoked skipjack tuna. ... Niboshi (煮干し) are Japanese dried baby sardines (sometimes translated as anchovies). ...

These are basic flavors and they may be even mixed together to make another flavor. Some of the ingredients commonly added to a soup are black pepper, butter, chilli pepper, five-spice powder, garlic, gochujang (from Korean cuisine), sake, vinegar, wine, etc. Popular ramen soup recipes are heavily guarded by many restaurants. Binomial name Piper nigrum L. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. ... Butter is commonly sold in sticks (pictured) or small blocks, and often served using a butterknife. ... The chile pepper (also chili or chilli; from Spanish chile) is the fruit of the plant Capsicum from the nightshade family (Solanaceae). ... Five-spice powder (五香粉, wǔxiāngfěn in hanyu pinyin) is a convenient seasoning for Chinese cuisine, particularly Cantonese cuisine. ... Binomial name Allium sativum L. Garlic (Allium sativum) is a perennial plant in the family Alliaceae and genus Allium, closely related to the onion, shallot, and leek. ... Gochujang is a popular Korean condiment made from glutinous rice powder mixed with powdered fermented soybeans and powdered red peppers. ... Korean cuisine is the traditional food of Koreans in Korea and overseas countries. ... Sake barrels at Itsukushima Shrine Sake (酒; pronounced IPA: SAH-KEH in Japanese, but often IPA: SAH-ki by English speakers) is a Japanese alcoholic beverage, brewed from rice. ... Vinegar is often infused with spices or herbs—as here, with oregano. ... Wine is an alcoholic beverage produced by the fermentation of grapes and grape juice. ... An example recipe, printed from the Wikibooks Cookbook. ...

Toppings

A basic ramen can be topped with a boiled egg, menma (fermented and pickled young bamboo), naruto kamaboko, nori, spinach, and chashū (叉焼 or 焼豚). Chashū is originally a Chinese recipe of roasted pork, but slices of boiled pork are often used in ramen. Kamaboko (蒲鉾) is a variety of Japanese processed seafood products in which various white fish are pureed, formed into distinctive loaves, and then steamed until fully cooked and firm in texture. ... Nori (æµ·è‹”) is a Japanese term used to refer to edible varieties of seaweed in the various species of the red alga Porphyra, including most notably and . ... Binomial name Spinacia oleracea L. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae, native to central and southwestern Asia. ...

Anything can be put on top of ramen, and the name of a ramen is often determined by toppings. In most ramen, these toppings are added after boiling or frying so as to not change the flavor of the soup. Toppings include bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, beef, tuna, cabbage, chicken, corn, negi (welsh onion), shiitake, and wakame. Genera Many, see text Bamboos are a group of woody perennial evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. ... Sprouting is the practice of soaking then draining and leaving seeds until they germinate and begin to sprout. ... Beef A salt beef with mustard bagel Beef is meat obtained from a bovine. ... Species Thunnus alalunga Thunnus albacares Thunnus atlanticus Thunnus maccoyii Thunnus obesus Thunnus orientalis Thunnus thynnus Thunnus tonggol Tuna are several species of ocean-dwelling fish in the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. ... Cultivar Group Brassica oleracea Capitata Group The cabbage (Brassica oleracea Capitata Group) is an edible plant of the Family Brassicaceae (or Cruciferae). ... Binomial name Gallus gallus A chicken (Gallus gallus) is a type of domesticated bird which is often raised as a type of poultry. ... Binomial name Zea mays L. Maize (Zea mays ssp. ... Binomial name Allium fistulosum L. Welsh Onions are Allium fistulosum (Alliaceae). ... Shiitake mushroom lentinus edodes (=lentinula edodes) Shiitake mushrooms (椎茸) are an edible mushroom typically cultivated on the shii tree (Pasania cuspidata--a relative of the oak). ... Binomial name Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar, 1873 Wakame (Japanese: わかめ or 若布) is a type of edible kelp. ...

Related dishes

Many ramen restaurants also serve gyōza, fried rice, shumai, and similar Chinese-derived dishes. Customers frequently order one or another of these specialties together with ramen. Combinations such as ramen-rice (with white rice) are popular, too. Jiaozi Jiaozi (Traditional Chinese: 餃子; Simplified Chinese: 饺子; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: chiao-tzu; Cantonese IPA: , Jyutping: gaau2 zi2) or gyōza is a Chinese dumpling, widely popular in Korea and Japan as well as outside of Northeast Asia. ... Bowl of Fried Rice Fried rice is a popular component of Chinese cuisine. ... Species Oryza glaberrima Oryza sativa Rice refers to two species (Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima) of grass, native to tropical and subtropical southeastern Asia and to Africa. ...

Related, although distinctly different, noodle dishes include Nagasaki champon and Okinawa soba. Both are made with a wheat flour noodle resembling ramen. Champon has a variety of food on top, with seafood being predominant. Okinawa soba typically has chunks of pork, in some cases marinated in awamori. Megane-bashi (Spectacles Bridge) Nagasaki   listen? (長崎市; -shi, literally long peninsula) is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture located at the south-western coast of Kyushu, Japan. ... Champon (ちゃんぽん) is a type of noodle dish originating from Nagasaki. ... Okinawa Prefecture (Japanese 沖縄県; Okinawan Uchinā) is Japans southernmost prefecture, and consists of hundreds of islands known as The RyÅ«kyÅ« Islands or RyÅ«kyÅ«s, in an island chain over 1,000 km long, which extends southwest from KyÅ«shÅ« (the southwesternmost of Japans main four islands) to... For the ancient kingdom in Nubia see Alodia Soba served on a zaru Soba (蕎麦) are thin brown buckwheat noodles, usually cooked and served with various toppings and condiments. ... Spaghetti with seafood (Spaghetti allo scoglio). ... Awamori (泡盛) is an alcoholic beverage indigenous to and unique to Okinawa, Japan. ...

History of ramen

Ramen is a newcomer in Japanese cuisine; while Tokugawa Mitsukuni reportedly ate ramen in the late 17th century, it was only during the Meiji period that ramen became widely known -- perhaps because, for most of its history, the Japanese diet did not include terrestrial meat; their diet consisted mostly of vegetables and seafood. Udon and soba, popular since their introduction in the Heian period, are served with fish-based broth. The introduction of American and European cuisine, which demanded increased production of meat products, played a large role in ramen becoming popular. One course of a multi course Kaiseki meal, showing a careful arrangement of the foods There are many views of what is fundamental to Japanese cuisine. ... Tokugawa Mitsukuni (徳川光圀; July 11, 1628 - January 14, 1701) was a prominent daimyo who was known for his influence in the politics of the early Edo period. ... The Meiji period (Japanese: 明治時代, Meiji-jidai) denotes the 45-year reign of the Meiji Emperor, running from 8 September 1868 (in the Gregorian calendar, 23 October 1868) to 30 July 1912. ... UDON Entertainment Corporation is a studio (or art collective) of Asian-influenced, and mostly Asian American, comic book creators. ... For the ancient kingdom in Nubia see Alodia Soba served on a zaru Soba (蕎麦) are thin brown buckwheat noodles, usually cooked and served with various toppings and condiments. ... The Heian period (Japanese: 平安時代, Heian-jidai) is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. ...

Even though it is a newcomer, it is unclear by whom, when or where "ramen" was introduced to Japan. The name "ramen" itself is a topic of debate. The generally accepted hypothesis is that "ramen" came from "拉麺" (lamian) and means "hand pulled noodles". A second hypothesis proposes "老麺" (laomian, old noodles) as the original form. Another theory suggests that it was "鹵麺" (Lümian) and Lümian is cooked in a thick, starchy sauce. There are also anecdotal origins: one story claims that the name was originally "Liumian" (柳麺) (literally Liu's noodle), with Liu being a (probably apocryphal) cook who popularised the dish. A hypothesis (foundation from ancient Greek hupothesis where hupo = under and thesis = placing) is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. ...

Since the name "ramen" became popular only in the 1960s when instant ramen was invented, it is also claimed that the name "ramen" was popularized by the "instant ramen". The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ...

In the early Meiji period, "ramen" was called shina-soba (支那そば) (literally "Chinese soba"); while this is now archaic, the alternative term chūka-soba (中華そば, also meaning "Chinese soba", but more politically correct) remains relatively common. It was a popular dish in Yokohama's Chinatown. In 1900, restaurants that served Chinese cuisine from Canton and Shanghai sold ramen. This ramen was a simple dish with salt-flavored broth taken from pig bones using few toppings. The noodle was cut, instead of hand pulled. In 1899, Japan and China signed a new treaty that let both citizens move freely in each countries. Many Chinese pulled portable food stalls and sold ramen and gyōza dumplings, then called shina manju (支那饅頭), to workers. By the mid 1900s, these Chinese food stalls started using a type of a musical horn called charumera (チャルメラ) to advertise their presence. "Charumera" was often used to mean a ramen food stall. Ramen became a popular dish when going out to eat by the early Showa period. Japans tallest building, the Landmark Tower, is in the Minato Mirai 21 district of Yokohama. ... New York City is home to three of the largest Chinatowns in North America. ... 1900 (MCM) is a common year starting on Monday. ... There are multiple Cantons in China Canton City : Guangzhou Canton Province : Guangdong This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Shanghai (Chinese: 上海 pinyin: â–¶ (help· info); Shanghainese IPA: ; Lumazi: Zanhe) , situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta, is Chinas largest city. ... 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Jiaozi Jiaozi (Traditional Chinese: 餃子; Simplified Chinese: 饺子; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: chiao-tzu; Cantonese IPA: , Jyutping: gaau2 zi2) or gyōza is a Chinese dumpling, widely popular in Korea and Japan as well as outside of Northeast Asia. ... The Shōwa period (Japanese: 昭和時代, Shōwa-jidai, period of enlightened peace) was the time in Japanese history when Emperor Hirohito reigned over the country, from December 25, 1926 to January 7, 1989. ...

After World War II, cheap imported flour from the US swept the market. At the same time, millions of Japanese troops had recently returned from China and continental East Asia. Many of them had become familiar with Chinese cuisine, and subsequently, set up Chinese restaurants all across Japan. Eating ramen, while popular, was still a special occasion that required going out. In 1958, instant noodles were invented by Momofuku Ando, the founder and chairman of Nissin Foods. Credited to be the greatest Japanese invention of the 20th century in a Japanese poll, this let anyone, even the least-skilled, make a ramen by simply boiling for a measured amount of time. Starting in the 1980s, ramen became a cultural icon of modern Japan and it was studied from many perspectives. At the same time, many local varieties of ramen hit the national market and ramen could be ordered by their local names. Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War II, also known as the Second World War (sometimes WW2 or WWII or World War Two), was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A brick of uncooked instant noodles Instant noodles are precooked dried noodles fused with oil, which can be prepared for consumption simply by adding hot water and a flavor packet. ... Momofuku Ando (born on March 5, 1910), is the founder and chairman of Nissin Food Products Co. ... Nissin Food Products Co. ... In general terms, an invention is an object, process or technique which displays an element of novelty. ...

Health concerns

Being a popular dish, ramen has often been criticized for its potential health risks. Some of these claims are justified, while others could be made against any diet which contains too much of a particular food.

A serving of ramen noodle is high in carbohydrates and low in vitamins and minerals, so eating a cup of instant ramen with only an egg as topping for every meal is not a wise choice. Adding a serving of boiled spinach or cabbage to ramen improves its nutritional value. Carbohydrates (literally hydrates of carbon) are chemical compounds that act as the primary biological means of storing or consuming energy, other forms being fat and protein. ... Binomial name Spinacia oleracea L. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae, native to central and southwestern Asia. ... Cultivar Group Brassica oleracea Capitata Group The cabbage (Brassica oleracea Capitata Group) is an edible plant of the Family Brassicaceae (or Cruciferae). ...

Ramen soup, especially that of instant ramen, contains a high amount of sodium. Ramen noodles themselves contain very little sodium so one can avoid drinking the soup if a low-sodium diet is recommended for health reasons. Many Japanese people also believe that ramen soup contains a high amount of fat and also that pre-fried fat from the noodles seeps into the soup. However, a typical serving of ramen, even when drinking all of the soup, has less food energy than a fast-food menu consisting of a hamburger, soda, and fries. General Name, Symbol, Number sodium, Na, 11 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 3, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 22. ... Food energy is the amount of energy in food. ...

Some brands of instant ramen use hydrogenated vegetable fat (ie. trans fat), which is known to be harmful to the body. A trans fatty acid (commonly shortened to trans fat) is an unsaturated fatty acid molecule that contains a trans double bond between carbon atoms, which makes the molecule less kinked compared to cis fat. Research suggests a correlation between diets high in trans fats and diseases like atherosclerosis and coronary...

The most recent controversy surrounds dioxin and other hormone-like substances that could theoretically be extracted from the packaging and glues used to pack the instant noodles. As hot water is added, it was reasoned that harmful substances could seep into the soup. After a series of studies were conducted, this concern was found to be baseless, unless the packaging was cooked in a pressure cooker for an extended period of time. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A hormone (from Greek horman - to set in motion) is a chemical messenger from one cell (or group of cells) to another. ...

Ramen worldwide

Ramen has become a popular food in many parts of the world, though it has undergone changes in flavor to fit local tastes. In many countries, "ramen" always refers to "instant ramen" and not the fresh ramen noodle that is popular in Japan. Outside of Japan, China is the largest consumer of ramen and Indonesia ranks second.

In South Korea

South Korean ramen (or "ramyun") typically has a hot flavor, and only instant ramen is known. "Shin" (辛) (literally, "hot") is one of the most popular brands in Korea; Shin ramen have also become popular in China and the United States. The leading manufacturer of ramen in Korea is the Nong Shim company. They export many of their products to countries including the United States and the United Kingdom. In the 1960s, instant ramen was introduced to South Korea from Japan and its quick and easy preparation, as well as its cheap price, caught on. Most South Korean food stalls make instant ramen and add toppings for their customers. Instant ramen is often added to budaejjigae, a stew made with assorted ingredients. Nong Shim is a food manufacturer specializing in instant noodles and snacks. ...

In the United States

"American" ramen comes in a variety of flavors and is usually very mild, as opposed to traditional, Asian ramen, which is generally spicy and flavored with vegetables. Examples of more Asian-exclusive flavors include nori, miso and bean-curd, although larger, more diverse markets in the US may have these flavors as well. Popular flavors include chicken, pork, beef, mushroom, shrimp, roast chicken, and roast pork. World map showing Asia. ...

American packaged ramen often contains an unusually high amount of MSG, and the noodles are often pre-fried in fat. A particular health concern is the amount of sodium in the flavoring—one packet usually contains in excess of 60% of the US Recommended Dietary Allowance. The noodles themselves are not particularly high in sodium, so health conscious individuals can either avoid drinking the broth, or make a more diluted version by using less of the flavoring packet contents. Monosodium glutamate, sodium glutamate or E 621 (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry [IUPAC] name: 2-aminopentanedioic acid, 2-aminoglutaric acid, 1-aminopropane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid), commonly known as MSG or Vetsin, is a sodium salt of glutamic acid. ...

In Russia

It is probably an amazing coincidence that Russia's most popular bowl-packaged ramen (Korean Dosirac brand) is produced in Ramenskoye. The town name would mean "the ramen place" if the Japanese word "ramen" were used in the Russian language, but it is not - in fact "ramen" is an obsolete Russian word for chamomile. The town had this name long before ramen production started there. Ramenskoe (Раменское in Russian) is a city in the Moscow Oblast in Russia, located 46 km southeast of Moscow. ... Russian (Russian: русский язык, russkiy yazyk, ▶ (help· info)) is the most widely spoken language of Europe and the most widespread of the Slavic languages. ... Chamomile flowers The name Chamomile or Camomile is ambiguous and can refer to several distinct species. ...

Ramen in fiction

Ramen is nearly ubiquitous in Japanese literary depictions of contemporary life in Japan. In some works, depicting characters with traits relatively infrequent in actual Japanese society, well-known characters are described as liking ramen to the point that it alone forms the bulk of their diet to the exclusion of nearly all other foods. Japanese writers often include a comedy or horror subplot where their main characters go out to eat or cook ramen. Ramen is also used as the object of comedy in many anime and manga such as Naruto, with characters typically getting splashed over the head by a bowl of ramen, or stepping on a bowl of ramen and falling, often taking down another helpless person. Anime (アニメ) is a style of animation originating in Japan. ... A page from the Marmalade Boy manga, volume 1 (Japanese version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics and/or cartoons (not necessarily animated, this includes print cartoons); outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ... Naruto (ナルト) is a manga by Masashi Kishimoto with an anime TV series adaptation about a loud, hyperactive teenage ninja by the name of Uzumaki Naruto who constantly searches for approval and recognition. ...

• The manga Kinnikuman features a character called Ramenman, a Chinese stereotype wrestler, who specialises in Martial Arts. He was so popular that he had his own spin-off manga series.

• Competition in the ramen restaurant business is at the center of the 1985 Japanese film Tampopo by director Juzo Itami. This humorous yet earnest film is anchored by the protagonists' search for the perfect ramen recipe. Although they continuously bicker over what constitutes the perfect ramen, they all agree people should want to eat it every day.

• In the American gothic comic Johnny the Homicidal Maniac by Jhonen Vasquez, the protagonist, Nny, is the creator of a comic-within-a-comic called Happy Noodle Boy. Happy Noodle Boy likes to eat Ramen.

• Hell Ramen was considered the best food in the game Kingdom of Loathing before chow mein was introduced.

• Ramen appears in the game: Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, and is one of the best foods in the game. Ramen also appears in "Tales of Symphonia", but is not as good as in MGS.

• Ramen is featured in the series InuYasha, and is the favourite food of the title character, InuYasha.

• Ramen is also featured in the series Naruto, and is the favourite food of the main character, Uzumaki Naruto.

• In Derek Kirk Kim's graphic novel "Same Difference", one of the protagonists, a korean-American, explains the finer points of eating ramen raw: "Every Korean kid grows up eating raw ramen! It's our Ritz!"

• In the Puffing Tom Arc of the popular Manga One Piece, a Marine-Chef named Wanze uses Ramen as a weapon and body armor.

• Stanford grad students depicted in the webcomic Piled Higher and Deeper eat mostly Ramen and whatever free food they can find.

Kinnikuman (キン肉マン, literally muscle man) was a manga created by a group of two Japanese high school students, Nakai Yoshinori and Takashi Shimada, to parody the immensely popular Ultraman. ... Tampopo (タンポポ or 蒲公英 which translate to dandelion) is a 1985 Japanese comedy film by director Juzo Itami, starring Tsutomu Yamazaki, Nobuko Miyamoto and Ken Watanabe. ... Juzo Itami (伊丹十三 Itami Jūzō) (15 May 1933 - 20 December 1997) was an actor and a popular modern Japanese film director. ... Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. ... Jhonen Vasquez (born September 1, 1974) is a comic book artist, director, and writer from San Jose, California. ... The KoL logo. ... Chow mein (Simplified Chinese: 炒面; Traditional Chinese: 炒麪/炒麵; pinyin: ; literally stir-fried noodles) is usually a stir-fried dish consisting of noodles, meat, and vegetables. ... An upcoming game in the Metal Gear Solid series. ... Inuyasha (Japanese: 犬夜叉) is a shōnen manga and anime series created by Rumiko Takahashi. ... Inuyasha (犬夜叉, Inu dog + Yasha demon) is the main character of the anime and manga series InuYasha by Rumiko Takahashi. ... Naruto (ナルト) is a manga by Masashi Kishimoto with an anime TV series adaptation about a loud, hyperactive teenage ninja by the name of Uzumaki Naruto who constantly searches for approval and recognition. ... Uzumaki Naruto (ordered Naruto Uzumaki in the English anime) is the main character of the manga and anime series Naruto. ... A graphic novel (GN) is a long-form comic book, usually with lengthy and complex storylines, and often aimed at more mature audiences. ... One Piece ) is a manga and anime series created by artist Eiichiro Oda. ... Piled Higher and Deeper is a webcomic written and drawn by Jorge Cham, now a mechanical engineering instructor at Caltech, which follows the lives of several grad students. ...

Ramen in American culture

Ramen is sometimes half-jokingly referred to as a staple food of the American college student. Ramen noodles in America are incredibly cheap for the amount of food they contain—generic packages can be bought for as little as 10 cents, and even noodles packed in a cup rarely cost more than 50 cents. Its low cost combined with the sterotype of it being a staple food to the poor has caused instant ramen (e.g. Maruchan) to be widely referrred to as "crackhead soup." There is a common urban legend in which a student contracts scurvy while on a ramen-only diet. Maruchan (マルちゃん) is a brand of popular ramen noodles. ... A crackhead is a person who is addicted to crack cocaine. ... Urban legends are a kind of folklore consisting of stories often thought to be factual by those circulating them (see rumor). ... Scurvy is a disease that results from insufficient intake of vitamin C and leads to the formation of livid spots on the skin, spongy gums, and bleeding from almost all mucous membranes. ...

During the 2004 U.S. presidential election campaign, filmmaker Michael Moore visited colleges on his "Slacker Uprising Tour" and gave instant ramen and clean underwear to students who promised to vote. This resulted in a short-lived controversy, with the Republican Party accusing him of trying to buy votes. Presidential electoral votes by state. ... Michael Moore pictured on the cover of his book Michael Moore (born April 23, 1954) is an American film director, author, and social commentator. ... For the Richard Linklater movie, see Slacker (movie) Withdrawl in disgust is not the same as apathy. ... A man modeling a pair of boxer shorts Undergarments, also called underwear, undercrackers, lingerie (undergarments for women), or sometimes intimate clothing, are clothes worn next to the skin, usually under other clothes. ... Voting is a method of decision making wherein a group such as a meeting or an electorate attempts to gauge its opinion—usually as a final step following discussions or debates. ... The Republican Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Democratic Party. ...

Also, the parody religion of Flying Spaghetti Monsterism uses the word Ramen to end their holy prayers. A recent parody religion, Flying Spaghetti Monsterism was created in 2005 to protest a decision by the Kansas State Board of Education to allow intelligent design to be taught in science classes alongside evolution. ... Flying Spaghetti Monsterism (FSM) is a satirical parody religion created in 2005 to protest the decision by the Kansas State Board of Education to require the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to biological evolution. ...

Long-distance backpackers, often referred to as "thru-hikers", enjoy many variations on ramen, since it is lightweight and dense in food energy. A favorite on the Appalachian Trail is an admixture of ramen and instant potatoes. Food energy is the amount of energy in food. ... The Pocosin cabin along the trail in Shenandoah National Park The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply The A.T., is a 2,174 mile (3500 km) marked hiking trail in the eastern United States, extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin...

See also

• Ramen museum
• Chinese cuisine
• Japanese cuisine
• Korean cuisine
• Udon
• Soba
• Ie-kei
• Hakata-men
• Hawaiian saimin
• Pot Noodle
• Yakisoba
• List of Japanese instant noodles

The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum (新横浜ラーメン博物館) is the worlds first food amusement park located in Shin-Yokohama, Japan. ... Wikibooks Cookbook has more about this subject: Chinese cuisine The Chinese cuisine is a kind of cuisine widely regarded as representing one of the richest and most diverse culinary heritages in the world. ... One course of a multi course Kaiseki meal, showing a careful arrangement of the foods There are many views of what is fundamental to Japanese cuisine. ... Korean cuisine is the traditional food of Koreans in Korea and overseas countries. ... UDON Entertainment Corporation is a studio (or art collective) of Asian-influenced, and mostly Asian American, comic book creators. ... For the ancient kingdom in Nubia see Alodia Soba served on a zaru Soba (蕎麦) are thin brown buckwheat noodles, usually cooked and served with various toppings and condiments. ... Ie-kei (家系) noodle bar chain originates from a noodle bar called Yoshimura-ya located in Yokohama. ... Hakata-men is a type of ramen, first derived from the Hakata region. ... Saimin is a plantation era inspired delicacy unique to Hawaii. ... In the UK, Pot Noodle is a specific brand of cup noodles (ramen-style snack). ... Yakisoba ), literally fried noodles, is a dish often sold at festivals in Japan. ... This is a list of Japanese instant noodle brands by category. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Ramen

• International Ramen Manufacturers Association
• World Ramen.net
• The Official Ramen Homepage
• Straight Dope Staff Report: What's the deal with ramen noodles?
• ramenramenramen.net
• [1] (many photos: he eats ramen every lunch)

• [2] (miso-ramen with a lot of sesame seeds)

• [3] (ordinary soy sauce-ramen)
• [4] (ordinary style soy sauce-ramen, with a lot of Welsh onion)

• [5] (salt-ramen: translucent soup)

• [6] (ordinary style ramen; soup of pig's marrow, chicken, and fish)
• [7] (old style ordinary marrow-soy sauce-ramen)
• [8] (old style ordinary marrow-ramen)

• [9] (ramen; Ooita, Kyushu)
• [10] (photo of ramen & gyoza, wantan; Saeki, Hiroshima)

• [11] (mini cup instant-ramen. click photo)

• [12] (many photos. making soup)

• [13] (ordinary noodle for home cooking)