MAGAZINE

“Morning Ramen?” A Quiet Revolution in Japanese Daily Life The idea of enjoying a bowl of ramen first thing in the morning may surprise some. Yet across Japan, the quiet rise of Asa-Ra—morning ramen culture—is steadily gaining momentum. More than a culinary trend,...

Harajuku, the epicenter of Japanese street culture, is where fashion, music, art—and even ramen—seamlessly converge. Today, a new movement is drawing attention from the next generation: “Street-Style Ramen.” No longer just a late-night staple for middle-aged men,...

2 A.M. Cravings After a Michelin-Starred Evening It’s 2 a.m. You’ve just concluded an opulent dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Still wrapped in the afterglow of fine wine and masterful flavors, you find yourself drawn—not to more grandeur, but to something...

Rethinking the Norm: From Beer to Wine—A New Culinary Pairing The long-held notion that “ramen goes best with beer” is quietly being redefined. A new and sophisticated pairing is emerging: ramen and wine. At first glance, the combination may seem mismatched. Yet, the...

“Where should we travel next?” — a journey designed around ramen, not landmarks. Rather than following the well-worn path of sightseeing and scenic views, what if your next journey across Japan were guided instead by ramen? This is the proposition at hand: a culinary...

Is Okinawa soba a type of ramen—or an entirely distinct culinary genre? In a quiet diner tucked away in a traveler's journey, one may find themselves comparing a bowl of Okinawa soba with its more widely known counterpart, ramen. At first taste, there’s a...

Set in the eastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture, overlooking the serene Seto Inland Sea, the port town of Onomichi is home to a regional ramen that transcends the genre of local cuisine. Onomichi Ramen is defined by its clear soy-based broth, its distinctive topping...

Renowned as a city of refined taste and cultural heritage, Kanazawa—heart of the historic Kaga Domain—has long upheld its reputation as a gastronomic capital. Amid its elegant culinary traditions, a distinct form of ramen has quietly evolved: Kanazawa Ramen. Though...

While ramen is now enjoyed across Japan, each bowl tells a deeper story—one shaped by the unique climate, history, and daily life of its region. Regional varieties such as Sapporo, Hakata, and Kitakata ramen do more than offer distinctive flavors; they serve as...

Ramen, once celebrated as a humble national dish, is being redefined on a new culinary stage: gastronomy. At the forefront of this transformation is the fusion of classic French culinary techniques with ramen’s soul. From precise cuisine dʼalerte temperature control...

As Japan’s summers become increasingly intense, "hiyashi ramen"—chilled ramen—is beginning to draw attention for its ingenuity. Traditionally, ramen conjures images of steaming broth and piping-hot noodles, but this inversion—serving the dish cold—beautifully embodies...

In recent years, the global gourmet scene has been captivated by plant-based cuisine. Once confined to meat alternatives and dairy-free products, this movement has now ignited a renaissance in Japan’s beloved national dish—ramen. The emergence of vegan ramen—crafted...