Many foreign tourists say that Japanese ramen is more satisfying than sushi. What kind of ramen do they like to eat? Let's take a closer look. ■Ramen over sushi!? Why is "tonkotsu ramen" popular with foreign tourists? Caster Masatoshi Nanba: Ramen has been very popular with foreign tourists in recent years, but it seems that its popularity is increasing again. First of all, the ranking of ramen shops popular with foreigners (according to TripAdvisor) is as follows: 1st place "Ichiran Shibuya Branch (tonkotsu)" 2nd place "Ichiran Shinjuku Central East Exit Branch (tonkotsu)" 3rd place "Kyushu Jangara Akihabara Main Branch (tonkotsu)" 4th place "T's TanTan Gransta Tokyo Branch (vegan ramen)" 5th place "Ippudo Ginza Branch (tonkotsu)". Tonkotsu is very popular. The reason why tonkotsu is so popular is that foreign stars enjoy tonkotsu ramen in Japan, and in June, the David Beckham family, who played soccer, came. In May, the very popular artist Rihanna and actor and artist Jang Keun-suk also came, so there are also messages from very influential famous people. Also, according to Ippudo's public relations officer, "Perhaps due to the 'value' of the weak yen and word of mouth, the number of foreign customers has increased by about 10% just in the past two to three months." When we actually asked foreign tourists why they chose tonkotsu ramen, we heard the following: Tourists from Ireland: "We don't have food with this kind of seasoning in Ireland. I ordered it because it's rare." Tourists from Thailand and Spain: "Tonkotsu is normal." Tourists from the United States: "Tonkotsu ramen is the standard. Soy sauce is something you put on sushi." These are the kinds of comments we hear. Why did tonkotsu ramen become established overseas? According to the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, tonkotsu ramen shops such as "Ippudo", "Ichiran" and "Ajisen Ramen" have been successful in expanding overseas. "Ippudo" has over 100 stores overseas, "Ichiran" has 9 stores, and "Ajisen Ramen" has over 600 stores overseas. Nakano Masahiro of the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum says, "The image of Japanese ramen = tonkotsu has been established overseas." Inoue Takahiro, anchor: It's a bit strange that ramen has become so popular when sushi has become so popular as a Japanese food. Keio University Associate Professor Wakashin Yuzumi: I also like ramen, especially tonkotsu ramen, but sushi chefs are called sushi chefs, aren't they? It's just like people who are involved in traditional crafts, and they pursue it, or rather, they have that kind of depth. Tonkotsu ramen needs to be simmered for a very long time, and it's not just about the appearance, but about the depth of flavor, and they have to win a very fierce battle to make it, so ramen chefs are now worthy of being called ramen craftsmen. Perhaps that craftsmanship is also what makes it attractive to foreigners. Caster Horan Chiaki: Compared to sushi, ramen is made of noodles, so it's cooked, and it may be easier to get into because it feels like it's similar to noodle dishes you've seen before. ■Why Tonkotsu is loved overseas Caster Nanba: What is it about tonkotsu that makes it popular with people overseas? According to a survey by the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, first of all, miso, salt, and soy sauce are familiar seasonings. 1) Tonkotsu has an unknown taste, 2) the cloudy soup is unusual, and 3) it seems healthier than soy sauce or salt. Why does tonkotsu look healthy? When we compare the appearance, soy sauce looks lighter to us, but people overseas (especially Westerners) tend to dislike "visible fat", and if there is fat floating on the surface, they feel it is quite high in calories. However, tonkotsu looks healthy because it is cloudy white and there is no fat floating on the surface. In terms of calories, tonkotsu is a little higher than soy sauce, but it looks that way, so I think it is popular. Another point is ④ They value the long time it takes to make it. Some ramen are simmered for over 40 hours, so ramen is the best. Holan Caster: I thought people might not like the aroma, but it seems to be well-received, properly. Wakashin: It is made with so much care that it is called a craftsmanship, and I think it is recognized worldwide, and I think the price is going up because foreign tourists are gradually coming in. So, even if it is a common food to Japanese people, to foreigners, it could be a high-class dish that can only be tasted in Japan, just like sushi. Japanese people might say, "How can you not have ramen anywhere in Japan?" but I think this is a future that was predicted all along. I think it means that many things in Japan are becoming international standards, and our way of working has to be brought up to that level as well. ▼T