On Ramen: The Best Food in Japan

Yamagata in its rightful place

Everything is right with the world. Finally. 

After one long year of being second, Yamagata City is back at number one. In fact, from 2012 to 2020, Yamagata was number one. Until last year when those ratbags in Niigata City had to come and steal our thunder! 

Not nice, Niigata! Not nice at all! 

Of course I’m talking about what everyone else in Yamagata is talking about. 

You know it.

I know it. 

Ramen. 

Noodles and soup. 

But not just any noodles and soup. 

Everywhere in Japan claims to have the best ramen. 

And I mean everywhere. 

Why be subjective about it? 

Why not look at the numbers. 

Yamagata City had the highest consumption of ramen noodles per capita in 2022. The average Yamagatan ate more than 13,196 yennies worth (like, $100). Plus, the ramen here usually doesn’t go above ¥1,000 ($7.50).

If that’s not proof of the best ramen in Japan, what is? 

What makes Yamagata ramen so special is the high proportion of homemade noodles and homemade soup. And I guess you could say the freshest of produce, finest fish, and meatiest meats this side of The Mogami. You should probably give some credit to the chefs as well.

But the real stars of the show? 

You and I. Joe and Jane consumer. Without which, Yamagata City wouldn’t be back in their rightful place. 

At the top. 

Where we belong. 

The forecast is for more ramen

Karamiso Tsukemen. The pinnacle of ramen.

There’s a saying in Japan: If you don’t have anything good to talk about, talk about the weather. That still holds true in Yamagata, although our samui (cold) is a few degrees lower, and a few feet of snow below that of Tokyo.

It’s kind of like saying we breathe air. (yet people do still say it)

Want to know a failsafe topic in Yamagata?

You guessed it.

Ask anyone if they prefer miso or shoyu (soy sauce), or perhaps even tonkotsu (pork broth) or the local delicacy tobiuo (flying fish) base. 

My personal favourite? I can’t go past a bowl of Karamiso Tsukemen, spicy miso ramen noodles you dip into the broth yourself. Oh, and with a few ajitama (soy-sauce marinated soft-boiled eggs) for some extra umami. 

Onegaishimasu. Yes, please. 

Ramen and the weather. Two failsafe topics here in the north. 

A fireworks show in your mouth, and in the sky

Live in a big city in Japan? Get used to the lines. Want some ramen in Yamagata?

Get used to the lines. 

Japan is known for its summer fireworks festivals. These things are insane. One or even two hour affairs with some of the loudest and biggest fireworks you’ve ever seen. 

Last year we even had a drone show.

In fact, Tsuruoka City south of here has a population of just over 100,000. Its population during the Akagawa Fireworks Festival?

Four times that. 

Ramen and fireworks, the only time you ever have to line up in Yamagata. 

I wonder why. 

The ramen experience

Some lesser form of noodle in Tsuruoka City (It’s actually really good, normal soba and mugikiri, a local noodle).

Line up.

Wait. 

Wait some more.

Plug your order into the machine. 

Pass the ticket to the people behind the counter. 

Take your seat.

Itadakimasu.

Slurp, slurp, slurp…

Gochisosama.

See you next week.

Or tomorrow.

Ramen is built for single customers. Perhaps that’s why it’s so popular. If you’re getting ramen for the social experience, maybe try some soba or udon, or some other lesser form of noodle. 

Nothing gets between me and my ramen. Not even talk about the weather. 

Or ramen for that matter. 

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Disclaimer: The author doesn’t live in Yamagata City. He is claiming the city for the whole prefecture. Come have some ramen in Shonai though, you’ll see what I mean!

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On the blog this week

The massha shrines at the base of Haguro-san earlier this week. The sunlight was really intense, proving why winter is the best time to visit!

Get into the zone. Do yourself a world of good by getting rid of the distractions. And as you do, always put your best foot forward. Do so, and you go further in actually being able to help people. Just make sure you don’t stop, especially once you’ve found you’re in the right profession. No matter what happens, if you Uketamo, you can get through.

Bonus: Why you don’t need a website in 2023. Get a substack like this instead! (seriously)

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That’s it for this week

Let me know what you enjoyed, and what you didn’t. I’ll try and get more of the good stuff out to you.

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Ka kite ano.

Tim.