Change of ramen image

―History of "Chinese" and "Japanese" images in ramen―

Abstract

“Ramen” is now different from Chinese noodles originated in mainland China and develop itself into a Japanese food with diversity. On the other hand, back in 1980s, Japanese Ramen had little diversity – basically on the premise of Chinese elaboration - than that of today. Then 1990s showed a gradual change on it when a concept of “Wa” (=Japanese spirit of harmony) was brought into Ramen with more recreational value of food and in that process, it became something emphasizes “Japanese tradition” instead of Chinese elaboration.

Here we take a look at this “Ramen transition” in Japan from a viewpoint of both “Chuka” (=Chinese) and “Wa”images with time series analysis.