Current Status Report20231222 (Patreon)

Hi, This is Muchi.

This year has been truly special, with a wave of wonderful travelers coming to Japan from all over the world, something we've happily highlighted on this page multiple times. As we wrap up the year, the results of surveys taken among these globe-trotters have made the news, and one survey, in particular, caught my eye – the one about food.

As a Japanese person, I might assume that the most famous Japanese foods are probably sushi or tempura. In reality, there are indeed a fair number of travelers who come specifically for these, but in recent years, the popularity of ramen has been on the rise, with tonkotsu ramen being the most favored.

Tonkotsu ramen is a soup made by simmering pork bones for an extended period, sometimes spanning several days. I initially thought its unique smell and taste might make it less approachable, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Of course, it goes without saying that manufacturers have been making efforts to make it more appealing, but tonkotsu ramen is genuinely delicious, and I hope many people get to savor it.

By the way, when asking why people like tonkotsu ramen, a common response was that it feels "healthy." Indeed, tonkotsu ramen lacks visible oil and consists mainly of soup and wheat noodles, giving it a seemingly healthy appeal. However, as mentioned above, tonkotsu ramen uses pork bones, and though not visible, a significant amount of fat is often involved, so caution is advised!

Humanity has undoubtedly developed too much magic to easily consume large amounts of calories!

By the way, when it comes to tonkotsu ramen, Fukuoka takes the crown! So, if you haven't tried it yet, make that your next food adventure! Cheers to a year filled with fantastic flavors and more ramen love! 🍜✨