Most Americans have never heard of Momofuku Ando. I certainly had not… and perhaps one of the last products I would imagine to be synonymous with the quote “Peace will come to the world when the people have enough to eat” is CupNoodles Top Ramen. In fact, I was quite curious as to why a visit to the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum was on the itinerary for our Japanese culinary tour.
The museum was swarming with people of all ages from school children on field trips to adults visiting from throughout the world. Each of us were shepherded through the lines to make our own personally chefed CupNoodles, while listening to the fascinating story of how one man, deeply affected by the poverty and starvation caused by WWII, invented the world’s first instant noodle product, and subsequently used his fortune to establish a foundation dedicated to the sound growth of young people. Who knew that CupNoodles has such a rich and textured history and global impact on feeding the world? It was indeed a morning well spent.
– There is a fanciful sense of style with young, old, men, and women in Osaka, where there seems to be no one fashion trend, rather, individuality and creativity with fashion.
– At the Hotel Granvia Osaka, everything is minimalistic with exquisite attention to detail. The toilet seats are heated; there is a heated mirror in the bathroom to prevent the glass from fogging up; the beds are hard as can be but comfortable and rice pillows are a reminder of Japanese lifestyle.
– Architecture throughout Osaka is in transition, with old narrow alley ways and crowded spaces that open into large boulevards with modern glass high rises, artistic sculptures scattered about, and innovative design. The city is very clean and people seem respectful and orderly. They drive and walk on the left side, as in England, and during rush hour the subway station is a sea of black moving quickly.
– The best shopping for food is found in major department stores in the basement level. There are unbelievable choices of fresh fruits and vegetables, gourmet delicacies and packaged foods. Shelves upon shelves of soy sauce choices made us all laugh.