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Ramen pretty much embodies the holy triumvirate of things to look for in a comfort food: it’s flavorful, filling, and cheap. The last of those adjectives isn’t something that should apply to ramen anymore, though, says one prominent Japanese celebrity.
Keisuke Honda is one of the biggest stars of the Japanese soccer world. Following a career as a player in which he played for clubs around the world and represented Japan multiple times in the World Cup, Honda has parlayed his charisma and fashionable looks into success as a media personality as well.
Recently, Honda went out for a bowl of ramen and shared a photo of his meal on Twitter, along with his thoughts on the pricing of ramen in Japan.
“730 yen is too cheap for this deliciousness. The price should be raised a little. I mean, really a lot of industries should raise their prices a little more,” Honda tweeted, adding “The next time I eat ramen, I’m paying 2,000 yen. Absolutely.”
Though ramen’s trendy status in international foodie circles means it can command a bit of a premium overseas, in Japan it’s still very much seen as an affordable meal for students, young adults, and others looking to fill themselves up on a budget. 730 yen is right around what an average bowl of ramen costs in Japan, and Honda’s suggestion that the price should be almost tripled didn’t exactly have the rest of Twitter nodding its head in agreement, with reactions including:
“Just showing off that he’s rich.”
“Hey, rich guy, if it’s too cheap, you can always order a second bowl of noodles and pay for that.”
“Personally, I don’t think ramen would taste good anymore if I had to pay 2,000 yen for it.”
“If a restaurant charged 2,000 yen for their ramen, I wouldn’t eat there.”
“He can say that because of how financially well off he is…Ramen restaurants understand that the rest of us [don’t have that much money], so they set their prices where they do.”
“Surprised at how much of a cheapskate Keisuke Honda is. If I made as much money as he does, I’d pay 5,000 yen.”
“Can you please give me 100 million yen?”
For reference, as of October of last year minimum wage in Tokyo is 1,072 yen, so Honda is proposing that a bowl of ramen cost two hours’ worth of such workers wages. With his comments coming at a time when consumer prices are steadily rising in Japan, but wages aren’t necessarily doing likewise, a lot of diners are probably happy that Honda isn’t the one setting prices at their favorite ramen joint.
Source: Twitter/@kskgroup2017 via Hachima Kiko
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-- The twin joys and dual sadnesses of eating ramen in the U.S.
- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2023/01/17/japans-ramen-is-too-cheap-restaurants-should-raise-their-prices-famous-soccer-player-says/
25 Comments
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Albert
I already did not like Honda, but this statement is another one i put on dislike list .
He earns a lot and if he wants to pay 2000 yen than please do so, but mentioning prices should increase, he should consider people with less income than him.
SDCA
Try eating ramen for lunch on your 3 man en okozukai and then tell me they need to raise their prices.
shogun36
You Donkey, go ahead and pay the 2000 yen fool. Hell, leave a tip. Just keep your mouth shut next time.
virusrex
His view is to a certain point understandable, but he choose to express it in a terrible way that makes him seem disconnected from the problems of societey.
He could have said that it is very fortunate that people can eat high quality food like ramen for relatively low prices, or that he felt bad for the people that make it possible to eat a good bowl for less than 1000yen, that would probably conveyed his thoughts in a more positive light.
kohakuebisu
The problem here of course is Honda praising the food in an inappropriate way. Lots of people are struggling economically. The birthrate is falling again because people say they can't afford to have kids. It is therefore tone deaf to say soul food should cost three times the price. If you want to praise it, say it is delicious. If you want to help the chef, tell people where it is, not just the price.
The other common way celebs praise Japanese food, the throwaway "I'm glad I was born Japanese" is equally tone deaf, since Japan is an increasingly diverse and multicultural society. Like it or not, a country with an increasing number of non-Japanese residents undeniably becomes "increasingly diverse and multicultural".
rcch
[ “730 yen is too cheap for this deliciousness. The price should be raised a little. I mean, really a lot of industries should raise their prices a little more,” Honda tweeted, adding “The next time I eat ramen, I’m paying 2,000 yen. Absolutely.” ]
I get what he’s trying to say, but it should’ve been said as a joke; obviously he doesn’t live in the real world…; this is just stupidity and ignorance, so it’s not like we should be mad at him…; but it’s incredibly annoying, that’s for sure…, especially coming from a mediocre player that thinks too much of himself.
wallace
Stupid comment. Ramen keeps poor people alive.
kohakuebisu
The one in Honda's photo looks good value for 730 yen. It's more like 850 yen near me.
10000 yen to take a family of five for ramen? Nope, that's not going to happen. I have to think twice about paying half that.
The price of eating out in Japan is low, but is only a benefit to folks on huge wages and tourists from overseas. If you earn your money in Japan, eating out will still be expensive relative to wages.
Pukey2
Rich guy with no empathy for the ordinary joe. Never liked him in the first place. Like many famous football players, totally overpaid.
Abe234
What an arrogant, ignorant, thoughtless privileged, rich man!
imagine telling primary schoolers or high schoolers out with their friends to pay 2000 yen a pop. Or single mother/father to give their kids 2000 yen for a bowl of ramen. Or the new immigrant workers earning minimum wage.And if Raman is raised to 2000 yen We can imagine what’ll others will raise the prices of other food to keep the price disparity.If this was the US we’d say a white rich privileged male. But I’ll keep race out of it.
Chico3
If Keisuke wants to pay a lot of money, he can go aheah. He can even start his own ramen shop if he's so keen to raise the price. He should do that and see how his business will turn out. Don't compain to us or blame us or the economy if your business goes down. Talk about arrogance and ignorance; two very deadly personality combinations.
hattorikun
He is getting more famous for being such an idiot..
Juanito3001
Oh dear, looks like he drowned in his soup of arrogance and got caught up in the noodles of entitlement. Ramen for many is the only meal they can afford. Eat everyone Eat more reasonable bowls of Nihon ramen!
Randy Johnson
Shut up. The price is right.
Joey Zen
Sure, a bowl of ramen cost AUD$20 in Australia. People still buy it, but people also get paid a bit more here. For example, the average person in my office gets around AUD$75 or $80 per hour. But in Japan it is still common for people to be getting paid 800 yen an hour. If the price of ramen is raised, so should the wages.
The other thing is, ramen is like a delicacy here. A special occasion. Because it is so expensive. Ramen shouldn't be like that. It should be a cheap meal.
Chico3
Yup, just like curry rice. It's great, filling, and affordable for everyone; even jokers like Keisuke.
Mocheake
Put the noodles in your mouth but be sure to remove your foot first. Keep quiet and pay more if you want. Some people think they deserve what they have without realizing just how lucky and blessed they have been in life.
starpunk
That's like saying burgers should be $5 in North America. Lemme see this guy's degree in economics or in agricultural science. Or on the other hand, why don't he just shut his big yapper!
kaimycahl
Perhaps he's had too many soccer balls deflected off of his head which is causing him to lose his mind!
Keisuke Honda is one of the biggest stars of the Japanese soccer world.
starpunk
He reminds me of these dumb athletes, Tik Tok, YouTube and reality TV 'stars' - listen to ME and you can be a star like MEEEEEEEEE........'. Remember that South Beach Diet that so many celebs swore by?
So why doesn't he go write a 'self-help' book and get on afternoon TV talk shows to belch this nonsense? There's plenty of noodle-heads in America who will listen to meatheads like him. The motivational speech circuit awaits him, zillions of dollars! Money for nothing......
Jozef
Don’t be angry at Honda please, not his fault his brains are in his feet
Aly Rustom
Well said guys.
Sounds to me his brains are where the sun don't shine. Total Butthead
Sven Asai
I guess he’s misunderstood. He just wants or wishes that this specific restaurant deserves to get some more money than other more average ones for the delicious meals it serves to the customers. I also know a few of such restaurants and always wonder why they don’t raise the prices , because they are much more delicious than the average. And I say that too, although I have almost nothing, at least compared to Mr. Honda. Anyway, it remains true that some restaurants would deserve it, even if that surely means in consequence that I will never afford it then to eat there anymore.