food

Samurai chef serves ramen with a side of history at Sapporo restaurant

10 Comments
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24

Ramen has seen its prestige soar over the past few years. Once strictly salty sustenance for salarymen and starving students, it’s now widely considered one of Japan’s tastiest dining options by locals and international foodies alike, with even the Michelin guide recognizing its potential for sublime deliciousness.

But even with all their newfound respect, ramen restaurants mostly maintain their accessible, casual atmosphere. For example, most ramen chefs work their magic wearing a simple T-shirt and headband…but not at this restaurant in Sapporo, Hokkaido.

Ramen Kabuto’s owner has two great passions in life: ramen, and the Sengoku feudal period of Japanese history. So when customers step into his restaurant, they’ll see him making their meals dressed in a full suit of samurai armor.

Ramen Kabuto (kabuto being the Japanese word for “helmet”) opened four years ago, and from the start the owner wanted to go about his work wearing a suit of lamellar. However, samurai armor was designed for the battlefield, not the kitchen, so he’d need to make some alterations to the design. After extensive consultation with traditional armorers, he found a craftsman who could make a suit for him that offered better mobility than a purely authentic construction. Taking a page from the suits of armor used in filming samurai movies and TV dramas, the ramen chef’s armor is made of aluminum, making it much lighter than the iron protection actually worn in the Sengoku period.

Ramen Kabuto actually has two branches, but if you want to see the samurai in action, you’ll need to head to the original location in the Sumikawa neighborhood. Oh, and the ramen itself looks absolutely mouthwatering.

Restaurant information

Ramen Kabuto (Sumikawa branch) / らーめん兜 澄川本店

Address: Sapporo-shi, Minami-ku, Sumikawa 3-2-5-17, High Tree Building 1st floor

札幌市南区澄川3条2丁目5-17 ハイツリービル 1F

Open 11 a.m.-3 a.m. (Tuesday-Saturday), 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (Sunday)

Closed Mondays

Website

Source: @Press

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© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

10 Comments
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I think ramen is one of the popular food among foreigners. I heard that for some foreigners going to ramen restaurant is difficult and they can't relax like other restaurant. Most Japanese people think, ramen is kind of fast food. In this article it is said that the chef is wearing samurai suits. I think this is new entertainment and it can attract foreigners.

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Ramen Kabuto is different from general ramen shops in many aspects. In ramen restaurants, it is common to wear casual clothes such as a simple t-shirt and headband, however, we think the idea that working in a full suit of armor would be original and interesting.

This original idea will become very popular among foreign tourists, instead of Japanese people. 

We think it will give foreigners a good opportunity to experience Japanese ramen restaurants, excluding Ramen Kabuto, armor, and Japan.

We also suppose the location of the ramen restaurant will help more people become familiar with Hokkaido. We expect there to be more original ideas like this.

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The first time I saw this article, I learned about this ramen shop. Usually speaking of ramen shop, it comes with simple clothes just as in the article and we offer delicious ramen to you. However, this ramen shop wears Kabuto and makes ramen. While eating tasty ramen, you can also learn the history of Japan. I thought it was a fun restaurant. I think that no ramen shop like this is anywhere in Japan as far as I know. It's a really new ramen shop. I would like to make a special kabuto and wear this kabuto to make ramen in hot weather. I was amazed by the passion of the owner. Do whatever you want with clothes you like. It's so nice. I think that I will try to find something that gives me passion like this owner. Since I want to feel the passion of this owner, I hope to visit him in Hokkaido one day.

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Japanese Ramen is now eaten and popular among many countries. Also some foreigners say they like Japanese culture. This ramen 'kabuto' style will amuse many foreigners. As well as foreigners being able to enjoy Japanese meals, they can learn about Japanese history, we think. It will be a art form in Japan too as even many Japanese people have images that ramen noodles shops' chefs wear simple T-shirts and headbands to cook. Wearing Kabuto will change this images and will be popular among many people. People can appreciate Japanese culture and history by enjoying this special style shop and this should be passed onto the next generation so they can also inherite the culture and history. 

However we think that it is a bit scary to see people wearing kabuto working in restaurants.

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Whenever I don't have money, I often go to a ramen restaurant. There is a place called heaven for students who doesn't have money. And I'm very happy I was informed and welcome me warmly. I was surprised that a familiar food in Japan is being evaluated in the Michelin Guide. I'm proud that I'm Japanese.

Although ramen is irrelevant to Sengoku period, the owner combined them, that's what makes him an interesting person. The owner's aspect to overcome barriers to make his dream come true is wonderful. Then, such an aspect impresses people around the person. Innovative idea of cooking while wearing armor can’t be imagined by other people.

 I found that he really loves armor. I think that it is very good to connect a favorite thing with work. Distance won't be able to reach instantly, but can go to the head office whenever the opportunity comes in Hokkaido.

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Japanese Ramen is now eaten and popular among many countries.

Also some foreigners say they like Japanese culture. This ramen 'kabuto' style will amuse many foreigners. As well as foreigners being able to enjoy Japanese meals, they can learn about Japanese history, we think. It will be a art form in Japan too as even many Japanese people have images that ramen noodles shops' chefs wear simple T-shirts and headbands to cook. Wearing Kabuto will change this images and will be popular among many people. People can appreciate Japanese culture and history by enjoying this special style shop and this should be passed onto the next generation so they can also inherite the culture and history. However we think that it is a bit scary to see people wearing kabuto working in restaurants.

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Ramen is getting popular over the years. It is recognized not only by locals but also people from the world considered that it is one of the best dish/cuisines in Japan. There are some Ramen shops that are also popular, the reason is that they are really accessible and you can enjoy a casual atmosphere as well. There is a ramen shop named "Ramen Kabuto" where the owner of the shop wanted his staffs/employees to wear a Samurai costume/samurai suit. This shop became popular on the social media and a lot of pictures are being shared online where some customers can have the chance to wear a samurai costume/suit and a lot of people are interested in going there especially foreign people/foreigners. Their creative idea has attracted a lot of locals and foreigners. Even Japanese find it strange, but they like it because this is something cool and they feel like they're back in the time of Samurai period.

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Speaking of ramen, there is the impression one it is familiar food all over the world. Now that you can eat instant noodles etc. Easily, there is a feeling of familiarity. Feature of the owner of a ramen shop, there is an image of simple a T-shirt. However, the owner of the ramen headdress had wearing samurai 's armor and honestly could not imagine the sight. I also want to see it.

I thought that the idea of wearing the owner's samurai armor to make ramen was a fresh and interesting idea. Also, I thought that it was a great idea to make own original armor based on the armor actually used in TV dramas and movies.  Also, as foreigners who like Japanese culture, I thought that ramen kabuto would be very popular. If there is opportunity to visit, I want to see it.

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I was surprised that ramen was delicious enough to be approved by Michelin, and I understood that it was famous internationally as one of the most delicious foods in Japan.

 In Sapporo ramen shop, there are clerks who wear helmets, so

If you want to see that, you should go there, then you can eat delicious ramen, and also see the helmet. I though that it was a very unique shop to do such a thing, also, I felt the owner's enthusiasm about ramen and sengoku feudal period.

 I think that having Japanese traditional ramen and traditional helmet at the same place is truly Japanese and it is wonderful. I would like to go here someday.

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Today most people know that Samurai and Ninja don’t exist in modern Japan but only in movies, TV dramas, or comics. Surprisingly, however, a samurai has appeared in a ramen restaurant in Sapporo, and he is fighting in the kitchen armed with his specialty. More tourists will visit this restaurant to see him and taste his ramen.

According to the Ramen Kabuto’s website, most of the ingredients are from Hokkaido, and they try not to use any chemical additive. Pork and chicken broth is used for the base of the ramen soup. It seems that Ramen Kabuto is not different from other popular ramen restaurants, except the owner is a samurai. They offer various flavors of ramen, and the most popular one is miso. I’d like to try it when I visit Sapporo sometime.

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