A ramen deliveryman rides a bicycle in Tokyo. These riders are so good at balancing the ramen bowls that they hardly spill a drop.
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A ramen deliveryman rides a bicycle in Tokyo. These riders are so good at balancing the ramen bowls that they hardly spill a drop.
© Japan Today
24 Comments
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Moonraker
Isn't it illegal now? Carrying an umbrella is.
Davnetcat
Hope not. That's not an umbrella. The physics of resting a tray is different and requires less effort than grasping a parachute-like umbrella that could exert enough vector force to unexpectedly offset balance.
Kurobune
Amazing !
Monozuki
Ah! This was a typical street scene I used to see when I was a little kid in Tokyo. But I didn't think it's still being practiced in this modern age. And yet, it's one of good old memories.
Thank you for bringing me back to the good old days.
kurisupisu
What happens when there is a need to brake suddenly? Using only one brake is not going to cut it!
sanjigen
Looks more like 'don-mono' to me. I remember back in the days (probably even now but hardly see them), it was delivered on super cub with a gadget that hung the aluminum box in the back. It had three air spring that allowed the box to swing freely to keep it level.
Serrano
Not only do they hardly ever spill a drop of ramen, they hardly ever crash into anyone!
smithinjapan
Awesome picture, but extremely dangerous and illegal. Police should be fining the guy. Sorry, but even the slightest thing gets in this guy's path and not only the ramen goes bye-bye, but the guy most assuredly has an accident.
shonanbb
They stretch superior Japanese Saran Wrap over the bowls before covering. Saran Wrap is ace here. Same stuff in America does not work.
Disillusioned
It's a great skill, but it's illegal to use an umbrella and a phone while riding a bicycle due to only having one hand to control the bike. Should y this be illegal too?
wtfjapan
if there going to enforce laws about using two hands while riding a bike, etc unbrella of holding a phone. This is no different, really he should be using a carrier on the back. But hey double standards abound in Japan so all is fine.
CrazyJoe
He' probably delivering the ramen bowls to a KOBAN.
Kobe White Bar Owner
Amazing pic, but i have seem them crash more than once and i was not soup rised.
smithinjapan
shonanbb: "They stretch superior Japanese Saran Wrap over the bowls before covering. Saran Wrap is ace here. Same stuff in America does not work."
Not the usual stuff, no. Only the commercial stuff or very expensive (relatively speaking) stuff. The saran wrap you find in your average supermarket is no different than the crap elsewhere, and worse than the cling wrap in a lot of developed countries.
CrazyJoe: "He' probably delivering the ramen bowls to a KOBAN."
Haha. No doubt.
WilliB
I used to see that a lot, but have not for a long time. As others have said, this is very cool und skillful, but it all comes crashing down if there is an unexpected situation like sudden braking.
HonestDictator
Should only be done for entertainment purposes only. Otherwise, it's just an unnecessary hazard in the making.
shonanbb
I disagree smith. I buy the stuff here called saran wrap and bring it back as gifts. People are amazed at the difference. I would agree with you if you said the in house brands. They are like America.
gogogo
Totally illegal.
Sassenach
No better solution in techo-paradise Japan? Really? I would think a self-balancing tray attached over or in place of the basket or bag carrier in back would be a snap.
WilliB
Sassenach:
Apparently you don´t live in Japan, otherwise you would have seen the Cub scooters with their balanced tray contraption in the back. Those are standard today.
smithinjapan
shonanabb: "I buy the stuff here called saran wrap and bring it back as gifts."
I have three different kinds of saran wrap in my apartment, having bought new ones after the previous buy sucked. Everything I wrap, unless I basically wrap completely around the thing again and again, comes off without clinging. Got some cling wrap from CostCo and it works just fine. There are some that I've used in Japan that work just as fine if not better as well, but not the kinds at the local supermarket. Maybe they are the inhouse brands you mention, but they all say "saran wrap".
In any case, looked at the pic again and I noticed he's also riding on tires that are low on air -- another common illegality here. Whomever took the photo should show police and ask them to watch for the guy. Seriously. It's not just him he'd be hurting when he got in an accident, since the first thing he'd likely try to save is the ramen.
rranta
I certainly hope he keeps delivering. What a talent. and I bet he knows how to beat traffic.
diuneahma
The Japanese are not complaining, why should you all...?
Kobe White Bar Owner
@ diuneahma,
Logic, reason and progress.