The popularity of ramen is not a fad. It has been established as part of the culture. I think it will continue to attract people’s attention in the future.

co-chairman of the Universal Ramen Culture Research Association for Social studies

Did not know that something like that exists in a University.

It's not a bubble tea-level fad, but I would still argue that ramen is still a fad.

The hype is all about increasingly sophisticated curated ramen, not just shoyu ramen with slices of processed pork and pink and white fishcake that has tasted the same since old guys sold it from carts in Showa or early Heisei. Cost of living increases mean the labour, ingredients and fuel required to make curated-forms of ramen are pushing it past 1000 yen, at which point people are remembering that other food options are available.

For 700-800 yen, chain udon shops like Marugame Seimen and Hanamaru will give you something tastier than a lot of 700-800 yen ramen. At Marugame, the basic udon and kakiage deep fried veggie topping is still under 600 yen.

For 700-800 yen, chain udon shops like Marugame Seimen and Hanamaru will give you something tastier than a lot of 700-800 yen ramen. At Marugame, the basic udon and kakiage deep fried veggie topping is still under 600 yen.

LOVE Marugame! You also forgot Yamada Udon, another favorite of mine.

But if you want cheap and delicious ramen, there is always Hidekaya and Gyoza Manshu.

We like ramen and make it at home every couple of weeks. Less than ¥1,000.

It's not a bubble tea-level fad, but I would still argue that ramen is still a fad.

The most ridiculous comment I've read so far today, and there's always stiff competition. That's like saying hot dogs and hamburgers are a fad in the U.S. No, ramen is not a fad.

Everything costs more these days. Trump is making sure that prices will continue to go up. Those who can afford to pay 1,000 yen for the good stuff will continue to do so. Those who can't will still find a way sometimes. Udon is udon, ramen is ramen. They're different. To you they might both be bowls of noodles in soup, basically the same thing thing. No, they're not.

A fifteen or twenty year fad is still a fad. Ramen has always been there but was not as high profile in the 1990s or early 2000s. Outside Yokohama, only hardcore ramen fans would have known what "ie-kei" was. Queuing three hours for (now Michelin starred) ramen was not a thing.

It seems weird to me that someone is claiming "ramen's popularity is not a fad" at a time when we have record closures of ramen shops. Non-fad popularity would mean diners happy to soak up price increases, like the price increases at McDonalds Japan.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/01/0b57b2970a06-record-number-of-japan-ramen-eateries-went-bankrupt-in-2024.html?phrase=animal&words=