Food

Exploring the Future of Food

TOKYO, Feb 16 (News On Japan) - The latest gourmet offerings set to hit supermarkets and convenience stores have been showcased at the 58th "Supermarket Trade Show."

Han River Ramen: A Staple Among Korean Youth

Ayako Uemura, the presenter, highlights the 58th "Supermarket Trade Show," where 2,000 domestic and 93 international companies and organizations have gathered. The first trend spotted is the "Han River Ramen," increasingly becoming a staple among Korean youth. The Han River flows through the heart of Seoul and is a popular spot for picnics and dates. Ramen eaten by the river has gained attention through dramas and has become a food trend among the youth.

The popularity of Han River Ramen is partly due to the presence of "instant noodle automatic cooking machines" at convenience stores around the Han River. These machines are almost always found in the stores. Customers choose a bag of noodles, purchase it at the register, and then put the contents into a provided container. The machine then adds hot water and counts down to completion. While there are eat-in spaces in convenience stores, eating ramen outside in the cold is particularly popular.

In Korea, "ramen convenience stores" that operate 24/7 have also emerged. These unmanned stores feature automatic cooking machines and offer around 50 varieties of instant ramen, with free toppings like green onions, kimchi, cheese, and bean sprouts. The demand for contactless options during the pandemic has led to the installation of these machines in cafeterias and employee dining halls, with around 2,000 locations now in operation and about 30,000 machines in use.

K-Pasta: Instant Italian from Korea

Another trend candidate is "K-Pasta." Since July 2023, "Tengle" has been launched in Korea and North America, available in Bulgogi Cream and Kimchi Rosé flavors. The restaurant-quality, chewy pasta has become popular for its convenience. The cooking process involves adding water to a frying pan, letting the noodles absorb it, and boiling for about 5 minutes.

Source: TBS

Bear Chosen as Kanji of the Year

The Kanji of the Year for 2025 was announced at Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto on December 12th, with the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation selecting the character for bear for the first time after nationwide sightings, record-high damage and injuries.

Blizzard Conditions Grip Northern Japan

Northern Japan was hit by warning-level blizzards and whiteout conditions on December 12th, with heavy snow, violent winds and subzero temperatures disrupting transport across wide areas while recovery continued in communities already damaged by last week’s powerful earthquake.

Akita Train Derails And Overturns, Injuring Driver

A train running on the Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway derailed and overturned near Kayakusa Station in Kitaakita City on the morning of December 12th, with the incident reported to police and fire authorities shortly before 6:50 a.m.

Kitagawa and Sakaguchi Receive Nobel Medals

The Nobel Prize award ceremony was held on the evening of December 10th, or early on December 11th in Japan, at the Stockholm Concert Hall, where King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden presented the highest honors — the medal and certificate — to Osaka University specially appointed professor Shimon Sakaguchi, 74, the recipient of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and Kyoto University distinguished professor Susumu Kitagawa, 74, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Forbes Ranks Prime Minister Takaichi as the World’s Third Most Powerful Woman

America’s business magazine Forbes announced on December 10th that Prime Minister Takaichi has been ranked third on its list of the “World’s Most Powerful Women,” placing the Japanese leader near the top of a global ranking of 100 figures across politics, business, and culture, and marking a prominent acknowledgment of Japan’s first female prime minister.

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MORE Food NEWS

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Eel Regulation Dropped After Japan Opposition

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Christmas Cakes Fly Off Shelves Despite Inflation

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Are Japan's Tea Farmers Going Matcha?

As Matcha’s popularity continues to climb, with overseas shipments expanding sharply and exports increasing more than tenfold over the past 15 years as global demand strengthens. Japan is encouraging tea growers to shift production to tencha, the raw material used to make matcha. While it may seem logical that farmers should simply increase production if matcha is selling so well, growers say the reality is far more complex.

Behind the Counter at a Japanese Bakery with 80-Year-Old Grandmas

This is Mochiyori PAN Samba, a small bakery in Oshiage near the Tokyo Skytree that creates its own Japanese deli style baked bread. What makes it special is that it is helped run by three 80 year old grandmas who are at the heart of the shop. (Paolo fromTOKYO)

One of Japan's Largest Wine Stores Opens in Nagoya

Nagoya welcomed one of Japan's largest wine sales floors on November 24th as JR Nagoya Takashimaya opened “Wine Maison” on its second basement level, creating a new destination for wine enthusiasts with a selection of roughly 2,600 varieties and 15,000 bottles sourced from around the world.

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