With a write-up in the Michelin Guide, European ramen events, and the exploding popularity of Tonkotsu Ramen in China, Japanese ramen is taking the stage as an international dish. A plethora of ramen shops exist in Japan, ranging from old shops offering tastes unchanged since pre-war days to new shops purveying the latest, most fashionable flavors. Japan's most popular ramen shops are rolling out internationally, and are making a name for themselves in the United States and abroad. This book defines ramen. It gives the full picture of its beginnings, the evolution of the ramen "genre," as well as special character of localized ramen, altogether revealing the unique charm of this beloved Japanese dish.