Japanese and instant noodles

　　The “birthplace” of instant noodles is undoubtedly in Japan. It is said that after World War II, the Japanese had to save money when rebuilding their homes in the shadow of defeat. Some office workers put noodles that were fried overnight and put various seasonings in their lunch boxes when they went to work in the early morning. Can. This “lunch box fried noodles” may be the prototype of instant noodles produced by large-scale industrial production in the future.
　　In August 1958, instant noodles first appeared on the Japanese market. At that time, no matter from the exquisite packaging or the variety of taste, it was far from comparable to today’s instant noodles. It took another 13 years before the boxed instant noodles came into being in 1971. Since the tableware of instant noodles can also be omitted, it is also known as the “most convenient” instant noodles, which is especially popular when traveling or having a picnic.
　　In the 50 years since the birth of instant noodles, prices in Japan have skyrocketed, with the exception of instant noodles. In recent years, the quality of instant noodles has improved a lot, but the increase is only 2-3 times, while the increase of other food products has averaged more than 20 times during the same period.
　　Middle-aged and older Japanese also surprisingly often associate instant noodles with “great economic development.” It turned out that when instant noodles just became popular in the Japanese market, the Japanese economy began to take off. Therefore, it can be said that Japan has now become one of the world’s largest economic powers, which is inseparable from the period of rapid economic development in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
　　Today’s Japanese middle-aged and young men are the most important consumers. 65% of men aged 20-29 and 68% of men aged 30-39 eat instant noodles more than once a week, while less than half of women of the same age group. This is because Japanese middle-aged and young men are generally not good at cooking, and they are busy with work, so they have no intention to spend too much time and energy on meals.
　　At present, there are more than 500 brands of instant noodles in the Japanese market. Except for more than 100 kinds of “famous brands” produced by large companies, their products are all produced by local small factories and even small workshops. Don’t think that some brands are not well known. And the production is very limited, but it has a fixed number of consumers, so it can still firmly occupy a place in the market. The reason is very simple, this kind of “no-brand” instant noodles is designed according to the tastes and preferences of the residents of the place of origin. Therefore, “wanderers” who go to work in major cities often eat a meal to comfort their homesickness.
　　Instant noodles have become an “international food” nowadays, with more than 30 producing countries, of which Japan is the top producer, followed by South Korea, China, Indonesia and the United States. The instant noodles produced in Korea have a unique flavor, such as hot and sour dishes, which are competitors of Japanese instant noodles in terms of quality and quantity. The instant noodles produced by Europeans and Americans have shorter noodles because, unlike the Orientals, they hate the “sizzling” sound when eating. Arabs who are keen on a slow-paced lifestyle have also begun to produce instant noodles, but they all strictly adhere to Islamic teachings and are absolutely halal. It is said that Egypt produces instant noodles with a chocolate flavor that is favored by children.
　　However, the Japanese are more fond of instant noodles than other nations in the world. This is not only because for about 50 years, instant noodles have become an indispensable food for hard-working Japanese, but also because instant noodles have become almost a part of modern Japanese culture. Although instant noodles are hard to be elegant, young people still take the opportunity to bring different kinds of instant noodles when they get together, and together they become a “convenience banquet” with various flavors. Hundreds of instant noodle design experts have racked their brains to develop innovative, nutritious and comprehensive instant noodles in order to preserve their status as the “superpower of instant noodles” in the world market. One musician even wrote a pop song for instant noodles, comparing “scented instant noodles” to a lover in love.