Forty years ago, director Juzo Itami unveiled his masterpiece, "Tampopo," showing us that ramen can be elevated to a gourmet dish and egg yolks can be used in, erm, very tantalizing ways. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/11/22/film/tampopo-40th-anniversary-ramen/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #film #tampopo #ramen #chefs #japanesecuisine #japanesefilm #juzoitami

@thejapantimes@mastodon.social

#Tampopo #tampopomovie

This weekend marks 40 years since the release of Juzo Itami’s tour de force “Tampopo.” The described the genre-bending, surrealist social satire as a “ramen Western,” placing it in the “spaghetti” lineage of films popularized in the 1960s.

The overarching storyline follows one woman’s quest to open a ramen shop, supported by a misfit cast that ranges from milk truck drivers (including a fresh-faced Ken Watanabe) to local gangsters. Interspersed vignettes explore everything from the idolization of Western culture to food as meditation and outright fetish. Like ramen itself, the film can be enjoyed as deeply or as superficially as you like.

Watching "Tampopo" inevitably makes you hungry. Put together a bowl of ramen in 15 minutes with this easy recipe. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/11/23/food-drink/ramen-recipe-tampopo/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #life #fooddrink #ramen #tampopo #chefs #recipes

Tokyo’s best ramen isn’t always downtown. From Hachioji to Okutama, these bowls reward anyone willing to venture a little farther out. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/11/22/food-drink/ramen-adventures-tampopo-restaurants/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #life #fooddrink #ramen #tampopo #japanesecuisine

Forty years ago, director Juzo Itami unveiled his masterpiece, "Tampopo," showing us that ramen can be elevated to a gourmet dish and egg yolks can be used in, erm, very tantalizing ways. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/11/22/film/tampopo-40th-anniversary-ramen/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #film #tampopo #ramen #chefs #japanesecuisine #japanesefilm #juzoitami

The slurp heard round the world — Juzo Itami’s cult classic “Tampopo” has inspired Japanese restaurants on five continents. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/11/22/food-drink/tampopo-restaurants-ramen-worldwide/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #life #fooddrink #ramen #tampopo #japanesecuisine