CUPNOODLES MUSEUM

ABOUT US

This interactive museum is designed to stir the creativity and curiosity within every child and provide a rich educational experience.

Through the museum’s many exhibits, you can learn about the creative thinking of Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin Food Products and inventor of Chicken Ramen, the world’s first instant ramen that revolutionised eating customs all over the world.

You will gather the knowledge that inspires invention and discovery here, and tap into your creativity by seeing, touching, playing, eating, and having fun.

Momofuku Ando

-The Father of Instant Ramen-

Momofuku Ando dedicated his entire life to thinking about food in new and creative ways.

Throughout his 96 years, his practiced creative thinking and never quit until he achieved his goal.

First Invention: Chicken Ramen (1958)

In a little shed behind his home in the town of Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, Momofuku started work on an invention for quickly making ramen at home by just adding hot water. He worked alone, sleeping only four hours a night and without a day off for an entire year. Chicken Ramen, the product of many trial and error experiments, was dubbed “magic ramen” and became an instant popular sensation.

Second Invention: Cup Noodles (1971)

On a fact finding trip to America, Momofuku observes supermarket managers breaking up Chicken Ramen noodles, putting them in a cup, pouring in hot water, and then eating them with a fork. It was then that Momofuku realised that moving past preconceptions about how we eat was the key to making instant ramen a global food. By bringing together all sorts of wisdom and innovative ideas, Cup Noodles transformed “made in Japan” instant ramen into a global food.

Third Invention: Space Ramen (2005)

Pursuing his long held dream to invent a ramen that can be eaten in space, Momofuku started work on Space Ramen. Along with applying various techniques for eating in weightless environments, Space Ramen is based on the hot oil instant drying method that Momofuku invented in 1958. With Space Ramen, Momofuku’s creative thinking transcended the bounds of earth to contribute to creating food that people can eat even in space.

Momofuku Ando (1910 – 2007)

Momofuku Ando was born on March 5, 1910.

He established Nissin Food Products and founded the Ando Foundation.

In 1958, Momofuku invented Chicken Ramen, the world’s first instant ramen, creating the instant ramen industry. In 1971, he invented Cup Noodles, the world’s first ramen served in a cup. Along with serving as the CEO and chairman of Nissin Food Products, Momofuku contributed to building the instant ramen industry as chairman of the Japan Instant Food Industry Association and as chairman of the World Instant Noodles Association. Dedicated to the healthy education of young people, in 1983, he used funds from his personal fortune to establish the Ando Foundation.