Yamagata's Ramen Industry and Consumption
Yamagata City, Japan, hosts numerous ramen establishments, exemplified by Men Endo, which offers various noodle dishes including shoyu ramen and maji soba. The city, with a population of 240,000, has approximately 230 ramen restaurants.
Status as Japan's Ramen Capital
Yamagata has been identified as Japan's ramen capital based on average household expenditure. In the past year, households in Yamagata spent an average of ¥22,389 on ramen, surpassing Niigata's average of ¥16,292. This follows a period in 2021 when Niigata briefly held the top position. The Japanese internal affairs ministry's annual ranking for ramen consumption is regularly anticipated.
Health Considerations
Research conducted by Yamagata University, involving nearly 7,000 individuals aged 40 and above, investigated health risks associated with frequent ramen consumption. The study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging in October, indicated that individuals consuming ramen three or more times per week had a 1.52 times higher mortality risk compared to those who consumed it once or twice weekly. However, the study also stated that this did not signify a