Ramen Jiro (ラーメン二郎) is a Japanese chain of ramen shops founded by Takumi Yamada. Yamada opened the first Ramen Jiro in Meguro, Tokyo in 1968.[1] As of 2018, there are approximately 40 locations across Japan, over 30 of which are in the greater Tokyo area.[2] Ramen Jiro is known for its large portions and its distinctly flavored broth, which enthusiasts call "Jirolian style."[3][4] In 2009, The Guardian included Ramen Jiro on its list of "The 50 best things to eat in the world".[5]
History
Ramen Jiro was founded by Yamada in 1968 in the city of Meguro, Tokyo, located near Tokyo Metropolitan University.[1] According to Yamada, the restaurant initially served a thinner, lighter style of ramen.[6] However, with the help of a neighboring Chinese restaurant, Yamada developed the new, distinctive flavor that became known as "Jirolian style." This style is characterized by a salty shoyu and tonkotsu soup base, with thick dense noodles and fatty pork chunks.[7] During Tokyo's redevelopment in the early 1970s, the first Ramen Jiro shop moved to Mita, Tokyo. During the move, there was an error in painting the sign, using the characters 二郎 instead of 次郎 for Jirō, a common boy's name. Instead of correcting it, Yamada decided to change the characters of the name to 二郎.[1]
Ramen Jiro quickly gained popularity among Keio students due to its close proximity to Keio University.[6]
Reception
Aficionados
Ramen Jiro has an avid fan base called Jirorian (ジロリアン).[15] According to Noriko Arai, an economics professor at Sophia University, Ramen Jiro employs a "worshipper" type of marketing, relying on a small group of enthusiastic customers, typically students and salarymen.[4] Some Jirorians make a pact to visit all 40 Jiro franchises[3] and regard the first shop in Mita as "the sacred place."
Internet culture
Twitter user @habomaijiro, known for his unique daily reviews of Ramen Jiro, gathered more than 35,000 followers. When he stopped his updates in 2016 due to "an unexpected accident," several prominent Japanese internet sites reported the incident.[16]
See also
- Ramen shop
- Japanese cuisine
References
- G-Search "side B" - ラーメンではない食べ物？「ラーメン二郎」って何 db.g-search.or.jp, retrieved 2018-10-17^
- Jiro: The Best Junk Food Ramen in Tokyo Tokyo Weekender, 2018-05-09, retrieved 2019-01-24^
- Matt Gross. Exploring Tokyo Through Its Ramen Shops retrieved 2018-10-17