The Japanese celebrate the 60th anniversary of the invention of instant noodles

Living in Japan celebrated the 60th anniversary of the invention of instant noodles. Yes, in this country, rather than in China, as a reason many believe first it appeared this brilliant tool quickly satisfy hunger. And I came up with it in the distant 1950s ruined and no longer very young businessman Momofuku Ando, then not only the rich and famous throughout the world, but in fact has become a national hero in Japan. And Americans affectionately nicknamed him "Mr. Noodles".

The experiments in the shed

Japanese Momofuku Ando was born back in 1910 in Taiwan, which at the time was occupied by the Japanese. His parents died early, and since childhood he and his brothers and sister lived in the house with her grandparents. Older people had a small business - a clothing store, and grandchildren helped them.

Momofuku from an early age he knew that such a business, so it is not surprising that even at 22, he decided to open his own business. The guy began to sell in Taiwan Japanese knitwear, and at first his business was very successful. He moved to Japan in Oskaku where duty case is not worse, but soon there was a Second World War, the crisis began, and clothing sales fell sharply.

Ando in his youth. /Foto:nippon.com

Momofuku almost broke, but he did not lose heart, and even more enthusiastically took up the business, which is considered more urgent in the new environment - started selling salt. In the postwar years, it is good to buy, however, and the matter Momofuku eventually burned. In addition to all the misery, ruined credit partnership, which he then headed. Ando was in huge debts and even went to jail for tax evasion, however, was soon released. About how to Momofuku got the idea to create the miracle noodles, more than once he told himself. In the words of a businessman, in the postwar years, when, after the Japanese surrender the people starving in the grocery store line up in long lines. Ando once walked down the street and saw a long line of haggard men in ragged clothes - it was the turn of the usual cheap noodles, which were sold in the shop. The businessman said that at that moment he felt very sorry for his countrymen, but, of course, played a role not only compassion but also the entrepreneurial flair that this time it did not disappoint. Momofuku decided to invent such noodles that would be cheap, getting ready for a couple of seconds and does not require further preparation of meat and other ingredients.

In this barn Momofuku experimented with noodles. An exact replica in the museum in Yokohama. / Photo: cupnoodles-museum.jp

Since that day, Momofuku could not get rid of the thought. He retired to his old barn, armed with banks and flasks, as if some mad chemist, from morning till evening experimented. At first, he failed: the noodles are boiled soft, it is burnt, then glued together, and he could not find a way to make it "squeeze." And then, finally, he found the right recipe: sprayed her soup, then fried in palm oil and dried. The resulting freeze-dried cake billet Momofuku poured boiling water, and finally got what he's up to - cook a delicious dish.

"Mr. Noodles"

In late August of 1958 Momofuku started selling his noodles. It cost inexpensive - 35 yen per pack. The dish was called "Chikin Ramen" (literally - chicken noodles). She was soaked just chicken broth, because, as realized shrewd businessman, this meat would be happy to buy in any country, because eating chicken is not prohibited by any religious denomination. K is sublimated preform noodles were attached two bags - one buyer oil found in the other - seasoning.

Momofuku in old age demonstrates his invention. /Foto:aboluowang.com

Very soon on this noodles, Momofuku manufactured corporation Nissin Food, recognized all over the world. east of the country began to buy billions of briquettes per year, and then joined them and Europe. Products Momofuku became a lifesaver for any occasion: "Chikin Ramen" bought hungry students, it fed the soldiers, it was taken on the road by tourists, it was distributed as humanitarian aid workers, "Red Cross".

In 1972, Momofuku perfected his invention - noodles began to produce immediately in termostakanchike, so that when it is cooking is not even required to have the capacity.

In the future, to become attached noodles vegetables, meat, fish, shrimp, and even there were bowls of dried vegetables, filled with noodles.

In the world there are many imitators, companies began to produce analogues of Momofuku Noodle, but for a long time, it was the brainchild of unattainable sales scale and quality, and the inventor of the grateful American buyers nicknamed "Mr. Noodle" and "King of noodles."

All my life, until old age, King Noodle supported his faithful wife Masako. /Foto:nippon.com

Over time, the popularity of the Momofuku Ando came to naught, but the demand for its gastronomic invention is not extinguished.

In 2000, Japan passed a poll of citizens on the subject of what they see as the major inventions of the last century in the country. The majority of respondents answered "Chikin Ramen". According to statistics, about 100 million Europeans regularly eat such noodles.

And in 2005 the company began to produce special Momofuku noodle for astronauts, so his great invention has gone beyond Earth.

A people's love

Momofuku Ando, has died at the age of 96 years. The death of the "King of Noodles" make the world once again draw attention to the author's claims. In different parts of the continent began to appear with the words obituaries affliction and thanks addressed to the genius. Students from around the world organized flash mobs eating noodles in memory of its inventor, and hackers hacked websites and publish them information about "Noodle King".

Monument to the inventor of noodles in Osaka Museum / Photo:. Nippon.com

Over whether harmful or not eating cheap instant noodles, disputes go for many years. But they say he was eating with pleasure Momofuku "Chikin Ramen" from the first days of its invention to old age, and because it did not prevent him from becoming a long-lived.

Now two of instant noodles Museum opened in Tokyo, dedicated to this popular product and its inventor - one in Osaka and one - in Yokohama. Visitors can see the barn Momofuku - an exact copy of the one in which he had once put his own experiments in the lean years. The museum staff explain that this exhibit - proof that even with a very primitive objects, you can come up with something brilliant and useful for mankind.

In the museum there are halls, exhibited similar sublimates produced in different parts of the world, and "noodle tunnel", and even a children's play room, which resembles a noodle factory.