Japan's "Cup Noodle" king dies aged 96

Reuters via Boston.com (Boston Globe) ^ | January 6, 2007

[RayChuang88]

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Japanese inventor of instant noodles, a snack that has sold billions of servings worldwide since its launch, died on Friday at the age of 96, according to an official at Nissin Food Products Co., the company he founded.

Born in Taiwan in 1910 while it was under Japanese occupation, Momofuku Ando ran clothing and other companies in Taipei and Osaka early in his career.

He was inspired to develop the world's first instant noodle product after coming across a long line of people waiting to buy fresh "ramen" noodles from a black market stall during the food shortages after World War Two, Japanese media said.

[RayChuang88]

Ando-san created a food product that became an instant (pun definitely intended!) hit across cultural lines, that's to be sure. I'm sure many regulars here on Free Republic remember how they lived off Nissin's Top Ramen and Cup Noodles products during their college days.

[SevenofNine]

hey Ray what about kids growing up that I grew up on that Cup of noodle rack itttt

[SolidWood]

Rest in Peace. I will honor him by eating a bowl of Nissin Noodles.

[RayChuang88]

I've always wonder if the success of Nissin's products drove the sales of hot water airpots in Asia.

[reg45]

Years ago when I was unemployed or underemployed, I could eat ramen noodles for 10 to 15 cents per serving several times per week. They were a real budget stretcher. It was also a great way to practice using chop sticks. I liked the Cup of Noodles too, but they were more expensive.

[Jaysun]

There was a time when I would have starved to death without Ramen noodles. Like a rat that chooses crack over food, I choose beer over all. I washed my socks in a peanut butter jar with hot water and a squirt of toothpaste. We're talking very desperate here. But for a mere .11 I could eat Ramen noodles, and it was enough to keep me alive. RIP Momofuku Ando.

[SirJohnBarleycorn]

Mr. Ando's body required no embalming because such a high percentage of his tissues were composed of monosodium glutamate.

Hmmm, interesting.

[SIDENET]

a snack that has sold billions of servings worldwide since its launch

"Snack"? Not in college! I think it qualified as all of the four food groups (noodle, salt, flavoring, monosodium glutamate) back then.

[nutmeg]

Question to NYC-area FReepers: What happened to the giant 60 ft Nissin Cup Noodle steaming sign that has been in Times Square for a long time? (It's gone!) I thought it had been up there on the One Times Square building "forever", but according to Wikipedia, it's only been there 10 years (1996-2006). I thought I had remembered seeing that sign as far back as the 1970s...