The Ramen Scene in Mibu Ward / A Neighborhood Column by Eight Beat
morimoriA rock enthusiast born in the Showa era introduces the neighborhood scenery in full swing.
During my high school days, I spent my days either skipping classes to ride around on my motorcycle or getting lost in conversations about rock music at cafes while chain-smoking.
However, as I also wanted to pursue university education, during the third term of my third year, I didn't attend school at all, avoided taking final exams, and instead secluded myself at home, pretending to study for college entrance exams at the last minute.
With the shutters tightly closed and my days and nights reversed, there would be a faint sound of pebbles hitting the shutters late at night.
It was my mischievous friend, coming to pick me up on his Honda CB750F.
We ventured out into the chilly late-night streets of Kyoto on a tandem bike, heading to a ramen stall on Kitaoji Street.
The ramen we got there, with plenty of ninjin, which was still rare at the time, was a "midnight snack" that was addictive enough for high school students.
Afterward, the ramen stall moved to a store on Horikawa Street.
When I went back excited to taste the same flavors from back then, the ramen they served was quite different from what I remembered.
The owner explained that they couldn't serve ramen as greasy as the stall's under bright lights.
It seems we were enamored with the ramen's stall-like qualities.
Though it's been half a century since my high school days riding to ramen stalls on my bike, when I moved to this area of Minami 25 years ago, there were hardly any ramen shops nearby.
One of the few was "Chinmoto," said to be one of the models for Itami Juzo's film "Tampopo," just a few minutes from my home.
It opened in 1982 and was a ramen shop with a dedicated fan base, but unfortunately closed in the fall of 2018 due to accidents involving the owner.
In March 2020, "Ramen Kokoro Moto" opened in its place. While its name was similar to Chinmoto, the ramen itself was completely different, offering "Tosaryoma Ramen" made with ingredients from Kochi.
However, this shop also closed around June 2022.
Afterward, in November 2022, a regular customer of Chinmoto opened "Chukasoba Sohato" in the same location.
The owner has been a fan of "Chinmoto" for 30 years. It seems they are striving to recreate the nostalgic taste while learning from Chinmoto's daughter.
There is a current sense of anticipation from the core fans who love the taste of Chinmoto, expecting further developments.
Just a minute's walk east from Sohato, there is "Seaburano Kami Mibu Honten."
It opened on July 8, 2013.
This is a shop that offers an adapted version of the Tsubame Sanjo-style ramen, a local ramen from Niigata, called "seabura niboshi ramen".
Having achieved victories in events like the "Kansai Ramen Derby," it has become extremely popular.
The location of this shop has seen various changes over short periods, with yakiniku restaurants and ramen shops coming and going, but Seaburano Kami has maintained its popularity for a long time.
When you sit at the counter, you can observe the meticulous work.
For those who enjoy niboshi and seafood-based ramen, this is a must-visit shop.
Just a minute's walk east from Seaburano Kami is "Menkiya," the Kyoto Mibu Main Store.
Opening two years after Seaburano Kami, on August 2, 2015.
It's what's known as a hearty Kyoto-style ramen, with a concept of being "ramen you can eat every day."
The soup is based on the standard Kyoto-style chicken broth and pork bone soy sauce, with added lard.
They use Kyoto brand ingredients such as Kyotanba pork, Kujo green onions, and Kyoto tamago, with thin noodles.
Surprisingly, the popular menu items include curry ramen and miso ramen. It's a shop with many regular customers.
While I'm a fan of regular ramen, the preference for saltiness may vary.
Currently, there are popular ramen shops, especially chain stores, just a few minutes from my home, and queues form on weekends.
The neighborhood has become quite a battleground for ramen.
I wonder if some high school students ride their bikes here late at night.
Well, nowadays high school students are serious, so they might be studying for exams at home while eating microwaved ramen.
| "Ramen Shops" Featured in the Photos: "Chuka Soba Futaba": 20-20 Mibu Aigocho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City (West of Mibu River, Takatsuji) "Seabura no Kami": 25-4 Deistar Avenue 1F, Mibu Aigocho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City (North of East Entrance of Mibu River, Takatsuji Higashi) "Menkiya": 1F Mansion Omiya, 32 Mibu Aigocho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City (North of East Entrance of Mibu River, Takatsuji Higashi) |
Author Profile
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Born in Setagaya, Tokyo, in 1955.
He later lived in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, and other places before arriving in Kyoto, Japan.
At the age of 65, he was diagnosed with cancer and due to the side effects of anti-cancer drugs, etc., he ended his previously weekly life of mowing the lawn.
Currently, he is working in his vegetable garden, tilling the soil while complaining about the heat and cold.
Still plays bass, etc. in a rock band.
