A rich, salty, and steaming bowl of noodle soup, ramen has become an
international symbol of the cultural prowess of Japanese cuisine. In
this highly original account of geopolitics and industrialization in
Japan, George Solt traces the meteoric rise of ramen from humble fuel
for the working poor to international icon of Japanese culture.
Ramen's popularity can be attributed to political and economic change on
a global scale. Using declassified U.S. government documents and an
array of Japanese sources, Solt reveals how the creation of a black
market for American wheat imports during the U.S. occupation of Japan
(1945-1952), the reindustrialization of Japan's labor force during the
Cold War, and the elevation of working-class foods in redefining
national identity during the past two decades of economic stagnation
(1990s-2000s), all contributed to the establishment of ramen as a
national dish.
This book is essential reading for scholars, students of Japanese
history and food studies, and anyone interested in gaining greater
perspective on how international policy can influence everyday foods
around the world.