Ramen

It's hard to go to a Japanese Restaurant and not find Ramen on the menu. Who can resist it anyway? This past weekend I visited Raijin Ramen, Tucson's first ramen noodle house located on Speedway Boulevard. 

Ramen is one of the most common Japenese dishes, consisting of wheat flour noodles served in a bowl of hot broth (typically pork or fish) and topped with sliced pork, seaweed, green onions, etc. What's unique about this dish, is that it comes in many different variations and accompanies people's dietary restrictions. The most common four types of ramen are 

1. Shoyu  - pork or chicken broth soup flavored with soya sauce
2. Shio - simple light chicken broth
3. Miso - thick soybean paste (miso) soup 
4. Tonkatsu - thick pork bone and pork fat broth

photo taken by me

However, the menu at Raijin Ramen offered other options such as vegetarian o tamari chicken and seafood broths. Whether you're vegan, pescetarian, or vegetarian you'll always be able to find ramen that fits you.
As I sat there enjoying my bowl of noodles, I started to look around the room and noticed several features that resembled the Japanese culture and traditions. I realized that there were several Norens placed around the room. Noren is a hanging piece of fabric, generally located at the entry of a door or room. As shown below before entering the restaurant's bathroom, you are confronted with a Noren, however, this one, in particular, shows two significant figures. Raijin, the god of thunder and lightning and Fujin, the god of wind. The two god figures appear together on each part of the Noren, symbolizing good and evil. In other words, this can be related to the idea of Kami in the shinto religion.

photo taken by me

On another wall in the restaurant, is another artwork showing the face of Raijin. This one, in particular, reminded me of Taotie in the Chinese tradition. The features of the big starring eyes, bull nose, and sharp teeth display the character of the fearsome god of thunder and lightninging. This figure is displayed all over the room in different forms like masks, paintings, norens , etc. 

photo taken by me

photo taken by me

If you ever get the chance to visit this place, remember to slurp your noodles and use your chopsticks! 


References:

“Ramen.” Ramen, www.japan-guide.com/e/e2042.html.