Ramen characters prove there’s more to Fukushima than just nuclear sadness

Before March 11 2011, Fukushima Prefecture was pretty much unknown outside of Japan. Within the country, however, Japan’s third-largest prefecture was known for much more than its nuclear power plant. Along with being a producer of delicious, mouthwatering peaches and home to areas of stunning natural beauty, Fukushima was also known as a hotspot for incredible ramen noodles.

Now, some of the more prominent ramen restaurants in the area have banded together to remind us all that the real heart of Fukushima has always been fuelled by ramen power. And they’ve even got shiny, new anime characters to prove it!

Five of the prefecture’s “Chinese noodle warriors” made their first appearance at the 2013 Tokyo Ramen show this November. Created by the Rest Off Studio group, each girl represents a particular ramen joint and personifies their taste and spirit.

Let’s take a closer look at the girls below:

▼ Kasumi Nihonmatsu from noodle shop Wakamusha

Good with a sword and skilled in hand-to-hand combat, Kasumi vows to protect the power of local food, despite herself being a robot and therefore unable to physically eat. According to her back story, she was initially shelved due to her defects, which included weak running and aerobic ability, but her eyes were opened when the March 11 earthquake hit and now she’s back on the battle lines.

▼ Tamao Itsukusa from Noodle shop Tanatsumono

A modern incarnation of the revered fox god, who has been protecting Fukushima’s bumper crops since time immemorial, Tamao is fighting the evil spirits of rivers and mountains that appeared in the wake of the 2011 earthquake. Armed with a green leaf charged with transformative powers and a gun that shoots purifying legumes, she’s known as the staunch liberator of the group.

▼ Namie Ootamachi from noodle shop Ku-on

Once a bullied orphan, Namie grew up to become a pork-loving carnivore with a talent for fighting. She’s a tomboy who loves sports and can often be found boxing at the gym, fighting under the ring name, “Namie Ocelot”. This mischievous member of the group has the power to knock people out with the greatest of ease.

▼ Mina Tannokoshi from noodle shop Shinsei

Mina was a timid girl until one day, a bowl of black soy ramen changed her values. Now she’s a fighter who lives by the motto “No plan for life”, and eradicates bullies with a bamboo sword in one hand. A complex character, Mina also has a huge sweet tooth and can often be seen carrying around her favourite drink pack. She’s crazy for cats and spends her days searching for the legendary cat park that’s said to exist in the area.

▼ Ryoko Kanayagawa from noodle shop Ukara Yakara

Ryoko was once a member of a biker gang. After a serious accident which left her fighting for her life, she was revitalised thanks to a bowl of noodles from Ukara Yakara. After that, she studied hard and eventually became the leader of an agency for teachers of the handicapped, swapping her biker’s jacket for a long white doctor’s gown. Lately, she has a tendency to fret about health issues but she always keeps a cool and calm manner.

With such unique characters and chequered histories, this is a group of girls we definitely want to see more of, preferably in an action-packed anime short. Until then, we hope their fight for Fukushima is a big success for the small businesses in the area, and that those of you who are in or coming to Japan soon take a trip up to Fukushima to see what it has to offer, not to mention eat some of the best ramen in all of Japan.

Source: Rest Off Studio

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