National treasures past and present collide!

Over 1,000 of Japan’s most precious works of physical art and architecture are officially designated as Kokuho (lit. National Treasure) and are provided the protection of the national government for their preservation. It’s a system that is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year with the help of the Kokuho Support Project.

And pitching in is Japan’s most valuable unofficial national treasure of modern history, Cup Noodle. In recent years, Nissin has been becoming increasingly bold with their array of strange and wonderful side products such as the fork that covers up slurping noises. This time they have truly outdone themselves by creating the Jomon Doki Doki Cooker which goes on sale 6 November at 10 a.m. This instant ramen vessel is a faithful recreation of Kaengata Doki pottery from the Middle Jomon period, dating back to roughly 3,000 BC.

▼ An actual Kaengata Doki from the Jomon period

Wikipedia/Daderot

Among the oldest of Japan’s National Treasures, these pieces of earthenware are appreciated for the high level of prehistoric craftsmanship, having been shaped in the image of fire. They also signify the dawn of civilization in Japan when humans began to develop communities partly based on the cooking that could be done thanks to the invention of Jomon pottery.

And now you can too!

▼ Jomon Doki Doki Cooker

Nissin spared no expense to create their own piece of Jomon pottery working in collaboration with the experts at Waraku magazine and the kiln masters at Seto Hongyo with over 250 years of experience in the earthenware game. Simulating the ancient techniques, each Jomon Doki Doki Cooker (“doki doki” is pun on the Japanese word for both pottery and excitement) is carefully decorated by combing with a bamboo skewer much like it was done four millennia ago.

The Jomon Doki Doki Cooker works by lifting the flame-shaped lid of and placing your Cup Noodle inside. After adding the hot water, the ceramic cover can be used to hold down the cup’s foil lid for the three minutes needed to soften the contents. The lid also acts as a dignified and practical chopstick holder.

Many online marveled at this exquisite work:

“I would love that!”
“Hmm, looks good but I’d rather have Yayoi period quality at least.”
“There’s only 15… The race is on to be the sole YouTuber to get one!”
“I wish I had enough money to be the kind of jerk who would buy all 15 of them at once.”
“Oh, I thought it said Doki Doki Cookie…”
“I can wait for someone to discover these 4,000 years from now.”

By now you might be thinking, “I’d easily pay a million yen for this!” Well, if you are one of those few people, I have fantastic news: The Jomon Doki Doki Cooker only costs 59,800 yen (US$524) from the Nissin website linked below. That’s less than six cups of the world’s most expensive coffee!

As great a deal as it is, you’ll have to act fast because quantities are extremely limited at just 15. So, if you have to get a Christmas present for that person who has everything, you can pretty much guarantee they don’t have this.

If you miss out on these, there will be one more chance by signing up for a Jomon Doki Doki workshop at the Cup Ramen Museum in Yokohama in January for a chance to make your own. Or you can always just try to track down one of their cheaper and more practical titanium Cup Noodle cookers for camping.

The Jomon Doki Doki Cooker can be purchased here starting 6 November at 10 a.m. JST until supplies last.

Source: Nissin, Japaaan, My Game News Flash, Facebook/Kokuho Support Project
Images: Nissin, Nissin Store