Reasons Why I Love 日本 #2

ラーメン (Ramen). Technically, this is Chinese, but Japan has adopted Ramen over the past few centuries and taken ownership. Before coming to Japan, my understanding of Ramen was limited to Top Ramen and Cup Noodles--cheap meals that helped me avoid bad cafeteria food in college. Turns out it was a limited perception--there are tons of varieties of Ramen (often based on local specialties), and there are Ramen shops EVERYWHERE. My personal favorite is ねぎ (onion) Ramen with a miso base.