Ramen Heads (2017)

Ramen Heads: Directed by Koki Shigeno. With Shôta Iida, Kumiko Ishida, Katsuya Kobayashi, Yûki Ohnishi. In ‘Ramen Heads,’ Osamu Tomita, Japan’s reigning king of ramen, takes us deep into his world, revealing every single step of his obsessive approach to creating the perfect soup and noodles, and his relentless search for the highest-quality ingredients. In addition to Tomita’s story, the film also profiles five other notable ramen shops, each with its own philosophy and flavour, which exemplify various different aspects the ramen world. Mixing in a brief rundown of ramen’s historical roots, the film gives viewers an in-depth look at the culture surrounding this unique and beguiling dish. This is a documentary record of 15 months in the lives of Japan’s top ramen masters and their legions of devoted fans.

“This documentary is about craftsmanship. How a bowl of ramen can be so seemingly simple and yet chefs all over Japan pour their heart and souls into this versatile and completely satisfying dish. Tomita is a passionate chef and the film explores his drive towards constantly evolving his #1 ranked ramen in Japan even after a decade of fame and success. I highly recommend watching this as it shows so much appreciation for ramen and introduced many to Japanese cuisine on the world stage. You will surely be craving a bowl after you watch this! Or even book your flight to Japan to become a true Ramen Head!”