The History of Instant Noodles - From Postwar Hunger to Prison Currency

The history of instant noodles begins with postwar hunger in Japan and ends somewhere few would expect: the American prison system. This video follows the history of instant noodles from Osaka in 1946 to Momofuku Ando, who lost nearly everything before creating Chicken Ramen. From a backyard shed, the history of instant noodles entered the modern age with Cup Noodles. But this is not just an invention story. After prison and business failure, Ando started over at 47. His product spread far beyond Japan, while cheap ramen became prison currency in American facilities. The history of instant noodles is also tied to postwar wheat and fierce competition. It is a side of the history of instant noodles rarely told. Timeline 00:00: Osaka 1946 02:40: Wu Baifu becomes Momofuku Ando 03:50: Prison and collapse 06:28: American wheat changes Japan 08:50: Backyard shed 10:40: Flash-frying 11:20: Chicken Ramen 15:09: Cup Noodles goes global 21:56: Ramen becomes prison currency 25:23: Space Ram 26:40: The truth behind the legend Subscribe to Hidden History. Join the channel membership. Donate to support new films. Follow Hidden History on Facebook. #history #instantnoodles #hiddenhistory