Momofuku Ando

Inventor of instant noodles who revolutionized global food culture

Born in 1910 in Japanese-occupied Taiwan, Momofuku Ando created the world's first instant noodles - Chicken Ramen - in 1958. His invention emerged during post-war food shortages and transformed eating habits worldwide. Using flash-frying technology, Ando developed noodles that could be rehydrated with hot water in minutes.

The true breakthrough came in 1971 with Space Ramen - cup noodles designed for NASA astronauts. This innovation featured freeze-dried ingredients and a waterproof polystyrene container, making it the first meal eaten in space by Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi in 2005.

Ando's company Nissin Foods now operates 29 factories globally, producing over 100 billion servings annually. The Instant Ramen Museum in Osaka showcases his legacy, attracting 700,000 visitors yearly. His creation became cultural icon - Japan's first satellite TV broadcast in 1984 featured instant noodle commercials.