Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2010

No one can accuse Toshio Yamamoto of lacking passion for his hobby. The cup-ramen aficionado has parlayed his success on YouTube—where his 40-second noodle reviews have been watched millions of times—into a comprehensive new book. Sokuseki Mencyclopedia (er, “Instant Noodle Encyclopedia”) features 1,046 varieties of cup noodles, ranging from the conventional (Nissin’s 20th anniversary ramen) to the outré (freeze-dried noodles prepared by a chef at the Yokohama InterContinental hotel). Products are organized according to flavor profile (salt, miso, etc.) or noodle type (udon, yaki-soba), with photos, ingredient lists, preparation methods, and even calorie counts. Yamamoto intersperses the write-ups with brief essays on topics like “The Mysterious Korokke Ramen” and “The Oldest Existing Cup Noodle in my House.”

¥1,700, 196pp. Available from bookstores throughout the city.