The lazy meal by nature, over the past decades instant ramen has become the college guy/girl's food per excellence, and this year Google acknowledges by honoring Momofuku Ando, instant ramen's creator and the savior of just about anyone in the world that's too lazy to prepare a full-fledged meal!
Google Doodles have been dedicated to some of the most incredible people in history, from Nikola Tesla to Jules Verne, and now it's time for Momofuku Ando from instant ramen, the man responsible for revolutionizing Japanese cuisine in the 50s with one of the biggest cultural exports of the country.
According to Vox, Momofuku Ando's instant ramen started when the Japanese man was in his 40s, as inspiration hit him when he was around a stall of ramen in Osaka during the years of the recent postwar, something he recounted himself in his autobiography - and has ever since become the subject of legend.
As The Independent reports, Momofuku Ando's instant ramen came to him as he saw the hunger his people had to endure, considering they had to wait hours for a bowl of ramen after the country was devastated by the shortages caused by their loss in World War II, which also meant that two of its major cities (namely, Hiroshima and Nagasaki) suffered from atomic bombs.
Today, Google marks Momofuku Ando's instant ramen creation by dedicating a Doodle to him, on what would have been his 105th birthday - the man himself died in 2007 at 96 (an age not uncommon for Japanese, as they'll often have very long lives), but his legacy carries on.
Time Magazine hails Ando as "the king of quick cuisine," as he invented one of the first-ever instant dishes. Not only did he invent the instant ramen, but he continued to work on the original invention and, well into his 90s, he created Space Ram, instant noodles that are meant to be eaten by astronauts in space!
Now, whenever you're adding hot water and waiting for three minutes before your dinner is served, remember that Momofuku Ando's instant ramen made your meal possible.
