3月13日（木）の春の例会午餐会が京王プラザホテルの「扇の魔」で開催され本協会の理事で、西山製麺（株）の代表取締役の西山　隆司社長に、今では世界35ヵ国で愛されている『世界へ広がるサッポロラーメン文化～札幌ラーメン誕生秘話と未来～」のテーマで語って頂きました。ちなみに、中華そばではなく、「ラーメン」の開発が着手されたのは1946年で、これがベースとなり「札幌ラーメン」は社長の父親である西山孝之がラーメン屋台「だるま軒」に入り製麺部門を担当した時に遡ることができます。

Sapporo Ramen Culture is now “in boom” at 350 stores in 35 counties. A little known fact outside of Hokkaido is that Japanese ramen was born in Sapporo. On March 13^th at the Keio Plaza Hotel, Sapporo, members of the America-Japan Society of Hokkaido learned about the history of ramen, its hidden past and what lies ahead for its future.

Our guest for Spring luncheon meeting was Takashi Nishiyama, President of Nishiyama Seimen, who spoke on the proliferation of “Sapporo Ramen” in 35 countries on the globe. He focused his presentation on Sapporo Ramen culture—why its taste has become widespread — and how and when Sapporo Ramen was born. Ramen`s innovation and transformation from Chinese noodles to “ramen” took place in Sapporo in 1946. “Sapporo Ramen” was born in 1950, when Mr. Nishiyama ‘s father became involved in Ramen noodle-making as a vender at the “Daruma (Dahma) Ken” ramen kitchen car.

岩

岩田圭剛会長会長の御挨拶President Keigou Iwata gives a few remarks.

西山社長によると、2025年3月現在、札幌生まれの食材を使った札幌ラーメン店は、アジアから北米、ヨーロッパ、中東、オーストラリアへと広がり、35ヵ国・地域、さらに南極昭和基地など350店へ「メイドイン札幌・北海道のラーメン、たれ、食材を北海道の石狩港、苫小牧港から冷凍コンテナで現地法人へ直接輸出されているとの事です。その後、味噌ラーメンが1955年に「味の三平」の大宮守人が、ロナルド・ガイダク(Ronald Daiduk)アメリカ総領事)のお力添えによって世間に知られるようになります。そのため、ウイリアム・ハガティ駐日米国大使やアール・エマニュエル駐日米国大使なども西山製麺使用の札幌ラーメンのファンでもあります。

According to Mr. Nishiyama, as of March,2025, there are 350 ramen stores in 35 countries in the world—Asia, North America, Europe, Middle East, Australia, and even at Japan’s Antarctic base! Massive volumes of “Made in Sapporo Ramen,” the soup, the ingredients–including halal items – are exported to from Tomakomai and Ishikari by frozen container.

Sapporo Miso Ramen was invented in 1955 by Mr. Shuto Ohmiya, a proprietor of the “Ajino Sanpei” Ramen store but it was Ronald Daiduk, U.S. Consul in Sapporo (1960～1963) who promoted the delicacy of Sapporo Miso Ramen. Two U.S. Ambassadors to Japan -Willam Hagarty and Rahm Emanuel — who enjoyed the vegetable soup based amen –were said to be great fans of Sapporo Miso Ramen.

In February 2024, Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan visited Nishiyama Seimen with his wife and were thrilled to eat Sapporo Ramen. Ambassador Emanuel mentioned that “It’s `Rahmen`-time! Can`t come to Sapporo without eating a bowl of miso ramen. What’s a better lunch than Nishiyama Seimen’s noodles with Hokkaido’s business leaders?”

@USAmbjapan(Feb.7,2024)

河関憲明スポーツ部会長 ゴルフ部会のスジュールを発表。Noriaki Kozeki, Director of The AJSH’s Athletic  program, talks about Golf event schedule.