Kazumoto Ochiai is One of Tokyo's Ramen Masters - The Experts 

This is that one guy who everyone likes

We must protect this man at all costs

i love going into these little homey ramen shops when in japan. it reminds me of going to a local pub while i was in london. there is just something so casual, unpretentious and relaxing about it.

I wen't there last november because I saw this video and we happened to pass the night nearby. The place was small and felt rundown compared to a lot of other Tokyo ramen restaurant. The food was actually quite good, nothing remarkable but it was standing out a little. We met Kazumoto Ochiai and told him we wen't to his place due to this video(good marketing) and it made him really REALLY happy. So happy he wanted to serve us and all but one of his employee, the manager I assume, stopped him and took the bowls out of his hand so he could serve us. It was a fun moment. 10/10, you should go there!

This guy has a trust worthy face.

He loves to eat. He makes good food. Hes like a chubby bear. Whats not to like?

This guy is like if Iroh came to life and made Ramen, instead of tea.

Manager: You're fired. Kazumoto: Well, I guess I'll become a ramen master then.

I love that the romanticised style does not change when he starts talking about how perfect ramen is for drunk customers.

First Japanese with gorgeous beard i have ever seen ahah. Very likeable man , his love for food reflects into keeping up this profession for 30 years and still want to improve his craft. Wish him all the best.

“If I look back, the first ramen I made tasted horrible” gives me a lot of hope

This guy resonates grandpa energy, I feel like I’m just his grandson despite not being anything close to Japanese.

I've never know that Ramen Santa exists

"We'll stay open forever. As long as everyone's energy lasts." 😭

you can tell he is the type of guy that does this for the people, not for money or any reasons, because he simply loves his food and his community

The guy honestly looks like he'd come in home late whilst there is a dangerous blizzard outside and he also carries a dead bear on his back for diner.

whoever fired Mr. Ochiai, thanks a lot we wouldnt have him if he wasn't laid off from his desk job

I want this man to adopt me. I'm 43.

He looked like he'd give free ramen to a depressed kid to cheer him up which said kid would later be the future hokage

The world needs more people like him. Very simple, yet passionate and kind.

The outside shot of his store is really photogenic, like a scene from anime

I came here when I visited Tokyo in the summer! The atmosphere in the restaurant is really homey, and the soup is amazing! A perfect richness. Also I recommend getting the extra chasiu which they add for only around $1

I’m a 57 year old recent convert to Ramen and particularly the Shoyu style. I’ve never been to Japan, but my son has and is super critical. I strive to achieve something resembling these authentic dishes and loved to see and hear this man’s enthusiasm on the dish. Thanks for posting 👍

you would not _believe_ how excited I was to hear him mention the red onion flakes, it's very common in Taiwan like he said, but also criminally underrated when it comes to the spotlights of Taiwanese dishes

"At a time like this, ramen is a simple, but perfect dish..." I felt that

I love how every freaking Japanese chef is super knowledgeable about their speciality and yet so humble enough to make jokes about themselves and being grounded

He looks like a character in anime that love everyone and loved by everyone, who secretly possessed superb cooking skills. When the main protagonist feeling depressed or needed help in cooking competition, he will appears out of no where then he begin to tell the audience who he was and how his recipe created. Just like Fujiwara Bunta, just an ordinary old man who runs a tofu shop but he's actually a retired professional racer and still the fastest driver on mount akina.

I always try to go to Japan every 2 to 3 years and I'll definitely be going back to Tokyo the next time to find this man and his restaurant. I can already tell that the ramen would be delicious by this man's passion

I wish Japanese Santa would visit me and pour his ramen into my stockings. Edit : lol 1,7k likes on this weird ass comment

I really love places like these. It's not a very-street food type place, and it's not like one of those "exclusive" expensive food type place. It'll just make you feel at home

"I am not sure this is my vocation" "My restaurant has been opened since 30 years" well...

Just play the video, close your eyes and focus on Kazumoto-San's voice. It feels so relaxing. Now I can only wonder how amazing his Ramen gonna be.

He said Fujianese ahhhhhhhh, I'm Fujianese. I'm freaking out because Fujian is one of the lesser known provinces in China. It's so cool that he knows about our crusine. We make great fish balls and dumplings hehe. Edit: Also we make really good peanut butter noodles. It's a classic

clicked like at: "This is how I got this big stomach."

Looks so damn good and he seems like a passionate chef, I'm wishing I was there just to try it, would be an honor, this dude is a legend for this...

I made a huge mistake watching this on an empty stomach

It’s a great shop. Very convenient for the Roppongi crowd

Insightful! Brilliant interview with a ramen owner who has this foodie debonair aura flowing about and shining especially when talking about how much he enjoys eating. I'll definitely be adding Kaotan Ramen to my list on places to visit while in Tokyo so I can meet the Japanese Santa Claus of Ramen. Also looks like he could tell a tale or two about long voyages at sea.

3:11 "There is no such thing as a perfect noodle. Whether it's hard or soft, people have different preferences."

You know he is a master when he can confidently say that the first ramen he made tasted horrible.

The quality of a chefs cooking directly related to the size of his belly

I could listen to that man for hours. I wouldn't know what he is saying but i would smile and nod and enjoy his smile and soft and peaceful voice and aura.

I love this man's mentality. "I'm still working to make my ramen better. I'm not satisfied with it. My restaurant has been open for 30 years." The eternal pursuit of perfection.

Man, that ramen looks so good. That's the kind of food I really miss from Japan, the little street hanten, the food carts, the common food.

this bowl of ramon could end wars. We should share food together.

Well, I just ate and now im hungry again. Life is hard!

I absolutely love ramen, it’s always been one of my favourite foods. Recently I’ve started trying to make better ramen by using eggs and veggies, but damn I can’t get over how good some of this stuff looks. This man looks so friendly as well

I have absolutely watched a hundred videos about this dish. They where helpful but they wasn’t anything like this. Now I truly know the heart of this dish and how to make it my own. Thank you ♥️

Ramen is one of my all time favorite food and this looks crazy delicious.

I'm surprised how a Japanese chef has the face of Hemingway

As an italian, I can easily understand his quest for cooking and offering the best product he can. When there's love involved, the result is always stunning.

surprised I am not the only one who adored this man at first sight from the thumbnail.... it's weird how some people just enter the heart instantly.

'1 second after looking at this man face. ' Me: I like this guy already

he looks like the japanese Bud Spencer/Carlo Pedersoli

20年前の高校時代から行ってます。 最近は一ヶ月前に行きました。 ラーメン好きで色々行ってますがここ以外他にありません。 しょうゆざべすと✨

this is my dream destination, omg... shoyu ramen is my favorite Japanese food, I love little rustic gloomy shacks and unknown parts of the urban landscape, the aesthetic is amazing, AND my man my boi as if reading my mind, chars up some crispy seared gyoza... I could live here

I like this guy and his expression when he said “...the rest are secret”

It’s kinda crazy to think someone thought starting a restaurant during a recession was a good idea... and then that it worked...

Ochiai San seems to be a likeable character and almost looks like late French actor Jean Gabin in "Archimède le Clochard" from 1959. That he found his new job by first being fired and discovering his love for food and eating is only fitting.

his love is the food he serves, not the customer, not the money or the fame. he loves to eat and to share his findings. always great if you can life your dream and can make other people happy with it. you can see it in his face.

Ramen Masters maybe the best chefs. They contrast food flavor texture spice for a $3 bowl of noodles.

Ramen with deep fried onion flakes? That's it, I'm booking a ticket to Japan.

I love ramen. I was recently in Japan on a ramen adventure. Trying all sorts. I was in heaven. His ramen looks very delicious. Most shops like this one make excellent ramen.

I'm unsure as to why all the thumbs down - ramen haters gonna hate. Having lived in Japan for 5 1/2 years, ramen restaurants are as unique as they are ubiquitous. Getting a back story on a restaurant owner is a treat, not something you learn often - privacy, humility and a lack of self promotion are hallmarks of most Japanese.

It really looks super delicious. Made me hungry again

"I ate around a lot" "...Dad?"😢

The soup at this place is actually something special. Hard to get to but well worth the effort.

I have a soft spot for good natured people like this man. From the way he talks about himself and his profession, he is very sympathetic. If I ever come to Japan, I’d want to locate his shop and meet him in person.

I was a 12 year old that ran the streets of Yokohama in the mid 60's. This ramenya reminds me of a place i stop into a lot. A bowl of plain ramen was 100 yen. About 27 cents USD!

Hearing japanese cooks talk about their passions is like asmr to me xD

I study Chinese in Fujian province. He mentioned it with the Yo Tsong. Japanese cuisine adopted so much stuff from there, and many products keep being produced in the same place and imported to Japan. It made me so happy that he gave the credit. Btw I also thought of him as a Japanese Bud Spencer.

Not only do the ramen look to die for and the chef lovely, but the interiour is so nice. Now I must go there.

He looks like Japanese version of Santa Claus

The Japanese Bud Spencer is a Ramen Master Chef. Now my life is fullfilled XD

man really knows a lot about ramen, he made me realize that i shouldn't be savoring ramen so much. i usually cannot finish ramen as i get "too full" but i can finish all the side dishes i ordered, i have now realized it's me rejecting the ramen because the noodles are too soggy and the umami is gone. thank you for the pointers master

I just love these types of short documentaries, let the person talk let us see his passion and hear his story with beautiful camerawork in the back ground! And let's not forget, thank you ramen santa! as I have forgotten your name whilst writing this comment sorry! It looks like a definite visit if I ever pass by!

This is cool, just like Ichiraku Ramen.

The Japanese can make an art out of anything lol

Thats so cool that the Yo Tsong is an aroma oil and almost a topping as well, I really like that

He look like somebody who gave people present . So i trust him .

Oh damn. I didn't realize until the end that he's not talking about the recession THIS millenia XD. More like the one in Japan in the 80s?

In germany we have saying: love goes through the stomach... It has several meanings, but one thing is allways the same, a good meal is good for the love...

I worked at Pacific Stars and Stripes newspaper, directly across the street from Kaotan Ramen, for 5 years in the late 90s. I ate there at least once a week -- it's the size of a large bathroom with 2 picnic tables. In 2019 I revisited and it was still exactly the same. Delicious. Nice vid.

I love how the Japanese approach their craft.

I am starving why am i watching this?

I want an anime based on this man!

humble living, humble work, good living. Good life. Good man.

He's really good! Quit job because office job mostly tired(mentality) and he found new path by opening ramen shop! Glad he do what he want and shared his happiness through the ramen he work so hard! I would love to try some!

Now I know the first place I'm going when I visit Tokyo!!

“I love to eat.” Same here, my friend.

This chef treats ramen like an art. Those are the chefs you want to eat from.

i used to work in a ramen shop last year man id be really glad working for him idk why but he seems like a wise chef to be around and learn many stuffs just imagine late night talks while cookin O.O before the rest closes

I am going in Tokyo in exactly one month and will be eating there :D

This man makes me feel safe and at home and I don’t even know him

I like this guy. I would love to try a bowl of his ramen.

He’s so wholesome

awww he looks like a soft grandpa! :))

"Since I liked eating, i did alot of eating around" I can relate to that

Those ramen eggs look so perfect. They're "easy" but so perfect. I'd love to try this ramen, hopefully it'll be more perfect(than it already looks to be) if I ever make it there.

Wow love from India 🇮🇳 it's looking delicious