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Extra sugar, extra salt, extra oil and MSG! |
With every episode, Koizumi explores a wide array of different types of ramen varying in broth, toppings, condiments, and methods of preparation to determine what flavor profile or rexture you get. As the series gets further into Koizumi’s love for ramen, the different bowls that her and her classmates come across get even more exotic with tomato ramen, ramen with green or blue broth, carbonara pasta prepared with ramen, cold ramen, and others. What’s neat is that the series also goes into places to order ramen, and how the different region or restaurant type you go into determines how your ramen will be prepared. Some locations pride themselves on ordering from a list while others have their exclusive bowl as their pride and joy. Everything down to the way you make your order is detailed in this anime, and that alone makes this an extremely worthwhile show to watch and revisit to brush up on your ramen knowledge or fun facts.
Because ramen is the main attraction of the series, our cast is the passenger that drives the message home. Koizumi’s stoic, stand-offish personality isn’t ideal for a slice-of-life heavy series, but does justice to objectively diving into what makes a specific bowl of ramen special in its own way. It is pretty funny to see her switch personalities once she’s in the zone though as she becomes ecstatic, ravenous, and elated when a bowl of ramen is presented in front of her. She even develops slowly throughout the series as she starts getting empathetic about her classmates around her, Yuu included, as well as other fellow ramen fanatics that she comes across in the span of several episodes like a young German girl and a young boy trying to win a test of bravery over a large bowl. It’s also neat to hear how much range Taketatsu Ayana has in how she’s able to play an avoidant and quiet character like Koizumi at the same time she’s playing emotive characters like the rash yet empathetic Yuzu from citrus or the eccentric and boisterous Hotaru from Dagashi Kashi 2. With all the work she’s doing this season, it’s nice to hear that she’s able to give it her all on each show she has on her plate.
The characters surrounding Koizumi have their work cut out for them to help carry the show, and most of them are able to do so efficiently. In particular, Misa and Jun have the best chemistry with Koizumi. Whereas Misa’s penchant for spicy food inadvertently gave her and her rival Koizumi some friendly common ground to work with, Jun ends up being the most endearing friend to Koizumi as she takes some delight in helping Jun get accustomed to ramen again. The only problem with the series, and it’s sadly a larger issue, is Yuu. Her motivations revolve entirely around following Koizumi around to gain her affections despite not wanting her attention. It stops coming off as cute when even the show positions Yuu’s obsession with Koizumi as creepy and obsessive through the soundtrack shifts when she’s jealous or exhilarated about Koizumi. Her friends are significantly more enjoyable to watch bonding with Koizumi, so whenever Yuu shows up either to force herself in Koizumi’s life or get aggressive over someone else having fun with her, it illicits more groans than excitement.
Nonetheless, Ra- Ra- Ra- Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san is definitely a worthwhile series if you want to learn about ramen, have cute girls teach you about almost everything you’d need to know about ramen, or even if you just want to pass the time with a pleasant slice-of-life comedy. Yuu might not be the most ideal protagonist, but Koizumi, Jun, and Misa more than make up for it as they are genuinely fun to follow as we get further insight on what makes ramen such a unique, versatile dish. I’ll definitely miss the show, its beautiful ramen, and its great music tracks such as that amazing ED and that one insert song that almost sounds like “24K Magic”. With the last episode, I felt like even though I was casually following it, it’s sad to see it go. Hopefully, this series’ future continues to brighten with every bowl Koizumi conquers.
The mangaka likes using Yuu as both a framing device and ongoing joke in bringing out Koizumi’s ramen love and failed stalkering.
Some author’s notes:
“I’m grateful I can continue working on this series thanks to everyone’s support…When Vol 1 was released I received many messages and tweets with people’s thoughts and impressions about it…like “I went to that store to eat the ramen” and “I tried making that ramen”. It made really happy…The most interesting message I got was “I’m on a diet, but I felt like I was the one eating ramen whilst reading Koizumi-san”.
– Chp 19 of the manga
Yuu needs some serious medication, but other than that the series was fun. It’s obviously about the ramen, and because of that you never see anything like character growth, but they put enough effort into each ramen dish to almost make them characters on their own. Jun is best girl, though.
I still don’t know about that back fat…
“The only problem with the series, and it’s sadly a larger issue, is Yuu. Her motivations revolve entirely around following Koizumi around to gain her affections despite not wanting her attention. It stops coming off as cute when even the show positions Yuu’s obsession with Koizumi as creepy and obsessive through the soundtrack shifts when she’s jealous or exhilarated about Koizumi. Her friends are significantly more enjoyable to watch bonding with Koizumi, so whenever Yuu shows up either to force herself in Koizumi’s life or get aggressive over someone else having fun with her, it illicits more groans than excitement.”
THANK YOU! I kept feeling like I was the only one who felt this way among various comments sections. There was just no real good punchline to make me feel that it’s supposed to be purely comedic and not meant to be taken seriously. A couple episodes ago, they even altered the “Ra- Ra- Ra- Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san” cut to sound off-tone after one of Yuu’s creepy, obsessive moments (having a freaking creepy shrine in her room where she keeps a journal of her stalking of Koizumi, cropping cutouts of herself into pictures of Koizumi, and so on).
Yuu’s actions are clearly one of an obsessive stalker who, if left unchecked, would only end up dangerously escalating to where she would end up “removing” anyone or anything that she perceives is “in the way” of her and Koizumi like we saw when she thought her older brother liked Koizumi, and the way she freaks out over her friends getting Koizumi’s contact info, but not her.
It only made me wish that Jun (best girl) was the other main character instead and Yuu was just some random minor character, or even just a one-off. Jun just being more down to earth, actually listened to what Koizumi had to say, seemed genuinely interested in Koizumi’s thoughts about things (like asking about what she wanted to do in her future), and so on. You know, like a FRIEND would.
The show was watchable. Characters were stopping it from being really worth it. Yuu is lost case but neither Koizumi nor Yuu’s friends were able to step up to fill that void. It’s a shame that author couldn’t come up with more likeable characters that have some chemistry together. I don’t regret time I’m spending on this show (I’m at episode 7 right now) but I wouldn’t recomend it to anyone either.
I just watch it for the ramen knowledge.
Its like Dagashi Kashi.
Then theres Takunomi for the alcohol stuff.
I pretty much enjoy these educational shows 😛
I was brainwashed. Completely. I found myself always singing that “Ra- Ra- Ra- Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san” line when I was waiting for elevator alone.
I love watching the girls eating Ramen. But Yuu’s annoyance is runing the show and it made worse when she showed yandere traits.
Makes me really want to eat Ramen.
So many Yuu haters here. You are trying to apply the norms of real life to anime. In real life, Koizumi ramen obsession would be more dangerous for her, then Yuu’s one.
It’s not solely about real life, but also just how Yuu’s character doesn’t really offer anything BUT annoyance, cringe, and/or creep vibes to an otherwise relaxing and enjoyable series compared to her friends and even Yuu’s brother or a group of tourists.
It’s not about realism but about whether you are enjoying it or not. Predictability and repetitiveness in itself is a problem but not as big as when character just leaves bad taste.
I find it both charming and worrisome how sympathetic this woman makes yandere characters. the fall of Yuu to the abyss of madness is very sublime and interesting for me (ramen is out of my diet)
So Gladio’s Waifu?
If there’s one thing I love about this anime, it’s given me a list to of ramen joints I’ll try out the next time I head to Tokyo.
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