Inside Nissin Foods: Pride, Delays, and the Ramen Savior
What should I call the world's first instant ramen developer's Japanese factory? Immaculately clean? It was so spotless, not a speck of dust allowed anywhere, with everything perfectly organized.
Even more impressive, the workers' faces radiated pride. Their confidence in the product they made shone through every precise movement of their hands.
This was the standard ramen production process: dough mixing, rolling, forming, steaming, shaping, cutting, oil-frying, and drying. There were supposedly six more steps if you got into the details.
Since the main ingredient was flour, they prepared the noodles by mixing dough, then rolled it multiple times into thin sheets in the forming process, followed by steaming at around 100 degrees Celsius to partially cook the noodles.
Most importantly...
"It's steam, right?"
The female employee looked startled at my words.
"You know your stuff. At Nissin Foods, we use steam for steaming. This gelatinizes the starch, so later, you just pour hot water and it cooks quickly."
"Heeey~ You know more about it than I do."
"Hohoho~ I'm in sales now, but I started in production for three years. I'm good with numbers, so they moved me to sales later."
"Ooh!"
I gave her a thumbs-up, and her shoulders naturally puffed up with pride.
"And you, Han Seoyeon-san, know this industry so well for such a young age."
Of course I did. In my previous life, I'd been a ramen researcher and developer. Did she know that? Or that I had all of Nissin Foods' future ramen recipes memorized?
She'd probably laugh it off as a joke if I told her.
I definitely need to expand into Japan.
The Japanese market couldn't be ignored. For Hansung Food to grow bigger, exports were essential—and Japan was the tallest wall to climb, but also the surest opportunity.
"Oh! Yukiko? Who's that kid? New face."
A sudden voice made her turn. There stood a man who looked like the heart of this factory at first glance. Neatly combed-back hair. Spotless work uniform. Mid-forties, maybe.
"Huh? Isn't that Director Shinichi? Aren't you in a meeting?"
"Tsk tsk, meetings are made for sneaking out early. Who'd complain if I leave?"
"...As the director, sure."
I watched Director Shinichi approach Yukiko, my eyes sparkling. Because in the future, this Shinichi would develop the ramen that made Nissin explode in popularity.
If I entered the Japanese market, I'd definitely end up in a rivalry with him.
"Hello?"
A little Korean girl—not even Japanese—speaking fluent Japanese stunned him.
"Wow, kids these days get early education, huh? More fluent than some Japanese people."
"She's the only daughter of the Hansung family. She was touring the factory with me."
"Really? Then Director Shinichi can't miss showing off Nissin Foods. What do you want to see?"
We'd come to sign a contract for equipment, but technically, I was just an outsider here. There was plenty I wanted to see, but I couldn't just blurt it out.
But with him openly offering, refusing would be rude.
"Everything!"
"E-everything?"
"Yes! Nissin Foods is Japan's top food company. You'll export a ton later too."
"Whoa~ This kid's smart. At her age, I was just playing with toys in the neighborhood..."
Shinichi scratched the back of his head with a hollow laugh.
"The world changes so fast."
It wasn't the world changing fast—it was me, reborn with past-life memories. Of course, I never said that out loud.
I just smiled innocently, like any clueless kid.
"Alright! Follow Director Shinichi. I'll show you everything about Nissin Foods."
"Woooow~"
This guy's surprisingly straightforward. Thanks to him, I got a full two-hour tour of the Nissin Foods factory.
Usually, when visiting other companies, I scrutinize the good and bad points, noting improvements. That's benchmarking—ditch the bad, take the good.
Nissin Foods' process definitely had more to take than to discard.
"Hehe~"
I tucked it all away meticulously in my mind. This body had freakishly good memory and physical abilities beyond other kids'. Reincarnation perk?
Later, I'd tell Dad to improve our process based on Nissin's strengths.
After the factory tour, sitting in the waiting room lost in happy daydreams, Grandpa and Director Woo appeared looking glum. What happened? They looked pale.
"Big trouble."
"Why? What happened?"
Grandpa answered my question.
"The contract fell through."
"What? Why?"
The mood had seemed good.
Grandpa sighed deeply.
"Something big happened at Nissin. Our deal's postponed indefinitely because of it."
Director Woo nodded.
"Looks like we'll wait at the hotel for a bit."
"Yeah. Since we have to wait anyway, might as well scout the market while we're in Japan. Right, Seoyeon?"
"Yes!"
Yay! Japan trip!
Something big at Nissin? No room for me to butt in. Even as the Hansung family's precious only daughter, I was just an outsider here.
If it couldn't be solved, chilling until results came wasn't bad.
At Nongwon Headquarters, Seo Jieun sat across from her uncle, Division Head Jang Sehun, talking.
"So, Hansung's Chairman Han Seongcheol went to Japan?"
"Yeah. But there's a weird rumor."
"Weird rumor?"
Jang Sehun's low voice dripped with unease.
"That he went with the Hansung family's only daughter."
"What? The only daughter? She's just turning six, right?"
"Exactly why it's suspicious. For an official overseas business trip related to the group, why take a six-year-old instead of eldest son Vice Chairman Han Umin?"
"Pfft~ Probably just grandpa wanting time with his granddaughter."
"Maybe. But at this timing?"
"......"
No one would call it normal. The Hansung family's only daughter, Han Seoyeon. Six years old, but infamous in business circles for facing Hyundai's Chairman Jeong Munju alone.
A kid that age should wail facing the intimidating chairman. Surviving was impressive, but beating him? No ordinary child.
"...Successor training?"
Seo Jieun cautiously suggested. But Jang Sehun shook his head.
"A six-year-old girl as successor? With all those Hansung sons above? Impossible."
"Sigh, nothing resolved and work piling up. Anyway, did you find out who met Choi Youngseok?"
"About that..."
He trailed off regretfully.
"Sorry. Couldn't."
"What? Just bribe some association guy."
"Choi Youngseok's influence is beyond imagination. They won't talk even for money."
"I see..."
"But."
Watching her dismay, Jang Sehun continued slowly.
"Not sure if it's reliable, but it seems the one who met Choi Youngseok is the person who developed Hansung Food's products."
"Really?"
"Yeah. That's certain. That person's the real power moving Hansung Food now."
"!"
Seo Jieun clenched her fists white-knuckled. Nongwon was in emergency mode after back-to-back project failures, with blame flying everywhere.
She glanced at her uncle. Sweat poured down his forehead like a waterfall. Execs were about to demand his removal.
If Ansimtangmyeon failed too, he was done.
"Uncle."
"Yeah?"
"Can we succeed with Ansimtangmyeon?"
"......"
The usually confident Jang Sehun faltered.
"Depends on Hansung. Hope our product doesn't overlap again. Unless it's divine intervention..."
"Yeah, probably."
"Obviously. We locked down info internally for Ansimtangmyeon. Legal action for leaks."
"Right. I think it'll be different. Ansimtangmyeon is unique."
They nodded at each other. Hope glimmered this time.
I gaped wide-eyed. Before me stood the world-renowned "father of ramen."
Ando Momofuku. The man who first brought instant ramen to the world.
Japan, defeated in World War II, faced severe food shortages—and ramen was born then. Rice and flour were rationed, never enough, fueling discontent.
Ando Momofuku solved Japan's food crisis. A true savior born of the era.
"You're Han Seoyeon? Chairman Han told me. Nice to meet you. I'm Ando Momofuku."
"Hello?"
Emotion surged like a wave. Every ramen researcher heard his name at least ten times.
He expressed regret to Chairman Han Seongcheol.
"You came for equipment, but unexpected circumstances delayed things. I'm truly sorry."
"No, Nissin has its reasons."
"Sigh..."
Ando looked deeply troubled. If I could help now, it'd pay off later. What was it? Something happened around this time...
Huh?
A fleeting memory sharpened.
Around now, rumors spread in Japan that ramen harmed health.
I recalled Ando Momofuku's autobiography from my past life. The solution—a tech years away, unfinished by anyone.
"People saying ramen hurts health?"
"How did you know?"
I recited impressions from days ago strolling Japanese streets with Grandpa.
"Japanese people avoiding ramen. But it's not unhealthy at all."
"...I see. That's why things are tough. Can't supply equipment to Hansung Food. Our own necks are on the line."
No! We needed Nissin's help for equipment now.
"Do you know about non-fried noodles?"
"What? Non-fried noodles?"
Ando jumped up, eyes wide.
How do you know that?