Ando Momofuku. Mister Noodles

On August 15, 1945, the voice of Emperor Hirohito cried out from every radio station in Japan, announcing the end of World War II. Hurt and ruined, the Empire of the Rising Sun now faced a looming and unique demographic crisis ; the country had lost its colonies along with the war, and 8 million people were being repatriated to their homeland archipelago. Hunger gripped the nation, and the queues in the streets for just a simple bowl of soup stretched endlessly.
Amidst this gloom, an idea was born from a daring spirit. Legendary entrepreneur Ando Momofoku had touched a broad range of interests in textiles, aviation, coal, and schools. In 1951, he launched into the ramen market with a guiding principle that was unprecedented : dried noodles that could be ready to eat in only three minutes. Easy, nutritious, and delicious. Resounding commercial success followed, and one of the world's largest food companies was born—Nissin Food.