Nissin Announces ‘Otohiko’ Noise-Cancelling Ramen Fork
Ron Perillo / 7 years ago
Osaka, Japan based company Nissin takes ramen eating seriously. After all they have made billions selling instant ramen over the years. Their latest announcement however, is not a consumable product, but a unique fork specifically for ramen consumption.
Called the ‘Otohiko’, the device boasts noise cancelling features which negate the audible slurping noise from eating ramen. In oriental cultures, slurping ramen is a socially acceptable practice while it is frowned upon in occidental countries. This high-tech fork aims to bridge that gap.
Recent instances of ヌーハラ or ‘noodle harassment‘, has the Japanese feeling uncomfortable eating ramen the traditional way. Which is apparently a concern big enough that Nissin is actually creating this product. The trailer shows this cultural boundary traversed through the technological innovation. “With the Otohiko, you can slurp as much as you want” claims the ad. Many Japanese feel that slurping is the proper way and actually enhances the flavour of the ramen.
Pricing and Availability
The Otohiko will retail for around £99, but it will have a limited run of 5,000 units. The device is rather large for a fork due to the microphone inside. It actually resembles an electric toothbrush, having a wide base containing batteries and electronics.
Otohiko Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxocP_Maj1Y
