Part 7/9:
By the mid-1960s, saturated sales in Japan led Ando to explore the American market, where he found a new preparation style for instant ramen—crumbling the noodles into a cup and adding hot water. Inspired by this observation, he invented Cup Noodles, which combined cooking and serving into one convenient package. This innovative product was launched in 1971 and became hugely successful, far outpacing the original Chicken Ramen in sales. Cup Noodles even altered Japanese dining culture, encouraging people to eat while on the go.