House Foods Corporation will release a new limited-edition Umakacchan Kurume Tonkotsu instant ramen in the Kyushu, Okinawa, and Yamaguchi Prefecture regions starting February 2, 2026.
Kurume Ramen, one of Fukuoka's three major tonkotsu ramen styles and considered the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen, will celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2027. To commemorate this milestone, Umakacchan — the No. 1 instant bag ramen in Kyushu (※) — has created a product that captures the essence of Kurume Ramen.
※ Source: Created by House Foods Corporation using data from KSP-SP. Period: January to December 2025. Target: Supermarkets in Kyushu. Subcategory: Instant bag noodles.
Features
Approved by the Kurume Ramen Association!
Umakacchan Delivers the Distinctive Features of Kurume Ramen: Frothy Dark-Colored Soup and Rich Tonkotsu Aroma
To bring the enjoyment of Kurume Ramen to households, this Umakacchan product faithfully recreates the characteristic features of Kurume Ramen — the frothy dark-colored tonkotsu soup that forms when hot water is poured and the intense tonkotsu aroma. After completion, members of the Kurume Ramen Association tasted the product and gave their stamp of approval.
Comments from the Kurume Ramen Association
"While there are many instant ramen products claiming to recreate 'Kurume Ramen, the birthplace of tonkotsu!', Umakacchan Kurume Tonkotsu stands out with its excellent noodle soup absorption, rich and viscous broth, making it a wonderfully finished product. It successfully expresses the 'fat foam' and 'savory richness' unique to Kurume Ramen, and it's so delicious at this price point that one might worry whether it's okay to enjoy such tasty ramen! Please give it a try!"
Development Background and Commitment
①Creating a New Umakacchan to Celebrate Kurume Ramen Culture as It Reaches Its 90th Anniversary
Since its launch in 1979, Umakacchan has been beloved primarily by people in Kyushu. In gratitude to the people of Kyushu who have nurtured the brand, and with a desire to continue walking alongside Kyushu, the "Kyushu Energizing Project" was launched in 2021. Through this project, Umakacchan has been collaborating with Kyushu companies, organizations, ingredients, and people to develop products and promotions. This new product development began as part of this project, driven by the desire to "celebrate Kurume Ramen culture as it approaches its 90th anniversary in 2027, recognized as the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen!" The goal is for regular Umakacchan consumers, Kurume Ramen enthusiasts, and those curious about new flavors to try this new Umakacchan that captures the essence of Kurume Ramen.
②Developed by a Native of Kurume City! The Challenge of Recreating the Frothy Soup While Achieving a Strong Tonkotsu Aroma... Selected "Seasoning Powder That Makes Tonkotsu Umami and Aroma Stand Out" from Various Seasonings
The product developer, a native of Kurume City, dedicated themselves to creating the flavor of Umakacchan Kurume Tonkotsu with great passion, even making a 3-day business trip to Kurume where they consumed 16 bowls of Kurume Ramen to study the authentic taste.
The biggest challenge was recreating the frothy appearance characteristic of Kurume Ramen's "continuously replenished soup" while achieving a strong tonkotsu aroma. After examining various tonkotsu-flavored seasonings, they discovered "seasoning powder that makes tonkotsu umami and aroma particularly stand out," which could reproduce the intense tonkotsu flavor characteristic of Kurume Ramen. By building the flavor profile around this base, they finally created a product they were satisfied with. This product uses more than double the amount of pork seasoning powder compared to regular Umakacchan. Please enjoy the frothy surface that forms when the soup is poured, the rich and creamy broth, and the appetite-stimulating strong tonkotsu aroma.
About the "Kyushu Energizing Project"
Umakacchan, on sale since 1979, has been supported across generations for over 45 years. The long-standing support for Umakacchan is built not only on the original development concept of "ramen by Kyushu people, for Kyushu people," but also on customers' unwavering love for Kyushu.
However, the population of the Kyushu region, which was approximately 14.21 million in 2020, is expected to decrease to about 13.47 million by 2030 (National Institute of Population and Social Security Research 2018 estimate). As Umakacchan is a local brand with approximately 70% of sales in the Kyushu, Okinawa, and Yamaguchi regions, the question arose: what can Umakacchan, nurtured by Kyushu, do for the region? If a single product has limited capabilities, why not gather companions who share the same vision?
With these thoughts, the "Kyushu Energizing Project" was launched in 2021. The project aims to support Kyushu's regions, companies, organizations, and customers through various activities.
- "Kyushu Energizing Project" special website URL:
https://housefoods.jp/products/special/umakachan/pj_kyushu.html
Product Overview
●Product Name / Contents / Price:
Umakacchan Kurume Tonkotsu / 93g (noodles 80g) / Suggested retail price ¥136 (excluding tax)
Umakacchan Kurume Tonkotsu 5-pack / 93g (noodles 80g) × 5 servings / Suggested retail price ¥680 (excluding tax)
●Release Date: February 2, 2026 (limited-time release)
●Sales Region: Kyushu, Okinawa, and Yamaguchi Prefecture
- Umakacchan brand website:
https://housefoods.jp/products/special/umakachan/index.html (scheduled to be updated in early February)
(Reference) About the "Kurume Ramen Association"
Comprised of 7 ramen shops in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, this organization aims to promote "Kurume, the sacred birthplace of tonkotsu ramen!" to Japan and the world.
Member ramen shops:
Nankin Senryo Honke, Taiho Ramen, Raifukuken, Taiei Ramen, Nankin Senryo Marine, Mohican Ramen Ajiichiya, Ramen Kurume Honda Shoten
- "Kurume Ramen Association" Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kurumeramenkai/
