MENDO

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					『 MENDO - The Way of Noodles - 』

An endless noodle story that begins with a single bowl of ramen

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◆ World Setting
In the year 20XX, Japan is in the midst of an unprecedented Ramen Sengoku Jidai (Warring States period).
Hundreds of shops are born every year, and the same number disappear.
In this era where survival alone is difficult, legendary S-rank shops, few in number nationwide, reign supreme.

Everyone aims for a famous shop, and everyone dreams of success.
However, even those who reach the pinnacle continue to chase after sights yet unseen.

『MENDO - The Way of Noodles -』 is not just a ramen shop management game.

This is the story of how one craftsman, one shop, and one bowl of ramen become an unforgettable presence in someone's life.

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◆ What is MENDO?
Ramen is cuisine, culture, and life.

For some, it's a solace after work. For some, it's memories with family. For some, it's their very youth spent chasing a dream.

A single bowl of ramen doesn't just satisfy hunger.

It remains in the customer's memory, becomes part of the town's landscape, and eventually transforms into culture.

There is no single correct answer in this world.

Those who master the orthodox path. Those who pursue innovation. Those who are rooted in the region. Those who challenge the world. Those who nurture disciples. Those who live as solitary artisans.

All of these are MENDO.

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◆ Shop Management
The story begins with a small shop.

Little capital. Insufficient equipment. No recognition.

But a shop is a living thing.

What starts as an old, independent store can, over the years, become a popular local spot, then a renowned establishment, a sacred site, and eventually a cultural heritage.

The noren (shop curtain) fades. Scratches mark the counter. Regular customers' memories pile up within the shop.

The more you succeed, the more new challenges arise.

Staff shortages. Quality control. Queuing issues. Capital investment. Staff management.

Becoming a popular shop is not the goal, but the beginning of new challenges.

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◆ Ramen Craft System
In MENDO, ramen is not just "cuisine" but a "constructed experience."

A single bowl is composed of seven layers.

◉ Dashi: Chicken, Tonkotsu, Beef, Seafood, Kombu, Fermented Dashi, Special Dashi...

◉ Soup: Shoyu, Shio, Miso, Tonkotsu, Chicken Paitan, Tantanmen, Tsukemen, Creative...

◉ Tare: Shoyu Tare, Shio Tare, Miso Tare, Fish Sauce, Fermented Tare, Original Blend...

◉ Aromatic Oil: Chicken Fat, Pork Back Fat, Mayu (black garlic oil), Shrimp Oil, Yuzu Oil, Smoked Oil...

◉ Noodles: Thin Noodles, Thick Noodles, Wavy Noodles, Flat Noodles, Low Hydration Noodles, High Hydration Noodles, Homemade Noodles...

◉ Toppings: Chashu, Ajitama (seasoned egg), Menma, Vegetables, Luxury Ingredients, Rare Ingredients...

◉ Experience: Customer service, bowl, presentation, shop atmosphere, serving speed, performance...

It's not just about taste.

Where was it eaten? By whom? With what feelings?

That, too, is part of the bowl.

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◆ A Living World
The world doesn't wait for the player.

Rivals grow. Staff age. Regulars live their lives. Trends change. Ingredient prices fluctuate. SNS reviews change.

Last year's popular item might be unpopular this year.

Conversely, research that was ignored for years might be called revolutionary a few years later.

The world is constantly in motion.

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◆ Encounters with People
You will meet many people on your journey.

Young people chasing dreams. Chefs who have faced setbacks. Legendary artisans. Masters from the countryside. Taciturn food critics. Rival chefs. Regular customers who have been coming for years.

They are not mere events.

Each has their own life, their own doubts, their own challenges, their own growth, and sometimes, they leave.

You cannot save everyone.

But those encounters will undoubtedly be etched into your MENDO.

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◆ National Pilgrimage
Each region of Japan has its own unique noodle culture.

【Hokkaido】Rich Miso Culture, Cold Climate Aging Techniques
【Tohoku】Niboshi (dried sardine) Culture, Clear Soup Techniques
【Kanto】Iekei, Jirou-kei, Tokyo Shoyu Culture
【Chubu】Pork Back Fat Culture, Dark Shoyu Culture
【Kinki】Fermentation Culture, Tonkotsu Shoyu Culture
【Chugoku】Seafood Fusion Culture
【Shikoku】Sweet & Savory Rich Culture
【Kyushu】The Home of Tonkotsu Culture

A pilgrimage is not a journey to become stronger.

It is a journey to know the land, know the people, and know the culture.

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◆ Schools of Thought (Ryūha)
Choices become philosophies, and philosophies become schools of thought.

Orthodox Perfection School, Seafood Extreme School, Tonkotsu Overlord School, Shio Seeker School, Miso Hermit School, Fermentation Revolution School, Creative Myth School, No-Additive School, Iekei Overlord School, Jirou-kei Legend School, Medicinal Cuisine School, Local Production for Local Consumption School, Overseas Reverse Import School...

Furthermore, legendary hidden schools exist.

Your own path becomes a school of thought, eventually shaping your unique MENDO.

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◆ Phantom Ingredients and Legends
Ingredients beyond common sense lie dormant throughout Japan.

Centennial Kombu. Thousand-Year Soy Sauce. Ancient Wheat. Deep Sea Scallops. Phantom Niboshi. Lost Fermentation Techniques.

And the ultimate material, said to exist at the end of all exploration.

These cannot be reached through effort alone.

Failure. Challenge. Pilgrimage. Encounters.

They only reveal themselves after accumulating all of these.

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◆ Tournaments and Rivals
Regional Tournaments. National Tournaments. Creative Noodle Championships. Artisan Championships. Extreme Spice Competitions. And the highest peak – the Men'ō Cup (Noodle King Cup).

What is contested here is not just taste.

Technique. Originality. Culturality. Sustainability. Philosophy. Potential for the future.

Rivals also fight, each carrying their own beliefs.

Victory or defeat is not the end.

Some stories begin with defeat.

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◆ Beyond S-Rank
S-Rank is not the final destination.

Global Expansion. International Competitions. Unknown Food Cultures. New Schools of Thought. Exploration of Phantom Ingredients.

And even further –

Overseas Edition. Space Ramen Edition. Future Noodle Edition.

The very concept of ramen is expanded.

Common sense does not apply.

But the Way of Noodles continues.

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◆ The Essence of This Story
Many begin their journey seeking fame.

Seeking sales. Seeking recognition. Seeking victory.

But those who continue to walk eventually realize.

What is truly important is not the ranking.

Not winning the tournament.

Not becoming a legend.

It's that one bowl that someone vaguely remembers at some point in their life.

A day of happiness. A day of hardship. A day when they took a new step forward.

A ramen that remains in those memories.

That is the ultimate destination of MENDO.

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『MENDO - The Way of Noodles -』

-- Which life will that bowl remain in?

-- And from what kind of story will that bowl be born? 🍜✨