"Ramen Walker Grand Prix Kiwami 2025-2026" Released, Featuring 506 Award-Winning and Hall of Fame Restaurants from 14 Areas Across Japan

Kadokawa Ascii Research Laboratories, Inc. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Masakazu Kannuki) will release the Walker Mook "Ramen Walker Grand Prix Kiwami 2025-2026" on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

From Japan's No. 1 selling (*1) ramen information magazine "Ramen Walker," published in 14 areas nationwide (Hokkaido, Miyagi, Yamagata, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Chiba, Saitama, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Tokai, Kansai, and Kyushu), comes a compilation volume that brings together the representative ramen shops from each area into a single book.

In the "Ramen Walker Grand Prix," an award project conducted by "Ramen Walker," outstanding ramen shops representing each area are selected and honored through discussions between the highly renowned "Hyakumenjin" (100 Noodle People) (*2) of the ramen world and the editorial department. This mook will introduce a total of 506 restaurants, including "Hall of Fame" shops that have received high praise over many years, as well as the , , and prize winners from each area in 2025 (*3).

Furthermore, it will be delivered with a wealth of content, including a 2025 Grand Prix review project by the "Hyakumenjin" and the editorial staff from the 14 areas, and a survey project on "Everyone's Ramen Situation" based on responses from 1,485 people to a 5th-anniversary questionnaire for "Ramen Walker Kitchen" (Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture).

*1: According to CDP CANTERA research, No. 1 in total title sales for Mook > Information Magazine > Gourmet Ramen Books from August 2024 to June 2025.

*2: "Hyakumenjin"... Composed of 10 "Top Hyakumenjin," including celebrities and critics, as well as "Area Hyakumenjin" consisting of media personnel and bloggers who are well-versed in local ramen affairs. The 10 "Top Hyakumenjin" are Takeshi Yamamoto, Hantsu Endo, Takashi Tanaka, Takamitsu Kobayashi, Hirofumi Akaike, Brian MacDuckston, Junya Inoue, Toru Nakajima, Iide Taicho, and Keita Matsumoto.

*3: This book is a re-edited version of the Grand Prix feature from all 14 areas of "Ramen Walker 2026" published in 2025. The next "Ramen Walker Grand Prix 2026" is scheduled to be held in each edition of "Ramen Walker 2027," planned for publication after August 2026.

Ramen Grand Prix 2025 Review / The Hyakumenjin Discuss the Current State of the Ramen World

The "Ramen Walker Grand Prix" selects and awards the year's outstanding ramen shops through a rigorous judging process conducted by the "Hyakumenjin," composed of celebrities and critics knowledgeable about ramen nationwide, the "Area Hyakumenjin," who are ramen connoisseurs familiar with each region, and the editorial department. In fiscal 2025, a total of 410 shops were selected from 14 areas across the country.

In the Grand Prix review project by the editorial staff of each area, regional characteristics, tendencies, and trends visible from the award-winning shops are examined, highlighting the unique features of each area. Additionally, the 10 "Hyakumenjin" will analyze the current trends in the ramen world from various perspectives, on themes such as "The Conditions for a Ramen That Creates Long Lines," "Diversification and Evolution Due to the Influence of Other Culinary Genres," and "What is 'Madness' in a Ramen Shop?"

From Hokkaido to Kyushu, 14 Areas Nationwide! A Comprehensive Introduction to Gold, Silver, and Bronze "Award-Winning Shops"

This section introduces the national , , and prize-winning shops by area, from Hokkaido to Kyushu. It features a diverse array of bowls that have garnered acclaim in each region, from traditional Chinese-style soba to ramen incorporating techniques from other culinary genres. The content is a must-see for ramen fans, including profiles of the shop owners, detailed ramen data, and comments from the Hyakumenjin. It also includes a convenient area map showing the distribution of award-winning shops and Hall of Fame restaurants in each area.

Etched in History! The Ultimate Ramen That Reached the Pinnacle: "Hall of Fame Restaurants"

The title of "Hall of Fame Restaurant" is bestowed upon ramen shops that have been highly rated as the top in their respective areas for many years in the history of the "Ramen Walker Grand Prix." This book introduces 96 Hall of Fame restaurants from 14 areas nationwide, including the Grand Prix's first-ever inductees, "Tora Shokudo" in Fukushima and "Horaiken Honten" in Oita, as well as "Shinasobaya Honten" in Kanagawa and "Tokugawacho Josui" in Aichi.

We Asked 1,485 People! Everyone's Ramen Situation & A Thorough Grand Prix Comparison

Based on a survey conducted to commemorate the 5th anniversary of "Ramen Walker Kitchen," this section introduces "Everyone's Ramen Situation" as seen through the voices of 1,485 respondents. Various ramen-related themes were surveyed, such as preferred flavors (genres), toppings, usage of social media and other media, and local noodle dishes they want to try. Furthermore, the editorial department independently analyzes trends by comparing data on Grand Prix winners (Gold, Silver, Bronze) and Hall of Fame restaurants, including genre, soup richness, and the ratio of in-house noodle making versus using a noodle factory.

About the "Ramen Walker Grand Prix"

In each area, the Ramen Walker editorial department conducts on-site evaluations of nominated restaurants (excluding Hall of Fame shops), rating them in detail on aspects such as "Soup," "Noodles," "Toppings," "Completeness," "Creativity," and "Hospitality." Following this, through rigorous discussions with the "Hyakumenjin," who are well-versed in the national ramen scene, the , , and prize-winning ramen shops are decided and awarded.

[Overview] "Ramen Walker Grand Prix Kiwami 2025-2026" Ramen Walker Mook

Price: 1800 yen (excluding tax)

Release Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2026

ISBN: 9784049112962

Magazine Code: 62635-71

Format: A4, 204 pages

Publisher: KADOKAWA CORPORATION

Issuer: Kadokawa Ascii Research Laboratories, Inc.

Official Website URL: https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322508000397/

About Ramen Walker

It is "Japan's pinnacle" comprehensive ramen media, introducing the ramen you should be eating now through exhaustive coverage. It disseminates the potential of Japan's national dish, "ramen," through a multi-faceted and overwhelming media power that includes "Mooks" developed as area-specific ramen guides for various regions nationwide, a "WEB" portal site and "YouTube" and "X" channels that provide the latest news for ramen fans, as well as the ramen information program "Ramen Walker TV2" airing on Fuji TV CS, and the world's first media-linked real-world store, "Ramen Walker Kitchen."

Mook

https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/search/?kw=ラーメンWalker

WEB

https://ramen.walkerplus.com/

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/user/ramenwalker/featured

X

https://x.com/ramenwalker

TV Program "Ramen Walker TV2"

https://ramen.walkerplus.com/tv/

Real Store "Ramen Walker Kitchen"

https://ramen.walkerplus.com/kitchen/

About Kadokawa Ascii Research Laboratories, Inc.

Kadokawa Ascii Research Laboratories, Inc. leverages the knowledge cultivated through media management and content creation to develop a wide range of businesses, including research, consulting, marketing, business solutions, publishing, and educational support. By comprehensively utilizing its content, media, and research capabilities, the company works to solve client issues.

Official Site: https://www.lab-kadokawa.com/