Maruchan
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Maruchan (マルちゃん) is a brand of instant noodles; a division of Toyo Suisan, a Japanese conglomerate. The name translates from Japanese into English as "little circle." They can be found in a packaged form to be cooked on a stove, in a cup to which boiled water is added, or can be microwaved. The noodles contain no preservatives, although they are cooked in vegetable oil preserved with TBHQ.
Maruchan Ramen noodles are made in Irvine, California, USA, and Richmond, Virginia, USA.
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[edit] Maru-chan Name
The Maruchan brand name presumably refers to the round-faced character that comprises the Maruchan logo (pictured at right).The root of the name, "maru", literally means "circle" in Japanese, possibly referring to the shape of the icon's head. The "maru" kanji in a name also characterizes affection, and was traditionally used in feudal Japan as a name suffix for boys who would be samurai or otherwise carry swords. The suffix -chan makes the name into a diminutive, particularly referring to a baby, toddler, or young girl. "Maru-chan" has been represented in official commercials in Japan as a toddler wearing a red t-shirt with large yellow M; his attire and contrast with female characters in the commercials suggests the character is a young boy.
[edit] Products
- Maruchan Ramen
- Maruchan Instant Lunch
- Maruchan Yakisoba (only available in certain markets)
- Maruchan Instant Wontons
[edit] See also
- Nissin Foods, another common distributor of instant noodles in the United States.
[edit] External links
- Maruchan website (Japanese)
- Maruchan USA website
- Maru-chan as represented in commercials in Japan (Japanese)
