Here’s some long-awaited news for ramen fans from Japan’s FamilyMart. The first-ever collaboration with “Marugen Ramen,” a popular ramen shop born in Anjo City, Aichi Prefecture, that now has fans all across Japan, has been realized. Their signature dish, “Nikusoba,” which reportedly sells over 20 million bowls annually, will be available at your local FamilyMart starting Tuesday, December 9, 2025, exclusively in the Tokai region.
So, What Exactly is “Marugen Ramen”?
Since opening its first location in Anjo City, Aichi Prefecture, in 2001, “Marugen Ramen” has steadily built a loyal following with its unique flavor, growing into a massive ramen chain with over 200 stores across 42 prefectures in Japan. The pillar of its popularity is the signature dish, “Jukusei Shoyu Ramen Nikusoba” (Aged Soy Sauce Ramen with Meat). Many people visit the restaurants just for this one bowl.
The most defining feature of “Nikusoba” is the cooking style, where pork is simmered with the soup in a small pot for each individual order. This process allows the umami of the pork and the richness of the fat to dissolve into the soup, creating a depth of flavor you can’t find anywhere else. The decisive element of the soup is the “jukusei shoyu-gaeshi” (aged soy sauce base), a secret sauce made by blending three types of soy sauce. This, along with their firm, house-made noodles and a topping of “yuzu kosho oroshi (yuzu pepper with grated daikon radish),” adds a Japanese-style flair and creates an exquisite harmony.
The Taste of a Famous Restaurant, Now at Your Convenience Store
This collaboration will feature not only the signature “Nikusoba” but also products that recreate and arrange popular side dishes. All items are exclusively available at approximately 3,200 FamilyMart stores in the Tokai region (Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Shizuoka, Yamanashi, and Nagano prefectures). To faithfully replicate the restaurant’s flavor, the team reportedly went through countless prototypes with representatives from “Marugen Ramen,” making this a truly dedicated product lineup.
Marugen Ramen Supervised Nikusoba
This is the star of the collaboration. A bowl that reportedly went through numerous prototypes to replicate the restaurant’s flavor. A special oil infused with pork aroma adds depth to the soup, which is blended from multiple soy sauces. It features both pork belly and fatty pork, designed to let the meat’s umami dissolve into the soup. And we can’t forget the key accent: the “yuzu kosho oroshi.” This refreshing spice ensures you’ll never get tired of the rich soy sauce soup, right down to the last spoonful. The price is 599 yen (646 yen including tax).
Marugen Ramen Supervised Egg Fried Rice
A side dish at “Marugen Ramen” that’s almost as popular as the “Nikusoba” is the “Teppan Tamago Chahan” (Iron Plate Egg Fried Rice). It’s known for its interactive style, where customers mix the egg themselves on a sizzling hot iron plate. This product is an arrangement that allows you to enjoy that fun and deliciousness conveniently from a store. The mellow richness of the egg, which you mix in right before eating, enhances the fried rice seasoned with the umami of soy sauce and Chinese-style broth. It’s a dish that will remind you of the restaurant experience. The price is 462 yen (498 yen including tax).
Marugen Ramen Supervised Chashu Rice Ball
This is a unique product that transforms chashu-don, a classic ramen shop side dish, into an “onigiri” (rice ball), a unique item you could only find at a Japanese convenience store. This was also developed with inspiration from their popular side menu, “Ontama Chashu Gohan” (Chashu Rice with a soft-boiled egg). Inside the well-seasoned soy-flavored rice are finely chopped chashu pork and a rich, runny egg yolk sauce. It’s a wonderful item that allows you to easily enjoy the taste of “Marugen” on the go. The price is 274 yen (295 yen including tax).
Why is it “Tokai Region Exclusive”?
This collaboration is being sold exclusively in the area of Japan known as the “Tokai region.” The Tokai region is located in the middle of Japan and primarily includes the prefectures of Aichi, Gifu, Mie, and Shizuoka.
Given that “Marugen Ramen” originated in Aichi Prefecture, it’s thought that this regional-exclusive sale is a sign of respect for its home turf. In Japan, it is quite common for products to be released exclusively in specific regions, and for travelers, this becomes a part of the fun of the trip in the form of “gotouchi gurume” (local specialty gourmet). If you happen to be visiting the Tokai region during this time, you won’t want to miss this special collaboration.
Summary
The ability to easily enjoy the flavor of a popular ramen shop at a 24-hour convenience store is a cultural phenomenon that symbolizes both Japan’s convenience and its commitment to food. This collaboration between Japan’s FamilyMart and “Marugen Ramen” can be called a prime example of this.
The launch starts on December 9, 2025, at FamilyMart stores in the Tokai region. Ramen fans, as well as anyone interested in Japan’s convenience store culture, should definitely take this opportunity to check it out.
Source: 【東海地方限定】愛知県安城市発祥の人気ラーメン店「丸源ラーメン」と初のコラボレーション！まるでお店の一杯！年間2,000万杯以上売れる看板商品「肉そば」など12月9日（火）から発売！
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