# Lookin for some new bloggage fodder. I love talking anarchism, politics, philosophy and the like, but am interested in exploring some other stuff as well.

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# Basically, I want to set up a simple ramen/ramen restaurant review series with a heavy focus on photography. 

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# This will be the first one!
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# ***"AKASHAMOJI"***
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![IMG_3142.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTjGz7z8y3xdPUEkwPzdgnBX9kRiQPPR4tC7okRvYeE2G/IMG_3142.JPG)
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"Akashamoji" means "the red paddle" or "the red wooden spoon/ladle." This place is close to my home in Niigata's East Ward, and is a small Niigata ramen chain.
![IMG_3125.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmW6wKKSvy2ZHdUqWHBcT8UqNFNMkXx4VZbv7XKD9XzZms/IMG_3125.JPG)
I love the atmosphere in the place. Bright colors, upbeat J-pop/J-rock music, and a lively and friendly staff made me feel relaxed and free to "be myself," as it were.

I ordered the soy-sauce based broth *chāshūmen,* which is ramen topped with slices of roasted pork. There was also another hunk of fatty pork in the bowl that made the dopamine sensors in my brain overload with evolutionary caveman/survival joy as the fat and juices of the flavor-packed meat dissolved on my tongue.

![IMG_3135.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRdsfz1aU1zP1rv2WGU6p6BMXVvKMGCkQ4LjY2FFPYjTc/IMG_3135.JPG)

The noodles here are thin (some restaurants offer the option of ordering thick, *futomen,* or thin, *hosomen,* noodles). I prefer the thinner *hosomen,* so found myself in luck today. 

I went with the flavor and fat-heavy (another common option at ramen shops) broth and was not disappointed. The *dashi* (Japanese soup stock made from fish and kelp) used to flavor the broth was dank as all dankness, and packed a remarkable punch of flavor and deliciousness.
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![IMG_3138.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZNbHPYdRC2GgWXz3MooikzeoJnzVC9cpvDaHyRQ9Fc3Y/IMG_3138.JPG)
*The aforementioned dank, fatty pork.*

![IMG_3132.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZtufK1DVb26uJbGmobwQe1uvbKh3rp9QKuM4pdXkKAHW/IMG_3132.JPG)
*Akashamoji's thin noodles.*

![IMG_3141.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTwXJCHxxSbDAd9c9nrBEvyP9DeSpsG7Q4b4dt8hoyrVE/IMG_3141.JPG)
*The fam, enjoying.*
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My wife and son ordered the salt-based (*shio*) broth, and the lighter version of it, which turned out to pale in comparison to the *shoyu* (soy sauce) broth.

My only gripe would be that the noodles seemed to have a sort of buckwheat feel, like *soba,* which made them less enjoyable for me. Though they may be less healthy, I prefer the skinny, buttery, white flour noodles of other restaurants.

# FINAL RATING!
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# Atmosphere: 8/10
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# Broth "Dankness"/Flavor: 8/10
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# Noodles: 6/10
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# FINAL SCORE: 7.3!

# Good stuff!

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# ~KafkA

[<center>![IMG_6356.jpg](https://s29.postimg.org/4tdrtkp53/IMG_6356.jpg)</center>](https://steemit.com/@kafkanarchy84)

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***Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as Facebook and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)***

https://s1.postimg.org/kjwrwf33j/IMG_3160.jpg

https://s29.postimg.org/7bus4yyxj/IMG_6887.jpg