Tenichi＝Tenka Ippin began when its founder, Tsutomu Kimura, opened a ramen food cart in Kyoto in 1971.
At that time, Kyoto was a fierce battleground for ramen, and the number of stores and food stalls were staggering. There were more shops and food stalls than there were stars in the sky. Under such circumstances, Mr. Kimura realized that he had to create “a taste that only he could create.
He studied day after day, night after night. Then, in the fourth year after he started pulling a food cart, a turning point came.
The soup, made by carefully and painstakingly simmering chicken stock and 11 kinds of vegetables, is as thick as potage and has the characteristic of being tightly entwined with the noodles. Yet, the piece was not as greasy as it looked. This was the birth of the “kottori” soup that would later become synonymous with Tenka Ippin. We succeeded in creating a taste that only we could create, which was our long-cherished wish.
The completion of the soup coincided with the opening of the first Tenka Ippin restaurant, which was not a food cart. It was 1975.
In 1982, a soup factory was built in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, and franchising began.
The Origin of “Kotteri
The expression “kotteri” for thick soup, which is now commonly used, originated from Tenichi.
The distinctive soup of Tenka Ippin has spread throughout Japan and around the world. We have also received requests from the Philippines, Indonesia and Paris to open Tenka Ippin restaurants.
Half a century after its founding, Tenka Ippin is about to embark on a new journey in search of new possibilities.
We are looking for partners to help us spread this taste around the world.
Ramen Features (for customers)
It is no exaggeration to say that Kyoto start Tenka Ippin is the most famous ramen shop in Japan for its chicken soup.
The chicken broth, which was perfected half a century ago, is described as ‘rich’, but it is not greasy at all; it is a very creamy broth with a thick consistency.
Its taste is very mild and pleasant on the tongue, with no hint of poultry odour.
The main ingredients are chicken and vegetables, so the rough texture on the tongue is due to the vegetables, making it a very healthy ramen.
- The ramen restaurant where the word ‘Kotteri’ was invented.
- The ramen shops that have many enthusiastic Japanese fans.
- The company is also working to create even more fans by commercialising Kotteri MAX, a ramen that goes beyond kotteri.
- The company is not compared with other ramen shops, and people feel that they are eating Tenka Ippin rather than eating ramen.
Business features (as a franchise)
- The company is franchised in Japan, and is franchise oriented.
- No craftsmen are required.
- The soup is stored at room temperature and is delivered from the head office.
- The soup is made at room temperature from the head office, so all you have to do is make the soup from it.
- The shop is currently the only famous ramen shop in Japan, so its overseas expansion will be accelerated in the near future.
- The number of menus is small and the operation is simple.
- The number of menu items is small and the operation is simplified.
