There’s a little-known secret to longevity that you won’t find in any supplement, but in Fujioka, in Gunma Prefecture, it smells strongly of chicken broth and soy sauce. Her name is Fuku Amagawa; she’s 103 years old and is one of the oldest active ramen chefs on the planet.
Photo: @kaoru_0928
The secret to the elixir? Squats in the kitchen and boundless passion
If you expect to see her relaxing in an armchair, think again. Not only does Fuku-san measure out the exact portions of noodles by hand and serve steaming bowls of shoyu ramen and crispy katsudon, but to stay in shape, she even does squats while waiting for the noodles to cook—and she’s even started a strength-training regimen at the ripe old age of 101!
Born in 1923 during the Taisho era, Fuku trained in traditional cuisine in Takasaki in 1964, learning the secrets of ramen and fried rice. In 1965, together with her husband, she transformed an old neighborhood movie theater into what is now the legendary Ginkatei in the Onishi district. Today, alongside her children, she welcomes crowds of local customers and tourists from all over the world every day at 12:00 p.m. Outside the restaurant, the line is constant—so much so that a life-size cutout of the chef has even been installed, with which fans love to take souvenir photos.
Ikigai and the Demographic Miracle of the Land of the Rising Sun
For Fuku Amagawa, putting on her apron six days a week for one hour a day isn’t just a job: it’s the very embodiment of ikigai, the Japanese philosophy of having a purpose in life that brings energy and happiness every morning. Her vitality is part of a social and ethno-gastronomic phenomenon of historic proportions. According to the latest data from the Japanese Ministry of Health, the country has surpassed the threshold of 107,000 centenarians for the first time (a total of 107,677 people, nearly 88% of whom are women). This record has been growing steadily for 56 years, supported by a balanced diet, an active lifestyle, and the continued integration of older adults into the workforce and social fabric.
If you're in the Gunma area,a visit to Ginkatei is a must: a bowl of ramen made with a century of history and dedication is an experience that nourishes the soul even before it nourishes the palate.
