Epicure’s Revue: The God of Ramen

The Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Avenue
Co-presented by The Japan Foundation, Toronto and The Revue Cinema

The Japan Foundation, Toronto is delighted to partner with the Revue Cinema for their long-running food and film series, Epicure’s Revue. This month’s screening will feature a free screening of The God of Ramen, a documentary about a beloved ramen chef and his ramen shop in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

Admission: FREE
Food sample ticket: For a pay-what-you-can donation*,  you may purchase an optional food sample ticket, which will allow you to try ramen and other Japan-inspired food samples from local restaurants and shops.

*All proceeds go to The Revue Cinema, a not-for-profit organization with a mandate to promote community, diversity and education through film.

Reservations: No reservations required; admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Questions: kscullin@jftor.org or info@revuecinema.ca

The God of Ramen

Dir. Takashi Innami, 2013, 90 min.
In Japanese with English subtitles

People wait in line for over two hours for just one bowl of ramen at the legendary ramen shop “East Ikebukuro Taishoken.” The proprietor, Kazuo Yamagishi, has tended this shop for 50 years.

What makes his ramen so special? Why is Taishoken beloved by so many? The story is not only about his pursuit of the perfect blend of flavors. It’s about his life, love and the strong bond he shares with the people he believes in.

Compiled from over ten years of documentary footage, the film incorporates beautiful scenery from Yamagishi’s hometown in Nagano and is enhanced by the “savory” narration of noted ramen lover Shosuke Tanihara, and the beautiful ending theme song written by Joe Hisaishi. It captures both the light and dark sides of the life of the celebrated ramen chef Kazuo Yamagishi to reveal a uniquely moving story.

The Revue Cinema

The Revue Cinema has operated almost continuously for 102 years in historic Roncesvalles Village, and in 2007 began operating as a not-for-profit community centre and theatre with a mandate to promote cultural enrichment through film and educational events. In 2013, The Revue underwent a complete upgrade to digital film projection while retaining the ability to screen 35mm prints, thanks to a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. This fall, The Revue was awarded a second Trillium grant for aesthetic improvements and repairs, and recently completed a renovation of the theatre’s interior.

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