Komadori Shimai -- Namida no Ramen（涙のラーメン）

 

Met up with fellow KKP co-administrator Larry Chan along with a fellow translator and another good friend of 30 years' standing earlier today for a lunch at Sansotei, one of the ramen restaurants at the intersection of Yonge and Eglinton that make up what is basically now Ramen Central in Toronto. Yup, we've got representative branches of the major ramen joints in our fair city in that area: Sansotei, Santouka, Kinton and Touhenboku. I went for the Spicy Tan Tan and it worked out very nicely. It did have a kick but it didn't linger well into the afternoon. Sorry no photos of that culinary adventure today; I guess I was too engrossed into slurping up my noodles, so we'll have to settle for the instant Wakayama Ramen that I had on New Year's Eve.

So, on getting home tonight, I was wondering if there were any other ramen-themed kayo kyoku out there. Of course, there is Akiko Yano's（矢野顕子）slurp-worthy "Ramen Tabetai" （ラーメン食べたい）but I already posted that one over ten years ago.

However, I did find one from even farther back. "Namida no Ramen" (Ramen of Tears) was one-half of a single released by enka sister duo Komadori Shimai（こまどり姉妹）back in September 1963 with the other side of the 45" being "Ukikusa Shamisen"（浮草三味線...Duckweed Shamisen）. I haven't really written on Eiko and Yoko Namiki（並木栄子・並木葉子）since 2017, so it's nice to see them back on KKP, and with "Namida no Ramen", the iconic noodle dish seems to have replaced the tokkuri of sake as the libation that heals in this particular song. Having the delicious bowl of ramen brings back the memories of home and perhaps past romances and friendships which of course will hit the heart quite hard (mind you, the cholesterol will hit the arteries in the same way). 

Veteran songwriter Minoru Endo（遠藤実）took care of both words and music for "Namida no Ramen". There is a lullaby aspect to the melody and the sisters sound as if they are the mama-san of a neighbourhood nomiya, as they coddle and reassure the uncertain customer about his status in life. As a ramen lover, I haven't exactly cried in my soup but I do appreciate the joy of having the bowl, especially during the winter.