Tomita Ramen (中華蕎麦 とみ田) has grown from a single 10-seat shop in Matsudo, Chiba, to Japan’s most decorated ramen brand — and is now actively licensing its concept to international partners across Asia and the Middle East. Founded by ramen master Tomita Osamu, the brand has won the prestigious TRY Ramen Grand Prize four consecutive times, earned a place in the hall of fame, and claimed the number one spot at the Ramen Japan Championship.
Tomita Ramen is a tsukemen and ramen brand headquartered in Matsudo, Chiba, Japan. The brand operates approximately 10 locations in Japan and has expanded internationally to Bangkok, Thailand and Hanoi, Vietnam, with further markets under development. Its licensing partner, T-NEXT Co., Ltd., manages international expansion through joint venture partnerships with established local food and beverage operators.
Three factors set Tomita apart from the hundreds of ramen brands vying for international expansion. First, brand credibility: no other ramen concept can claim four consecutive TRY Grand Prize wins and a Ramen Japan Championship title simultaneously. Second, product differentiation: Tomita’s super-rich tonkotsu seafood broth, simmered for over 20 hours, paired with thick handmade noodles made from select domestic Japanese wheat, creates a flavor profile that is difficult to replicate. Third, the brand’s 16-year collaboration with Seven-Eleven Japan — with products selected for Seven-Eleven’s highest-tier “Premium Gold” line — validates consumer demand at national scale.
For master franchise investors evaluating Japanese F&B concepts, Tomita’s proven retail partnership and award pedigree reduce the brand-awareness risk that typically accompanies international launches. Similar Japanese F&B franchise models like Abiko Curry have demonstrated strong unit economics in Southeast Asian markets, and Tomita’s tsukemen category occupies a distinct niche with limited direct competition outside Japan.
The flagship dish is Tokuseifu Tsukemen — thick, chewy noodles served alongside a concentrated tonkotsu seafood dipping broth. The broth combines pork bone and seafood stock simmered for over 20 hours, finished with rare barrel-brewed raw soy sauce sourced from Ibaraki, Hyogo, and Wakayama prefectures. A subtle yuzu accent balances the richness, creating a refined flavor profile.
The noodle production uses exclusively high-quality domestic wheat, blending several varieties to achieve a distinctive white color and a sweet, slightly sticky texture. Customers can dilute leftover broth with soup stock to finish every drop — a traditional tsukemen ritual that deepens the dining experience. The brand also offers classic ramen bowls, though tsukemen remains the signature draw and primary category differentiator.
Tsukemen’s interactive, dip-and-eat format creates a dining experience that is visually engaging and Instagram-ready — a significant advantage in markets where social media drives restaurant discovery. Unlike traditional ramen, tsukemen’s separated broth-and-noodle presentation also offers portion flexibility and premium positioning. Brands in the broader F&B franchise category increasingly compete on experiential dining, and Tomita’s format delivers this naturally.
Tomita’s international expansion is managed by T-NEXT Co., Ltd., which handles global licensing and operational support. The expansion model centers on joint ventures with influential local companies — leveraging their market networks, real estate access, and operational expertise to accelerate market entry.
The first international location opened in Hanoi, Vietnam, followed by a flagship at CentralWorld Shopping Center in Bangkok, Thailand in October 2025. Bangkok was a strategic choice: CentralWorld is one of Southeast Asia’s largest and highest-traffic shopping destinations, providing maximum brand visibility for the regional launch. T-NEXT is actively evaluating additional markets across Southeast Asia and the Middle East for further expansion.
This joint venture approach mirrors strategies used by other premium Japanese brands entering Asia, such as Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba, which also targets master franchise partners with deep local market expertise.
Unlike mass-market ramen chains that prioritize speed and standardization, Tomita positions itself as a premium artisanal brand. The 20-hour broth preparation, handmade noodles, and limited-batch soy sauce sourcing all reinforce an authenticity narrative that commands higher average ticket prices. Competing Japanese ramen franchises such as Ippudo and Ichiran have established significant international footprints, but neither specializes in tsukemen — giving Tomita a category-defining advantage in markets where the tsukemen format is still largely unknown.
For investors evaluating the broader franchise investment landscape in Asia, Tomita represents an opportunity to introduce a differentiated Japanese dining concept to markets with growing appetite for authentic Japanese cuisine but limited tsukemen-specific supply.
Tomita Ramen (Chinese Soba Tomita / 中華蕎麦 とみ田) is Japan’s top-ranked ramen and tsukemen brand, founded by Tomita Osamu in Matsudo, Chiba. It has won the TRY Ramen Grand Prize four consecutive times and earned a hall of fame induction.
Tomita operates approximately 10 locations in Japan, including branches in Tokyo and Chiba, plus international locations in Bangkok, Thailand and Hanoi, Vietnam.
Yes. T-NEXT Co., Ltd. manages Tomita’s international licensing program through joint venture partnerships with qualified local F&B operators in target markets across Asia and the Middle East.
This article was prepared by the VF Franchise Consulting editorial team — with over 30 years of experience in international franchise development, master franchise advisory, and brand expansion across Asia and the Middle East.
