Ramen is a Japanese dish that originated in Yokohama Chinatown in the early 20th century. The word "ramen" is a Japanese borrowing of the Chinese word 拉麵 (lāmiàn), meaning pulled noodles. The dish evolved from southern Chinese noodle dishes, reflecting the demographics of Chinese settlers in Yokohama. Ramen gained popularity in Japan, especially during food shortages following World War II. In 1958, instant noodles were invented by Momofuku Ando, further popularizing the dish. Today, ramen is a cultural icon in Japan, with many regional varieties and a wide range of toppings. Regional variations of ramen started to spring up with the first being Ajino Sanpei 味の三平 in Sapporo, Hokkaido in the north of Japan, the first ramen bar to create miso ramen - now synonymous with Hokkaido just as much as the snowboarding. Ramens popularity extends beyond Japan, as it is known as rìshì lāmiàn in China, ramyeon in Korea, and has even made its way into Western restaurant chains.