Google's Thursday Doodle celebrates the 105th birthday of Momofuku Ando. He's the genius behind Cup Noodles and that square package of ramen noodles, complete with the tiny foil of chicken stock, which likely has kept millions of college kids from going hungry.
In part, that is exactly the mission Ando set out on when he invented the comforting, tasty fast food that requires just one additional ingredient: boiling water.
In a series of illustrations, Google pays homage to the Taiwanese-Japanese inventor who spent years creating and developing his ramen meal, based on a Japanese noodle dish that traditionally is slow-cooked. The goal was to provide the hungry masses of post-World War II in Japan with a food they loved at a price point in a quick and easy cooking option.
Ando "found the inspiration to his greatest success while walking through the streets of post-World War II Japan: people were waiting for hours in long lines, just for a comforting bowl of ramen. Realizing hunger was the most pressing issue facing Japan, he felt a desire to help the people of his country," the Doodle blog says.
The instant ramen maker died in 2007 and in its homage Google speaks of Ando's initial goal for the invention.
"Peace will come to the world when all its people have enough to eat," Ando said.
While it's likely one of the quickest meals in the world, instant ramen wasn't an instant invention process. Ando began his research in 1957 and Cup Noodle was brought to market in 1970-1971, exporting to the U.S. in the disposable and well-known styrofoam cup form factor that's still on shelves today.
The fast-cooking ramen was the starting point of Ando's food company, Nissin, which evolved into a multinational company valued at $3 billion.
"Taiwanese-Japanese inventor Momofuku Ando introduced to the world instant ramen, a dish that not only revolutionized food but also serves as a testament to what hard work and perseverance can achieve," Google wrote in a blurb about the doodle.
The Doodle, the work of Google Doodle artist Sophie Diao, illustrates the three-minute "cook" time diners must wait after filling the cup with boiling water. The Doodle also illustrates a shed where Ando toiled for years trying to make a flash-cook noodle.
In 2005, Ando's second invention dream was achieved when a Japanese astronaut enjoyed ramen while traveling on the space shuttle Discovery.
"I've realized my dream that noodles can go into space," said Ando at the time.
Ando died in 2007 at the age of 96. According to one report, Ando had his usual Cup Noodles every day, even to the day of his death.
