Ramen Chain Machida Shoten Grows Despite Industry Struggles
Listen to the story
Many ramen shops in Japan are closing. This is a hard time for the ramen business. But one company is doing well. It is called Machida Shoten. Its operating profit went up by 56%. This means the company made much more money.
People ask why Machida Shoten is so successful. The company works hard to keep customers happy. It also has a special event every year. On November 3, Machida Shoten has a thank-you festival. On this day, a bowl of ramen costs only 500 yen. Normally, ramen costs more money.
The festival has two kinds of ramen. One is salt ramen, called shio. The other is soy sauce ramen, called shoyu. Machida Shoten said the festival will happen again in 2026. Many customers like this cheap, tasty food. This event helps make the brand popular.
Vocabulary15 words
- ramen
- a Japanese food with noodles and soup
- operating profit
- money a company makes from its normal business
- thank-you festival
- a special event to say thanks to customers
- shio
- a Japanese word meaning salt
- shoyu
- a Japanese word meaning soy sauce
- chain
- many shops with the same name and owner
- customer
- a person who buys something
- bowl
- a round dish for food
- brand
- the name of a company's products
- discount
- a lower price than normal
- industry
- all the companies that make or sell the same thing
- profit
- money left after paying all costs
- event
- something special that happens
- popular
- liked by many people
- successful
- doing well; reaching a good result
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. They are closing 2. 56% 3. 500 yen
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Many ramen shops in Japan are _____. This is a hard time for the ramen business. But one company is doing well. It is called Machida Shoten. Its operating profit went up by _____%.
People ask why Machida Shoten is so _____. On November 3, Machida Shoten has a thank-you _____. On this day, a bowl of ramen costs only _____ yen.
The festival has two kinds of ramen: _____ and _____. Machida Shoten said the festival will happen again in _____. Many customers like this cheap, tasty food.
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.
