Ramen Chain Machida Shoten Grows Despite Industry Struggles
Listen to the story
Japan's ramen industry is facing a difficult period, with a record number of bankruptcies among ramen shops this year. Despite these tough conditions, one chain, Machida Shoten, is growing fast. The company recently announced that its operating profit increased by 56%, a strong result compared with struggling competitors.
Many people are asking what makes Machida Shoten so successful. Part of the answer may be its popular yearly thank-you festival. Every year on November 3, the chain offers bowls of ramen for just 500 yen, much cheaper than the usual price. Customers can choose between two classic flavors: shio (salt) and shoyu (soy sauce).
Machida Shoten has confirmed that this festival will return again in 2026, showing that the event has become a key part of its business strategy. Events like this help attract new customers while keeping loyal fans happy. In an industry where many smaller shops are struggling to survive rising costs and changing customer habits, offering a reliable, affordable, and enjoyable experience seems to be paying off for Machida Shoten.
While the full reasons behind the company's strong performance are not completely clear from the limited information available, its focus on customer appreciation and consistent pricing appears to be a major factor. As more ramen shops close across the country, Machida Shoten's continued growth stands out as a rare success story in a challenging industry.
Vocabulary10 words
- bankruptcy
- when a company cannot pay its debts and must close
- operating profit
- money earned from a company's main business activities
- thank-you festival
- a special event where a company shows appreciation to customers
- shio
- Japanese word for salt-flavored broth
- shoyu
- Japanese word for soy sauce-flavored broth
- strategy
- a planned way of doing something to reach a goal
- competitor
- a business that competes with another for customers
- loyal
- staying faithful and continuing to support something
- affordable
- priced at a level that is easy to pay
- industry
- a group of businesses that produce the same kind of goods or services
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. It is facing a record number of bankruptcies 2. Operating profit 3. Shio and shoyu
✅ 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.
Japan's ramen industry is facing a difficult period, with a record number of _____ among ramen shops this year. Despite these tough conditions, one chain, Machida Shoten, is growing fast.
The company recently announced that its operating _____ increased by 56%, a strong result compared with struggling _____.
Every year on November 3, the chain offers bowls of ramen for just _____ yen. Customers can choose between two classic flavors: shio and _____.
Machida Shoten has confirmed that this festival will return again in _____, showing that the event has become a key part of its business _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think some ramen shops are struggling while Machida Shoten is succeeding?
- Do you think discount events like this festival are a good long-term business strategy? Why or why not?
- Have you ever tried shio or shoyu ramen? Which do you prefer?
- What other businesses use special yearly events to attract customers?
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.
