# @nextshark on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CwjLKUPvWwa
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/8419073-nextshark-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/d356a25eb3.jpg
- **Posted:** 2023-08-30T01:03:43.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** NextShark (@nextshark) — https://gondola.cc/nextshark

## Caption

Takaya Awata has risen to become Japan’s latest billionaire after successfully building a global noodle empire 🍜
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Awata dropped out of Kobe City University of Foreign Studies in 1985. By the age of 23, he launched his first grilled chicken eatery. But success did not come easy. ⁠
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An epiphany struck during a visit to his father’s hometown in Kagawa prefecture, famed for its bustling udon noodle shops. The sight of customers queuing for the chewy, wheat-flour delight stirred something within Awata. In his words, it was an “emotional experience of food” that led him to pursue his own noodle venture.⁠
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Toridoll was established in 1990 and has since expanded into a global noodle powerhouse, racking up close to 1,900 eateries across the globe. The culinary empire encompasses not only udon noodle joints, but also an array of offerings such as spicy Chinese rice noodles, ramen and tempura.⁠
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In 2021, the opening of the first Marugame Udon restaurant in London highlighted Awata’s philosophy of catering to local tastes. During the pandemic, his food truck provided free udon noodles to underprivileged children and healthcare workers in hospitals. Awata’s mission, as he put it, lies in “discovering hidden things and offering them as new value to generate joy in our customers.”⁠
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With an emphasis on authenticity and sensory experiences, Awata’s vision of freshly cooked, open-kitchen fare has resonated with diners around the world. The company is now eyeing further expansion, allocating over $650 million for mergers and acquisitions across Europe, Asia and Greater China. Within the next five years, the noodle empire is looking into bumping its eateries to over 5,500 and raising its revenue to $2 billion.⁠
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#news #japan #japanesebillionaire #TakayaAwata #toridoll #marugameudon #marugameseimen #internationalrestaurant #udonnoodleshop

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## Tags

toridoll, news, internationalrestaurant, takayaawata, marugameudon, japanesebillionaire, japan, udonnoodleshop, marugameseimen

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