With the latest installment of the "Men in Black" movie franchise set to hit US and Japanese theaters on June 14, internationally renowned ramen chain Ippudo is launching a promotional campaign featuring a new addition to their ramen lineup called "Men in Black."

Men in Black Ramen

Although it might sound boring in English, in Japanese, the name is written 麺・イン・ブラック. This clever pun takes the name of the film franchise, normally written メン・イン・ブラック in the katakana syllabary for loan words, and replaces the first word "Men" with the identically pronounced kanji 麺, meaning "noodles." In other words, the meaning is: "noodles in black", or literally, noodles in a black broth.

But what's inside?

OK, so the title might be clever, but what exactly is inside a bowl of "Men In Black" ramen?

Ippudo takes its signature silky and smooth tonkotsu broth and blends it with spicy and fragrant black pepper. Decorating the surface in black is a specially formulated aromatic oil flavored with roasted garlic. The noodles are extra thin and straight in the Hakata style. Rounding out the dish are succulent slices of braised pork made from belly and shoulder cuts, bean sprouts, green onion, wood ear mushrooms and a dollop of spicy miso. If you like it hot, blend the miso into the broth for an extra spicy kick.

Price and Availability

The "Men In Black" Ramen costs 890 JPY (excluding tax) and is available throughout the month of June, 2019 at the following participating stores:

• Kyushu: Dazaifu Interchange, Hakata Station
• Kanto: Ebisu, Kichijoji, Gotanda East Exit, Ueno Hirokoji, Shinjuku Island Tower, Lumine Shinjuku, Komazawa Park, Toyosu, Futako-Tamagawa Rise S.C., Minato Mirai Tokyu Square, Tama Plazza, Lalaport Tokyo-Bay, Chiba, Takasaki, Kawasaki Interchange, Oomiya, 1/2ppudo Shibuya Hikarie, 1/2ppudo Lumine Tachikawa
• Kansai: Umeda, Nishikokoji, Kobe Motomachi, Kyoto Porta
• Chugoku and Shikoku: Hiroshima Fukuromachi, ekie Hiroshima, Matsuyama
• Tokai: Nagoya Sakae Blossa
• Koshinetsu and Hokuriku: Niigata, Matsumoto, Suwa Interchange
• Tokai: Sendai Aoba Dori, Sendai East Exit
• Hokkaido: Sapporo Tanuki-koji

---

Campaign Goods

In addition to enjoying a bowl of "Men in Black" ramen, MIB fans who participate in Ippudo's social media campaign on Twitter or Instagram can enter a lottery to win a movie ticket or one of two commemorative merchandise items.

Toho Cinemas "Men In Black: International" Ticket (Mubichike) Card

10 people will win Mubichike pre-order ticket cards to view "Men In Black: International" at Toho Cinemas theaters in Japan. To enter the lottery, follow Ippudo's Twitter account (@IPPUDO_JP) and retweet one of their campaign tweets between June 1st and June 10th, 2019. Winners will receive their tickets in mid June.

"Men In Black: International" Card Case

5 people will win a "Men In Black: International" Card Case. To enter the lottery, follow Ippudo's Twitter account (@IPPUDO_JP) or Instagram account (ippudo_jp) within the month of June, 2019. Winners will receive their merchandise in early July.

"Men In Black: International" Neuralyzer USB Memory Stick

5 people will win a "Men In Black: International" Neuralyzer USB Memory Stick. To enter the lottery, follow Ippudo's Twitter account (@IPPUDO_JP) or Instagram account (ippudo_jp) within the month of June, 2019. Winners will receive their merchandise in early July.

Note:You must have a Japanese address to participate in the lottery.