Overview

• Ishiba visited the ramen shop Hashigo in Tokyo’s Minato ward on October 11, walking from the nearby prime minister’s office with his wife Yoshiko and secretaries.
• He ordered a fried-pork topped tantanmen and shumai and told those around him it was delicious, according to the reports.
• Sources cited by outlets said he had avoided ramen shops during his tenure because of security and had joked after his September 7 resignation announcement about finishing his term without eating ramen.
• Jiji Press reported he published reflections on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II on October 10, which he viewed as a natural point to wind down official duties.
• He chairs the Ramen Culture Promotion Dietmembers’ League, and Chunichi noted former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the same shop in 2015.