BANGKOK (Kyodo) A new noodle establishment called Ramen Champion opened Tuesday in Bangkok's Thong Lo district, an area where many Japanese live, featuring six popular Japanese restaurants.

While competition is tough among the 130-plus ramen shops in bangkok, Tan Passakornnatee is upbeat about the prospects of his latest project because it lets customers experience the taste of ramen as it is served in Japan.

Tan, founder of the Oishi Group, which runs a chain of Japanese restaurants, is betting his new business venture's future on the popularity of Japanese food in Thailand.

Five ramen eateries from Tokyo and another from Nagano Prefecture have set up shop inside Ramen Champion.