Why do people slurp ramen and soba so loudly here?
In noodle shops, diners audibly slurp ramen, soba, and udon. Far from being rude, the sound is treated as normal and even as a sign of enjoyment.
Slurping cools the hot noodles as you eat and pulls in air that spreads the aroma, so the sound became a practical, accepted part of eating noodles.
Why — five layers
Ramen and soba are served very hot in broth; slurping mixes in air to cool each mouthful and lets you eat quickly before the noodles soften.
Noodle stands and lunch counters are fast, high-turnover places; eating briskly and audibly is unremarkable in that casual setting.
In soba culture especially, drawing in air with the noodles is said to lift the aroma, so a good slurp is framed as tasting well rather than as bad manners.
International view
In much of Europe and North America, slurping any food is considered impolite. Some other noodle cultures in Asia tolerate it, but the positive framing is unusually strong in Japan.
But not always
The tolerance is specific to noodles. Slurping soup with a spoon, pasta, or curry is not the norm, and very loud slurping now draws complaints from some younger Japanese people too ('noodle harassment').
What to do
You never have to slurp. If you do, aim it at ramen/soba/udon, keep it moderate, and skip slurping non-noodle dishes and Western-style food.
Sources
- general etiquette guides on Japanese noodle eating
- soba culture commentary