Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles

Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles (ラーメン大好き小泉さん) is a Japanese manga series by Naru Narumi. It began serialization in Takeshobo's Manga Life Storia magazine in September 2013. A live-action drama series adaptation aired from June 2015 to December 2016. A 12-episode anime television series adaptation co-animated by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ aired in Japan from January to March 2018.

Synopsis
Koizumi is worshiped almost like a goddess in her class for her imposing beauty, but she is a mystery, as she does not communicate with anyone of her own free will. But her partner Yuu wants to get to know her more, and she unexpectedly discovers Koizumi's great passion, ramen noodles. Both will tour the city to experience new flavors and try to forge a friendship.

Characters

 * Koizumi (小泉)
 * Played by: Akari Hayami (2015 version), Hiyori Sakurada (2020 version)
 * Koizumi is an enigmatic, beautiful girl with pale skin who has recently moved into the neighborhood. Appearing mostly cold and antisocial, the only time her facade is broken is when ramen is involved; either when she consumes it with ravenous delight (when they sport unusual flavors), or when she shares her extensive knowledge about types and ways of preparation. She is fluent in German.
 * Koizumi is an enigmatic, beautiful girl with pale skin who has recently moved into the neighborhood. Appearing mostly cold and antisocial, the only time her facade is broken is when ramen is involved; either when she consumes it with ravenous delight (when they sport unusual flavors), or when she shares her extensive knowledge about types and ways of preparation. She is fluent in German.


 * Yuu Ohsawa (大澤 悠)
 * Played by: Karen Miyama (2015 version), Manami Igashira (2020 version)
 * Yuu is a cheerful and optimistic girl who has developed an obsession for her new classmate Koizumi. When she discovers Koizumi's passion for ramen, she attempts to use this to get closer to her. She is good at cooking and is a member of the home economics club.
 * Yuu is a cheerful and optimistic girl who has developed an obsession for her new classmate Koizumi. When she discovers Koizumi's passion for ramen, she attempts to use this to get closer to her. She is good at cooking and is a member of the home economics club.


 * Misa Nakamura (中村 美沙)
 * Played by: Seika Furuhata (2015 version), Ririka Tanabe (2020 version)
 * Misa is Yuu's classmate, who initially becomes jealous of Yū's growing obsession for Koizumi. However, she is a lover of spicy foods, and she and Koizumi become sort-of-friends through this single common passion.
 * Misa is Yuu's classmate, who initially becomes jealous of Yū's growing obsession for Koizumi. However, she is a lover of spicy foods, and she and Koizumi become sort-of-friends through this single common passion.


 * Jun Takahashi (高橋 潤)
 * , Ayaka Imoto (2020 version)
 * Jun is the student representative of Koizumi, Yuu and Misa's class who is very fastidious about her status. While she likes ramen, she has ceased consuming it in public after her glasses once fogged up while she ate some in the school cafeteria, until Koizumi manages to rekindle that lost delight.


 * Shuu Ohsawa (大澤 修)
 * Yuu's older brother, he is a college student who works at Izakaya. Like his sister, he becomes interested in Koizumi, but initially remains unaware of Yuu's passion for her.
 * Yuu's older brother, he is a college student who works at Izakaya. Like his sister, he becomes interested in Koizumi, but initially remains unaware of Yuu's passion for her.


 * Ayane Ohsawa (大澤 絢音)
 * Yuu's older cousin who has been living in Osaka before recently moving to Tokyo.
 * Yuu's older cousin who has been living in Osaka before recently moving to Tokyo.

Manga
Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles is written and illustrated by Naru Narumi. It began serialization in Takeshobo's Manga Life Storia magazine on September 30, 2013. In 2019, after the disbandment of the magazine, the series was transferred to the Storia Dash website. In 2024, the series stopped publication on Storia Dash, and is set to resume serialization in Akita Shoten's Monthly Shōnen Champion magazine in Q4 2024. The series is licensed by Dark Horse Comics for release in North America starting in September 2019. The series is also published in Taiwan by Kadokawa Media. Takeshobo published an anthology titled Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles Official Anthology (ラーメン大好き小泉さん公式アンソロジー) on January 30, 2018.

Live-action drama
A four-episode live-action drama series, produced by Kyodo Television and directed by Tsukuru Matsuki, aired from June 27 to July 18, 2015 on Fuji TV. A New Year's special aired on January 4, 2016 and a New Year's Eve special aired on December 30, 2016. The show's theme song is "Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san no Uta" (ラーメン大好き小泉さんの唄) by Magnolia Factory. A third special aired on March 27, 2020 and a fourth special aired on January 8, 2022.

Anime
A 12-episode anime television series adaptation, co-produced by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ, aired in Japan between January 4 and March 22, 2018 and was simulcast by Crunchyroll. The series was directed by Kenji Seto with scripts by Tatsuya Takahashi and character designs by Takuya Tani. The opening theme is "Feeling Around" by Minori Suzuki, while the ending theme is "Love Men Holic" by Shiena Nishizawa.

Reception
It was reported in March 2017 that the first four volumes of the manga series have sold over 840,000 copies in Japan.