I liked this better than volume 2. More interesting stories of the cat who runs a ramen/curry shop (or is that two shops?). I like Taisho in spite of myself. Why Tanaka goes there every day for lunch I'll never know. . . .but the story line needs a straight man and he's the chosen one. I like Shige-Chan, the homeless (?) sometimes part-time employee who never says a word and keeps pawning the ramen shop's cookware and dishes. Somehow his little shop stays in business, even with the awful ramen, the awful curry, and the awful specials - boomerang ramen served in frisbees - really?

I always have the urge to eat ramen noodles after reading these books. I'm trying to resist the urge tonight, but I'm not sure I can hold out much longer. . . . ( )