Instant noodles are Japan's most famous accomplishment of the 20th century, according to a recent survey reported Monday by a Fuji Bank-affiliated think tank.
The survey of some 1,000 adults living in the Kanto region was conducted in the form of an interview where the interviewee could make more than one answer to the multiple choice questions regarding goods, culture and technology, the Fuji Research Institute said.
First created in 1958, instant noodles became popular around the world with 43.7 billion cups and packets consumed as of March 1999, the institute said.
Karaoke took second place, followed by two electric appliances -- personal headset stereos and home video-game consoles, it said.
Late film director Akira Kurosawa came in seventh, it said.