1.
chanko nabe; sumo wrestler's hot pot stew
A hearty, protein-rich hot pot dish traditionally eaten by sumo wrestlers to build and maintain body mass. Made in large quantities with chicken, fish, tofu, vegetables, and other ingredients simmered in a broth. Now widely available at specialty restaurants, especially around sumo stadiums.
The word ちゃんこ refers to any food eaten at a sumo stable, but outside the sumo world it has come to mean specifically the hot pot dish. The etymology is debated — one theory traces it to Chinese cooking pots (chan-kuo), another to ちゃん (a term for the stablemaster) plus こ (child/junior wrestlers).
Cultural note
- In sumo stables, ちゃんこ is prepared by junior-ranking wrestlers as part of their daily duties
- The dish is traditionally chicken-based because chickens stand on two legs — symbolically, a wrestler who has 'fallen on all fours' has lost
- 両国 in Tokyo, home to the national sumo arena, is famous for its many ちゃんこ鍋 restaurants, often run by retired wrestlers
Common collocations
- ちゃんこ鍋を作る: to make chanko nabe
- ちゃんこ鍋を囲む: to gather around chanko nabe
- ちゃんこ鍋屋: chanko nabe restaurant
- ちゃんこ番: the wrestler on cooking duty
Similar words
- 鍋: hot pot — the general term for any one-pot dish where ingredients are simmered at the table
- 寄せ鍋: mixed hot pot — a general-purpose hot pot with assorted ingredients, similar in concept but without the sumo association
- すき焼き: sukiyaki — a hot pot with thinly sliced beef, vegetables, and a sweet soy sauce base
Related Words
Related:
鍋 (hot pot)
Compare:
寄せ鍋 (mixed hot pot)
Compare:
すき焼き (sukiyaki)
Compare:
水炊き (mizutaki (chicken hot pot))