Chanko-nabe

Chanko-nabe

Chanko-nabe (ちゃんこ鍋) is the staple stew eaten daily by sumo wrestlers. It is a hot pot dish containing protein (chicken, fish, tofu, or pork), vegetables, and noodles in a rich broth. The dish is central to the sumo diet and the communal life of a heya (stable).

In traditional heya hierarchy, the lowest-ranked wrestlers prepare chanko for the entire stable. Junior wrestlers eat last, after the sekitori (salaried wrestlers) have finished. This hierarchy at mealtimes reinforces the strict seniority system that governs all aspects of stable life.

Chanko-nabe is designed to be calorie-dense and nutritious, helping wrestlers maintain their size. A typical serving contains over 1,000 calories, and wrestlers may eat multiple bowls accompanied by large quantities of rice and beer. The combination of high-calorie meals and afternoon naps (wrestlers train early and eat around noon) is the foundation of the sumo body-building regimen.

Many retired wrestlers open chanko restaurants, which are popular with fans and tourists. The Ryogoku neighborhood in Tokyo, home to many stables and the Kokugikan arena, is famous for its concentration of chanko restaurants.