Chanko-nabe
Chanko-nabe (ちゃんこ鍋) is a hot-pot meal closely associated with sumo stables. Recipes vary and may include chicken, fish, pork, tofu, vegetables, and noodles in broth. In sumo usage, chanko can refer more broadly to food prepared and eaten at the 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.
The dish is practical for feeding many people from one pot and can be adjusted to available ingredients. A wrestler's total diet and portion size, not one required recipe, determine how much energy the meal provides. The shared meal also makes chanko part of stable culture rather than a special food eaten only at tournaments.
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.