Last week we addressed a part of the culinary culture of Japan. This week our table is still set in Japan and what a company we have this week... If you haven't read the edit from last week, we suggest you to read it first in order to understand this week’s edit even more. Because today we will discuss a dish to see how the Japanese implement the explained story from last week.
So remove your shoes or slippers, pick your cushion and 'sharpen' your chopsticks because we are sharing the table with some of the biggest guys in the country, the sumo wrestlers. いただきます or itadakimasu!
Move aside!
So, on the left and right of you two men of approximately 140 kg and 1,95 cm are sitting very comfortably next to you. Very intimidating indeed but nothing to worry about, they are very eager to tell you everything about their culture and how Chankonabe became such a big thing.
Training First
Sumo wrestling is a sport where 2 men, only men, try to push each other out of the ring or on the ground. When one of the sumo's is out of the ring or touches the sand-covered ground with any part of his body besides the soles of his 2 feet, the opponent sumo wrestler wins.
Sumo is a very, very old sport. The earliest written record of sumo wrestling dates back to 712 A.D. But, the Japanese claim it is as old as Japan itself. According to Japanese legends, there was a sumo match between Takemikazuchi (God of Thunder and God of Swords) and Takeminakata (God of Wind, Water, and Agriculture) that determined the origins of the Japanese Islands.
It wasn't until the late 1600s when sumo wrestling became an entertainment sport for the middle-class people in Japan. Sumo wrestling began as a ritual to the gods in the hope of a good harvest. In today’s sumo wrestling games some of these traditions can still be found. For example, the stomping on the ground is to drive the evil spirits away and the heavy clap immediately after the beginning of the game is to get attention from the gods.
Unlike boxing or UFC, there are no weight classes. This means that a sumo wrestler of 120 kg against a sumo wrestler of 180 kg can occur. So, gaining weight is a very essential part of sumo. Eating is part of a sumo's training.
Breakfast
We wake up around 5 o'clock in the morning and head right into the gym. Wait, no breakfast? Noop, no breakfast. Sumo wrestlers skip breakfast and go training first thing in the morning in order to slow down their metabolism and increase the hunger. After training, they have breakfast/lunch. This is where Chankonabe comes into play.
Time to eat!
Chankonabe is often prepared by a former sumo wrestler or the eldest sumo wrestler of the sumo stable during the training session. Chankonabe is a big pot filled with multiple vegetables, meats, and fish. This depends, as we have learned last week, on the season. Chanko meaning any sort of food that is prepared by a sumo wrestler. Nabe meaning hot-pot. The most often prepared Chanko food is Nabe.
Ancient Beliefs of Chanko
The most common ingredients are chicken, tofu, shiitake, Chinese cabbage, and carrots. The sumo wrestlers try to avoid pork and beef. One of the reasons is because chicken is more nutritious compared to other sorts of beef. But the main reason comes from ancient beliefs. As said before, a sumo wrestler loses if he touches the ground with any body part apart from his feet. A chicken or any other bird stands on two feet, whereas pigs or cows stand on four feet. This reminds the sumo wrestlers of losing so that’s why they try to avoid eating pork or beef.
There are other ancient beliefs and symbolisms that apply to the preparation and eating of Chankonabe. One of them is the declaration of usage of meatballs in Chankonabe, the meatball shape symbolizes the victory points a sumo wrestler has to get in order to win. Another one is that when preparing the Chankonabe it is absolutely forbidden to mix raw materials from the mountains with sea products.
GAINS!
There are often more pots of Chankonabe being prepared for the whole sumo stable. One-pot of Chankonabe being shared with the whole sumo stable will not fulfill the needs of a sumo wrestler. Although it depends on age, height, and weight, an average adult male requires 2,500 calories per day to maintain their weight. Now bear with me, a sumo wrestler eats around 10,000 calories per day! The Chankonabe contains almost two-thirds of that amount of calories.
Now you may think, how can a hot-pot contain 7,000 calories? Well, it doesn't. The Chankonabe is traditionally eaten with white rice, which contains a high amount of calories. But wait, there is more... When all the vegetables and meats are eaten they throw udon noodles in the pot, this creates a thick kind of soup. The food coma is so heavy after eating Chankonabe that most of the sumo wrestlers are going for a nap.
The Origin, i think?
The origin of Chankonabe is a bit unknown. As far as the Japanese and sumo wrestlers know, Chankonabe exists as long as sumo wrestling itself. This is seen often with other hot-pots, stews, and soups. My guess for the origin of Chankonabe is the following. When sumo wrestling became an entertainment sport in Japan the sumo wrestlers saw that when you weigh more than your opponent you have a significant advantage. 'So I have to gain weight!', said the sumo wrestler to himself.
The thing is, I don't have time to cook because I have a very strict training schedule. Next to that, I'm not the best cook! I chose a life in the ring, not in the kitchen! Hmmm, maybe I can cook something while training, like a stew! Yeah, that's a good idea... And I will name it to myself, a sumo wrestler’s hot-pot. ちゃんこ鍋, Chankonabe.