Hirosaki's Chanko restaurant "Vegetarian Kenmi Chanko Takamaru" (Hirosaki City Shinagawa-cho, TEL 0172-55-9853) celebrated its third anniversary on December 15.

The same store where Mr. Masato Hanada, a former wrestler from Hirosaki, is the owner. Mr. Hanada, who said that he was a talented person who started sumo in the third grade of elementary school and won the national competition in the first year of experience, after graduating from Hirosaki Third Junior High School, he entered the Naruto room and lived for 15 years as a wrestler. sent.

After retiring from wrestlers, he returned to Hirosaki and worked at restaurants and other places, but decided to open the business in response to the voices of those around him saying, "Because I was doing sumo, try a Chanko Nabe restaurant." It wasn't a good start at the beginning of the opening, but it is said that it began to feel good around the last year. Mr. Hanada recalled, "We hosted a sumo event, helped make a ring, and gradually increased the number of customers."

""Chanko" is a general term for wrestlers' meals," says Hanada. For wrestlers, eating is an important training for building the body, and he says, “I try to meet the needs of customers by utilizing the cooking methods I have cultivated during my active life.”

The menu is Chanko Nabe (1 person, 900 yen and up). Tastes include miso, soy sauce, salt, kimchi, and tantan. Sauce and ponzu sauce are also prepared according to the customer's wishes. In addition to this, seasonal dishes (200 yen and up), "Hanami Nabe" (1,000 yen) using salted cherry blossoms are also available.

Mr. Hanada who is confident that "Miso is a blend of garlic from Aomori Prefecture and homemade miso". It is said to be used for miso fried rice (550 yen), miso ramen (600 yen), etc., and Mr. Hanada's miso is also used in the Takonoura room (former Naruto room).

"In fact, our most popular item is the back menu pudding," he said. Pudding made from clay pots must be reserved in advance, and take-out is possible if you bring a container.

Mr. Hanada is enthusiastic, "I would like to continue the store as long as there are people who stop by on business trips and those who can help me in the surroundings. If I can make an effort to expand the sumo population of Aomori, which was once called the sumo kingdom".

Business hours are from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to last.