Chicken Chanko

People tend to see Japanese food as endlessly light and elegant, all sushi, sashimi and artfully carved fruit. But this is just one part of the cuisine. Because Japan can get mighty cold in winter (except in the tropical south), so good, belly-lining tucker is desired. Think of tonkatsu, or breaded pork chop. And the sweetish curry rice, along with the ever-popular ramen (actually Chinese in origin), the ultimate in booze food. Chankonabe, better known as chanko, is a g