I visited Takanozuka in Tokyo for the first time, looking for the family home of the professional wrestler "Kuroshio Ikemen Jiro," who is currently active in WWE in the United States. They run a chanko nabe izakaya called "Chanko Nabe-ya Kuroshio." The chanko nabe course with all-you-can-drink is 5000 yen. It's a 3-minute walk from Takanozuka Station. When I arrived, the lights were off even though I had made a reservation. It turns out that during the current pandemic, they operate on a reservation-only basis, with only one group per day. Anyone can make a reservation, but there is one condition: you must be a "pro wrestling fan." When making a reservation, you are always asked this question. When I opened the door, the table was already set. The walls of the restaurant are filled with signatures of professional wrestlers, creating a space that wrestling fans will love. They also display the trademark jacket of their son, wrestler "Kuroshio Ikemen Jiro." The current menu includes one chanko course with all-you-can-drink. I enjoyed chatting about wrestling and savoring the drinks with my wrestling fan friends. The table was set with bean sprout namul and char siu. The namul went well with beer and had a unique flavor that didn't get boring. The char siu was tender and flavorful, a perfect match for beer. Next, they served a platter of fresh oysters and sashimi. This is where the izakaya's true charm shines. I enjoyed the fresh oysters with ponzu sauce. When we finished the sashimi and oysters, the main dish of the night arrived: the famous chanko nabe. It was so large that I wondered how many people it was meant for. When I asked the master, he said, "I don't know." It was a fun atmosphere. We started by adding the meatballs to the broth and tasting the soup. It was delicious! The soy sauce-based broth extracted the flavor from the meat, making the soup even tastier. The warm chanko nabe was incredibly delicious. The vegetables under the meat included spring greens, Chinese cabbage, mizuna, shimeji mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms. There was also fish in the nabe. The spring greens released excellent flavor, which the other ingredients absorbed. It was a healthy dish without any oil. The variety of meats kept it interesting, and the volume was satisfying. We also got to hear stories about WWE from the master, making it the perfect accompaniment to our drinks. The meal ended with slightly thick udon noodles in the flavorful soup. The udon had a great texture and went well with the soup. By the end of the meal, we were full and satisfied. I thought we wouldn't finish it all, but we did! The combination of drinks, nabe, and the master's stories made it a great experience at Chanko Nabe-ya Kuroshio. Unfortunately, we had to leave due to time constraints, but I will definitely come back. The reservation password is "pro wrestling fan."

This is my first time in Takenozuka and also my first time on the Tobu Skytree Line. "Nabe-ya Kuroshio" is a hidden gem in the deep Adachi ward, known only to those in the know. The name of the restaurant may ring a bell for wrestling fans, as it is the roots of the rising star wrestler, Kuroshio "Ikemen" Jiro. The owner, a father figure, is also a well-known character featured in wrestling events. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is decorated with the history of Kuroshio's elite training since childhood, with walls filled with signatures of famous personalities. The old-school ambiance, managed by the father figure, is truly reminiscent of the Showa era. And when it comes to food, the portions are truly for athletes! From motsu-nabe to okonomiyaki, even sashimi, the hearty course meal with a touch of Kansai style is so generous that you won't be able to finish the main dish of chanko-nabe. This space is like a strong style of entertainment, where you can watch rare wrestling match footage with live commentary from the owner, while sharing a sake cup... Before you know it, the night in Takenozuka has deepened.

I visited the restaurant "Nabe-ya Kuroshio". It is located right across from the "STELLA" restaurant where I reviewed before. The name suggests it might deal with seafood, but it is actually a place that specializes in okonomiyaki and hot pot dishes. It seems like professional wrestlers also gather here? On a certain holiday, at 6:30 pm, I visited with one more person. It was a cold day, so we came here specifically for the hot pot. The interior of the restaurant is a bit cluttered... There are pro wrestling posters, masks, title belts, etc. casually placed on the walls. As I was looking at the goods, the owner asked me, "Are you interested in pro wrestling?" I responded with a mature approach, "I'm not very knowledgeable, but I like it." The owner then said, "My son is a wrestler in a Kansai-based organization." After seeing my reaction, he stopped talking about wrestling. Now, onto the main reason for our visit - the hot pot. But before that, let me introduce the menu description: "We have added carefully selected pork to the main ingredient of chicken in the delicious 'Hakata Mizutaki' to create the 'Hakata-style Mizutaki'." The hot pot has been altered from its original form to a "style". Now, onto the food! An aluminum pot with collagen soup, not too rich but you can feel the essence of the bones. The ingredients include chicken, pork, meatballs, cabbage, shimeji mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, chrysanthemum greens, and tofu. We added chicken, pork, and meatballs first, then added vegetables at the right timing. The soup itself has a good dashi flavor, and it is piping hot as we scoop it up to eat. However, the crucial chicken and pork lacked depth in flavor... The price is 1,700 yen per person, and the image shows two servings for 3,400 yen. As mentioned earlier, okonomiyaki is also a signature dish here! The menu has a comment written on it - "The owner cooks with the authentic taste." So, is it Kanto? Kansai? Hiroshima? Looking at the menu, it's Hiroshima. We ordered Butatama (pork and egg) okonomiyaki for 700 yen plus soba noodles for 150 yen. It was served in about 15 minutes. If you have pork and soba, it's "Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki"! In reality, it's like "yakisoba topped with okonomiyaki." Well, something like that. The taste was good! Wrestling fans will love it! You can see the signs on the wall. There is also a spacious tatami room, and on that day, there was a party going on. Hot pot with a large group is delicious, isn't it? There were also various other dishes. I would like to enjoy a stylish night with delicious food and drinks with close friends! I ate my fill tonight. Thank you for the delicious food and drinks.