Chikuwa

Chikuwa (竹輪) is a Japanese fishcake product made from fish surimi. After being mixed well, they are wrapped around a bamboo or metal stick and steamed or broiled. The word chikuwa ("bamboo ring") comes from the shape when it is sliced.

Variants of surimi products such as kamaboko and satsuma-age are popular. In Tottori, the per-household consumption has been the highest of all prefectures for the past 30 years, since the first year such records were kept. As it is cheap and a relatively low-fat source of protein, chikuwa is popular as a snack.

Chikuwa should not be confused with chikuwabu, which is an altogether different food product.

There exists a rare kanji for chikuwa, "" which is known for its unusual double-ring shape.