A must-have during the traditional ‘Okunchi’ festival. It is also served at various other days of auspiciousness, such as new years. In Kyushu, this stew is refered to as ‘Ga-Me stew’ whereas in other parts of the country it is refered to as ‘Chikuzen Stew’. Different names, but the overall recipe remains the same. It is said that when Japanese soldiers went to the Korean peninsula back in the 14th Century, they saw turtles being stewed with vegetables, and that is where this dish originates from (Ga-Me in Japanese means ‘turtle’). However, no turtle can be found in this dish today, with the main protein being chicken.