About YUUHow chikuzen-ni (gameni) began
“Gameni” is a local dish of Fukuoka. Northern Fukuoka was once called “Chikuzen”, so it’s also called chikuzen-ni.
👀 At a glance
📍WhereFukuoka
🏷Original nameGameni
🎉WhenNew Year, celebrations
📜 About the name
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Theory 1
From the Hakata dialect word “gamekurikomu” (to gather together)[1]
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Theory 2
Soldiers sent out in the Bunroku campaign of 1592 are said to have simmered soft-shell turtle (“dobugame”) with whatever they had[1][2]
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“Chikuzen-ni”
Northern Fukuoka was once called “Chikuzen Province”[2]
🎉 When people eat it
It’s often made for New Year, festivals and weddings, and is an everyday side dish too[1]
Make it
Sources（2）
- MAFF (Japan), “Our Regional Cuisines”: Gameni (Fukuoka)
- MAFF (Japan), “Regional dishes around Japan”: Gameni (Chikuzen-ni)
Checked on 2026-10-07.