noun
chikuwa; tube-shaped fish paste cake
A Japanese food made from fish paste shaped into a hollow tube and steamed or grilled. Common in oden, stir-fries, and as a snack.
おでんにちくわを入れましょう。
Let's put chikuwa in the oden.
ちくわの磯辺揚げが好きです。
I like chikuwa tempura with seaweed.
The name ちくわ (竹輪) literally means 'bamboo ring', from the traditional method of wrapping fish paste around a bamboo stick before steaming or grilling.