Gu zouni is one of the representative local dishes of Shimabara in Nagasaki Prefecture. It is said to have originated during the Shimabara Rebellion in the early Edo period, when the commander Shirō Amakusa and 37,000 Christian followers prepared a stew combining mochi (rice cakes) with ingredients from both the mountains and the sea to sustain themselves during the siege.

Today, it is enjoyed at home on festive occasions such as New Year’s and religious celebrations, and is also served at restaurants throughout the year.