Eel Day

Eel, called unagi in Japanese, is an incredibly popular cuisine in Japan. So popular, that there is even a day named after it. Eel Day. Pretty original right? Ok well it is more like Doyo Ushinohi....but otherwise known as Eel Day.

Japans affinity for eel comes not from its deliciousness really, but mostly in part due to the fact that there was so many of them at one time. And as with most things it was not originally a gourmet dish. It was too common and too fattening and cooked much like you would cook and ayu fish. In other words, boney and not incredibly sophisticated. Since then, the cooking method has been refined and it has been made more desirable for all people to enjoy.

One of the things I found most interesting about this day is that Ushi-no-hi actually means Day of the Ox. And last time I checked, eel is certainly not ox. Actually Japanese people being as superstitious as they are,  believe that eating anything starting with a 'u' on ushi no hi is acceptable and, of course, brings them luck in the following year. Thus with eel being a commonly found article and with the added fact of the new delicious techniques, made eel quite the popular choice.
Though in present day, the majority of Japans freshwater eel is actually imported from the United States, driving up the price of eel, making not as common as it once was, but still just as desirable.

Also interesting is the way that the eel is prepared. It is cut open from the spine. Seppuku, as you might know, is a pretty infamous final act for samurais. In light of this final affair preformed by samurai of cutting open ones stomach in an act of suicide, the shop owners, not wanting to insult anyone (politeness is forever ingrained) nor detract from the honorable end-all for their samurai clientele, decided to cut open the eels from the spine and not the belly. This is also the way they will open shrimp and some fish as well.
From there the eel is grilled and painted with a sweetened sauce. And finally eaten atop of rice called unagi-don. This dish is can often be found in a bento, but even more so atop of sushi. You can also find it grilled on skewers right next to ayu.


This day changes from year to year, but this year it falls on July 27th 2012. It is supposed to be eaten on the hottest day of the year to give the person more nutrition and stamina to get through the day and not melt.