Tuesday was eel-eating day, when many in Japan treat themselves to the grilled delicacy —this year likely to make a smaller dent on the wallet with prices down.
Eel, typically prepared with sweet soy sauce and grilled, is enjoyed on set days following an old custom that says eating the dish on the midsummer Day of the Ox helps in coping with the heat. The Day of the Ox occurs several times a year, and during midsummer this year it fell on Tuesday with another occurrence on Aug. 6.
The domestic catch of juvenile eels rose early this year for the first time in three seasons, leading to a fall in their price for cultivation.