A Fukuokan's Notes from Sapporo

                                 JPY 2,700

The eel season has come.

According to my fishmonger, the catch has been poorer and the price is even higher than last year. The price will go through the roof in the high season, called Doyo (late July to early August) . Particularly on July 22 and August 3, called Dono no Ushi (the day of the OX), on which we are all supposed to (almost obsessively) eat eel to fend off summer fatigue.  So it might be the time to have an eel at a relatively reasonable price.

This one is a locally caught wild eel, which has been rarer and rarer these days. In fact, so rare is the species, Japanese eels (Anguilla Japonica) may be designated to be an endangered species. (for more detail see this article: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/22/national/japanese-eel-may-be-designated-an-endangered-species/#.UcmBBdimX3U ) It could be sinful and reproachable to eat eels in the near future, probably while I am alive.

However, let me excuse, as you can’t revive dead and cooked eels,  I have nothing to be blamed for having bought and enjoyed this delicious fish today, which is once-a-year treat to me.

 As I had expected, it was soooooo delicious that I wished I wouldn’t finish the dinner (imagine endless eel …wonderful!) .