Four Seasons and the Japanese Food

Doyou no Ushi no Hi, The Midsummer Day of the Ox

Doyou refers to a period of 18 days before the beginning of each season, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The ushi, or ox, is one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. Therefore, Doyou no Ushi no Hi literally means that the ox comes around before the beginning of season. However in modern days, Doyou no Ushi no Hi refers to the Midsummer Day of the Ox. Every year, the day changes. This year, the Midsummer Day of the Ox is July 20.
On this day, it is a custom to eat eel. Why eel? During the Edo Period in 17th century, there was an eel restaurant owner who was suffering from stagnant sales. One day, he visited Gennai Hiraga for advice. Gennai was a famous scholar of Western studies. Gennai told the restaurant owner to put an ad in front of the restaurant saying, “today is Doyou no Ushi no hi, Midsummer Day of the Ox. Beat the summer heat by eating eel on this day.” The ad drew in so many customers to the eel restaurant and the owner enjoyed prosperity. Other restaurants copied this deed and it became a custom to eat eel on the Midsummer Day of the Ox.
One popular way of eating eel in Japanese cooking is Unaju. Unaju is rice topped with broiled eel flavored with soy sauce in a lacquered box. Eel contains vitamins A and B that could increase appetite and energize your body. Let’s drink plenty of water and eat Unaju to avoid exhaustion caused by the summer heat.

 

 

 

Unaju, broiled eel on rice