Message from Shawn Iguchi

<< Summer food >>

I have been writing the series of “Only in Korea”. It is becoming a long series. It will take more time to post next one.

In a meanwhile, I will talk about something else today.

This year, unlike usual, summer in Japan is really hot! Sweltering hot!

In Kyoto, It is said that the temperature will hit 40 degrees in Celsius 101 degrees in Fahrenheit next week!

It’s just like being in sauna.

< Unagi >

Since ancient time, Japan has a custom of eating Unagi (a freshwater eel) during summer season.

It’s been believed in Japan that Unagi gives stamina to endure harsh heat of summer.

As the matter of fact, Unagi is high in Vitamin E. Vitamin E is known as rejuvenating Vitamin and it really gives endurance. So it is scientifically correct to eat Unagi during summer season.

However, there seem to be horrible Unagi restaurants appearing in Tokyo and some urban areas where foreign tourists are visiting.

“Unatoto” restaurant seems to be one of the chain restaurants serving frozen Unagi imported from China.

<Distinctive differences between genuine Unagi and Chinese Unagi>

1. Chinese Unagi has a thick skin

2. Chinese Unagi is abnormally huge

3. Chinese Unagi tastes oily and bad

4. Chinese Unagi smells no good

Japanese Unagi is a different breed called "Japonica" from Chinese Unagi. Even though they are biologically categorized into the same group of Unagi, but actually they are different kinds.

Chinese Unagi has skin that is very thick and chewy! It's hard to bite it off. You feel like chewing on the rubber sheet. The real Japanese Unagi has paper thin skin and it can easily be ripped by just gently pressing with chopsticks.

The flesh of char-broiled (genuine) Unagi is so fluffy and soft that you don’t even need to chew it at all. It just melts in your mouth.

Raw Unagi is banned to import in US (only frozen Unagi, most likely from China, is available), so it is the best opportunity to try the real Unagi if you ever come to Japan but make sure to avoid those horrible Unagi restaurants serving frozen Unagi imported from China.