Japanese people love to eat eel on day of the ox in midsummer, but..

It seems people in several countries eat eel, that long creature in fresh water. But Japanese eat eel most in quantities in the world. And on day of the ox in midsummer(late July or early August), Japanese especially love to eat eel. Most of the cheap gyu-don(beef on rice) franchise offer eel on rice during hot summer. Eel is considered rich in nutrition that is superbly beneficial to beat Japan's summer heat.

Eel is considered gourmet in Japan so it is usually expensive. But at beef on rice franchise, eel on rice is offered in reasonable price, so consumption of eel may be rising. On the other hand, depletion of eel population has recently become a big issue in Japan, so big that actually price of eel is rising. And if appropriate measure were not taken, eel would face extinction in coming decades.

Tuna also has an issue of shrinking population, but as sushi has become popular worldwid, protection of tuna is the global concern. That leads to global convention or treaty to make quota on tuna catch to protect tuna population. These measure may not be enough, but at least certain measures are taken to protect tuna. But eel is not so popular in the world, so there is no effective measure to protect eel population.

Most of the eel that Japanese consume are cultivated eel, but I heard that there were wild eels in Kyoto's main river of Kamo river in a couple of generation ago. It may be still swimming in Kamo river, but I have never seen them. If wild eel could be seen again more oftern in Kamo river, that would be lovely.

Eel on rice at gyu-don franchise, at hefty price of 680 yen

Kamo river runs in Kyoto, where wild eel may be swimming

Marine Day holiday at Gio-ji temple's moss garden

The third Monday of July is Marine Day holiday in Japan. I think the reason why there is a holiday for seas is unknown to most Japanese. It seems that the government likes to make Japan as marine country. You don't have to explicitly state that as you can easily see that Japan is surrounded by seas. But anyway, extra holiday is good for workers.

City center of Kyoto is extra crowded as Gion festival nears its climax. Hot, humid, no good. But I had a good experience to visit Gio-ji in Saga, northwest of Kyoto, around the same time last year, so I visited there today. Gio-ji is located a little bit far from touristy area of Arashiyama, and its temple ground is small, and no grand gate or building is there. So there is only a few visitors in this season. It may be well known for autumn foliage season, but I feel Gio-ji is most appreciated in this season as its moss-covered garden becomes lush with pure green. It has rained for a couple days, so green of moss-covered garden looks extra green.

Gio-ji is known for Gio, tragic figure associated with samurai Taira-no Kiyomori of late Heian period. How arrogant Kiyomori was!

Moss-covered garden of Gio-ji looks extra green after rain

Gion festival there

The occasion to go to Kyoto's center, Shijo-street, becomes less frequent these days. But still go there occasionally. And at this time of the year, humidity and temperature is quite uncomfortable in Kyoto, especially in central Kyoto. There is no skyscrapers in Kyoto, but buildings of 6 floors or 7 floors are concentrated in these area so that heat island phenomenon makes there hotter. And so does Gion festival, which officially continues from July 1st to July 31st. But the most atmospheric period is the nights from 14th to 16th, which correspond to pre-, pre-pre-, pre-pre-pre nights of the main event. Main events takes place on 17th, but I have seen the main event only once in my life even though I have been living in Kyoto. Gondolas are pulled by volunteers and move through main streets. That's the festival of old days, which was organized by emperor(or nobles?) to expel the evil spirit and bad wether from the capital. It may be interesting, but not much for modern people. But pre- nights forces streets pedestrians only and many stalls are there to sell anything from standard skewed chicken, fried noodles, to raw cucumber. That's the festival of modern times. Old or modern, this festival has history of 1000 or so years.

One of  gondolas of Gion festival on Shijo street