Japan eel shipment hit peak

Shipments of farmed eels are at their peak in Nishio City in central Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, ahead of the Midsummer Day of the Ox on July 26.

It is a tradition in Japan to eat eels on that day to help maintain stamina in the summer heat. Isshiki Town in the city is a major producer of farmed eels. On Thursday, many trucks carrying eels that have grown to about 40 centimeters long arrived at a local fisheries cooperative.

Staff sorted the eels by weight and put them in cold water for a day or two to give the meat the right texture before shipping. The cooperative expects to ship around 4,000 tons this year, about the same as last year.  About a third of the total, 1,300 tons, is scheduled to be shipped in July and August.