In Japan, eel is closely associated with summer festivals. It dates back to the Edo period, when playwright Genuchi Hiraga wrote the slogan 'Eat eel to prevent heatstroke on the ugly day of the earth' to help promote eel shops. This has evolved into a national custom that continues to this day. Unagi shops are always crowded in the streets on the day of the local holiday. Unagi is rich in high fat and high-quality protein, can effectively relieve the summer tiredness and fatigue, for people to replenish energy. However, the legend of its 'aphrodisiac' is purely incidental, and has been given exaggerated colours in the process of circulation, which adds a bit of fun to the eel culture.
In distant Europe, eel is also full of mystery. Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle was puzzled by the eel's reproduction mystery, because no one has ever seen them mating, then put forward the eel is 'silt spontaneous generation' point of view. This assertion was widely accepted at the time, and medieval scholars even had the brilliant idea of claiming that eels were made of horsehair that had been struck into the water by lightning.
In China, eels are called 'Qianlong' by fishermen in Fujian Province because their habit of swimming upstream is similar to the 'carp leaping over the Dragon Gate'. In the Qing Dynasty, the Min Xiao Ji (Min Xiao Ji) recorded that eels were regarded as auspicious when they gathered in groups like snake formations.
From Japanese summer festivals to Chinese auspicious totems, eels have always been a part of culture. And now, in order to preserve eel better, frozen unagi kabayaki, frozen broiled eel, bbq eel frozen, etc. have appeared to keep the good taste of eel. However, while enjoying the delicious taste and cultural nourishment brought by eels, it is also important to guard their living environment, respect nature and honour life.