Tokyo Eel Prices Drop as Abundant Catch Brings Relief

Tokyo's beloved eel restaurants had something to celebrate this summer: stable prices in a country where nearly everything else costs more.

Long lines snaked around kabayaki grilled eel shops across the city Sunday during the traditional Day of the Ox celebration. Japanese people have long believed eating grilled eel on this midsummer day helps build stamina to endure the heat.

This year brought a welcome twist. While food prices have surged nationwide, many eel restaurants actually lowered prices or kept them unchanged thanks to abundant baby eel catches last year.

At Yatsumeya Nishimura's Meguro location, staff arrived at 4 a.m. to prepare over 1,200 grilled eel fillets for takeout. Skilled chefs coated each piece in secret sauce before grilling it over charcoal, a process perfected over generations.

The restaurant's signature large grilled eel fillet stayed at 3,000 yen (about $18), the same price as last year. Owner Kiyoshi Matsumoto made this decision despite rising costs for nearly every other ingredient.

The Bright Side

Lower eel procurement costs meant more than just stable menu prices. Matsumoto said the savings allowed him to finally reward his hardworking employees with higher wages after a difficult year.

The plentiful catches also produced larger, healthier eels this season. "I hope people will enjoy it and build up their stamina," Matsumoto said, clearly delighted to share quality food at fair prices.

For customers, the news sparked joy worth waiting for. One woman in her 30s lined up two hours before opening, explaining she usually tries to save money everywhere. "But this is the one day of the year when I absolutely have to eat eel," she said with a smile.

Her dedication reflects how meaningful food traditions remain, especially when they become more accessible rather than less.