"The Day of the Ox in the Doyo Period" 2025: Unraveling the Mystery of Eel Prices That Don't Drop Despite a Good Catch and Understanding Price Trends from Autumn Onwards

In 2025, "Doyo no Ushi" falls on July 19th. This season, the juvenile eels, known as glass eels, experienced a bountiful catch starting in late January, causing the procurement price to plummet from 2.5 million yen per kilogram to between 1.7 million and 1.3 million yen. Despite this, consumer prices have only decreased by about 10% compared to last year, and the "high price perception" remains unresolved. The reasons are: ① a time lag of over six months for the abundant catch to mature into adult eels, ② high costs of aquaculture other than juvenile eels (feed, energy, labor) remain elevated, ③ retailers prioritize profits from the "Ushi no Hi" demand surge, and ④ catch limits and import restrictions due to the species being endangered. Industry insiders predict that prices will begin to gradually decrease from this autumn to early winter. Supermarkets are expanding their offerings of "1,000-yen eel rice bowls" and frozen products for mass retail. For inbound tourists, more specialty stores are offering local brands and diverse menus beyond grilled eel, such as white-grilled eel and hitsumabushi experiences. This article comprehensively covers the history of "Ushi no Hi," supply chain analysis, aquaculture technology, environmental issues, and a practical guide for foreign tourists to enjoy, incorporating the latest data and on-site interviews.