Mikawa Isshiki Eel Day
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What Is Mikawa Isshiki Eel Day?
November 22 is Mikawa Isshiki Eel Day (Mikawa Isshiki Unagi no Hi) in Japan. According to a press release from Nishio City, the city, local producers, wholesalers, and stores that handle eel worked together to register November 22, the date the regional brand "Isshiki eel" was recognized, with the Japan Anniversary Association, as announced in a November 2025 press release. According to the association, the day was established by the Isshiki Unagi Fisheries Cooperative, headquartered in Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture.
Origin of the Date and Purpose of the Day
According to the Japan Anniversary Association, the purpose is to further spread the Mikawa Isshiki eel, a regional brand of Nishio City in Aichi Prefecture, and to raise its brand value.
- Trademark registration date: The date marks the day "Isshiki eel" was registered as a regional collective trademark (November 22, 2007).
- Good Couples Day and "Enman": The name of the female eel brand "Enman" from Mikawa Isshiki is a pun on enman, meaning harmony, and the day carries the message "Eat Enman eel on Good Couples Day for a harmonious marriage!"
- Goal: The aim is to make Isshiki the first place people think of when it comes to eel.
Isshiki, Nishio City: An Eel-Farming Area for Over 100 Years
According to Nishio City, Isshiki in Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture, has been a center of eel farming for more than 100 years and is one of Japan's top eel-producing areas. Blessed with a mild climate and good-quality water from the Yahagi River system, the area has long been a center of eel farming, and its eels, raised with skills honed over 100 years of farming, are known for being thick and plump with good-quality fat.
Tips for Marking This Day
- Try eel from Mikawa Isshiki
- Share an eel dinner with your spouse or family in honor of Good Couples Day
- Learn about eel-producing areas and the history of eel farming
- Look up local brands registered as regional collective trademarks
A Day to Wish for a Happy Marriage Over Autumn Eel
Mikawa Isshiki Eel Day combines the brand's recognition date with Good Couples Day. Nishio City promotes the day with the slogan "Autumn eel starts here," making it a nice occasion to enjoy eel.