Yes, unagi is eel. “Unagi” is simply Japanese for eel, generally referring to freshwater eel. “Anago” is the Japanese word for saltwater eel. These terms are most often used when discussing eels as food. Unagi eel is one of Japan’s favorite foods. The people eat 130,000 tons of eel every single year. Eels have tender white flesh and are full of nutritious vitamins and proteins. Every year, they celebrate ‘Doyo-ushinohi’, or ‘eel day’. It is the hottest day of the summer. On this day, they celebrate by feasting on eel more than they do any other day of the year. Today, the Japanese consider eel to be a delicacy. You can find artisanal eel restaurants all over the country. It is not uncommon for people to wait over an hour to receive their meal. The wait is because the eels are usually kept alive until preparation time. One of the most popular eel dishes is “kabayaki”. The eel is cut open and cut into filets. It is then skewered and dipped in a special soy sauce before it’s grilled. The sauce is usually unique to each individual restaurant and enhances the flavor.