"U" Foods for the Midsummer Day of the Ox

Today is Doyo no Ushi no Hi, a traditional date on the old calendar that comes with a charming old saying. "丑の日にちなんで、“う”から始まる食べ物を食べると夏負けしない" (Ushinohi ni chinande,“u ” kara hajimaru tabemono o taberu to natsumake shinai) ; a belief that eating foods starting with the syllable "u" on the Day of the Ox helps prevent summer fatigue.

As I explained in my previous post, "Unagi" is the star of the show, and it is the most common food consumed for the tradition. But it is not the only contender - there are some other 'U' foods we can consider. The first one that comes to mind is "udon", another prevalent and popular food in Japan. "Umeboshi" is another one I could come up with without too much trouble. But what other 'U' foods are there?

Uri is the collective word for cucumbers, melons and gourds. All cooling, refreshing foods that make perfect sense for the hottest stretch of summer. And then there is 'ushi', meaning beef. Technically it fits the "U" foods, but eating meat was traditionally taboo in pre-modern Japan, so it's more a linguistic coincidence than a historical custom.

It also makes you wonder: if you add usui (“light” or “mild”) in front of a dish, does that qualify it as a playful midsummer option? It’s probably not official, but it’s a fun thought experiment for anyone building their own “U‑day” menu. And then there's things like Unagi Pie, the beloved Shizuoka snack. I think I will be eating that today, even if it doesn't quite fit the remit of "U" foods for the Midsummer Day of the Ox!