Eel on the menu at Japan's Vatican embassy amid trade regulation debate

Japan's embassy in Vatican City hosted an event on Thursday to showcase the Japanese method of preparing eel, amid ongoing debates about international trade regulations affecting endangered eel species. Ambassador Koji Abe of Japan emphasized that Japanese eel populations are not at risk of extinction and expressed opposition to the proposed regulations.

The event featured a special preparation of eel, known as Kabayaki, which consists of eel grilled in a sweet-and-savory sauce, alongside wine, fish sauce, and honey. The dish, believed to have been enjoyed by ancient Romans, was prepared by Jin Ogata, a fourth-generation eel chef. In December, a proposal by the European Union and Panama to regulate all eel species was discussed at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, but was ultimately rejected due to opposition from Japan.

During the event, Hungary's ambassador to the Vatican, Peter Kveck, tasted the Kabayaki eel for the first time and praised its taste and health benefits.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.