Yakiniku (File photo)

In Japan, Aug. 29 is “Yakiniku no hi,” or Day of Yakiniku (barbecued meat).

Because the sounds of the day in Japanese can be read as 8 (ya), ki, 2(ni), 9 (ku), the All Japan Yakiniku Association designated the day of Aug. 29 as Yakiniku Day in 1993.

The day is set aside for folks to energize themselves with nutritious barbecued meat to protect from summer fatigue, according to the All Japan Yakiniku Association webpage. I agree that the tender, sizzling grilled meats recharge us in the scorching summer.

Yakiniku (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Okinawa)

Yakiniku (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Okinawa)

Yakiniku (File photo)

Yakiniku Day is known as one of the three popular food days for preventing summer fatigue, along with “Midsummer Day of the Ox” (eel eating day, which are July 26 and Aug. 7 in 2026) and “Tempura Day” on July 23.

To commemorate Yakiniku Day, yakiniku restaurants and meat shops in Japan often offer special discounts or add some special parts of meat or prime cut to the regular yakiniku set, according to the Yakiniku Association.

In Japan, yakiniku is considered a Korean meal where you grill beef, pork, chicken or other meat with some veggies, corn and mushrooms on a griddle or hotplate, and dip them into Korean-flavored miso or soy-sauce based broth. Visit Tokyo’s Shin Okubo district or Kawasaki City to enjoy some authentic taste of yakiniku.

Make some meaty plans for Yakiniku Day!