Unagi

Film director Yasujiro Ozu (1903-1963), who was known as a gourmet, ate eel all year round. On New Year's Eve, he would leave his home in Kita-Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, and visit a well-known eel restaurant in Tokyo's Minami-Senju district with his friends to enjoy a whole skewered eel. When most people traditionally eat year-crossing noodles on New Year's Eve wishing for a thin and long life, Ozu chose to eat eel apparently because he wanted to lead a long and full life. — Asahi Shinbun, Humans responsible for overfishing young eels, July 22, 2011.

Note to myself: Another New Year's Eve Party (missingozu)