What does Japan do with whale meat?

Under international rules, Japan can hunt whales that aren’t endangered for scientific research, but the meat is sold commercially and there’s a huge surplus of it stored frozen in warehouses across the country.

Is whale meat sold and consumed in Japan?

Whale meat consumption in Japan plummeted to just 3,000 tons in 2018, or less than an ounce per person per year, according to Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Japan’s pro-whaling lobby is still powerful, though.

How many Japanese eat whale meat?

Ichihara’s mother-in-law, Yachiyo, praises it as an ideal food. “When it’s in your mouth, it’s meat, but when it’s in your stomach it’s like fish, it’s light,” she said. Whale represents only 0.1 percent of Japan’s meat consumption, so proponents say getting the next generation to eat it is essential.

Is whale meat expensive in Japan?

As of 2006, in Japan, 5,560 tons of whale meat worth ¥5.5 billion is sold in every year. The Japanese market has declined in recent years, with prices falling to $26 per kilogram in 2004, down $6 per kilogram from 1999. Fluke meat can sell for over $200 per kilogram, over three times the price of belly meat.

Is whale meat illegal in the US?

While it is considered a delicacy in Japan and some other countries, meat from whale — an endangered species — cannot be sold legally in the United States.

Does whale meat taste good?

Because it is a mammal, whale meat is not like fish, but more a very gamey version of beef, or even venison. ‘The taste is different from beef. Whale meat is more tender than beef, and it’s more easy to digest,’ said Mrs Ohnishi, insisting it has other benefits.

How much is a pound of whale meat?

The actual wholesale price is $17 a pound, while the average retail price in the Tokyo area is around $64 a pound. The letter also says that “the Japanese whaling industry continues to kill hundreds of minke whales every year under the guise of scientific research, only to sell the meat for high prices.”