The filmmakers behind The Cove—the Oscar-winning documentary about the annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, Japan—got together with law enforcement and scientists to bust a California restaurant that illegally sells whale sushi.
From the NYT:
Mr. Hambleton, who has worked as a water safety consultant on Hollywood movies like “Pirates of the Caribbean,” created a tiny camera for two animal-activist associates to wear during a monster session of omakase — a sushi meal in which the chef picks all the dishes.
Video of their meal shows the two activists, both vegan, being served what the waitress can be heard calling “whale” — thick pink slices — that they take squeamish bites of before tossing into a Ziploc bag in a purse.
DNA tests confirmed the meat as Sei whale, an endangered species hunted for “research” by whalers in Iceland and Japan. I’m not opposed to hunting and eating animals per se, but illegally serving an endangered species at a $600 dinner for two is clearly a problem.
As for Taiji—it’s one of Japan’s most depressing cities. I was reluctantly taken there by an older Japanese couple, neighbors of mine at the time, who wanted to show me a fun overnight trip. It was sadder than the worst zoo you’ve ever visited. The old folks smiled and nodded and showed me dolphins kept in pathetically small tanks and pens. I’m not proud to say that I ate a little whale meat (cooked at an outdoor, broil-your-own barbecue place) to make them happy. (For the curious: It was rich and dense, clearly mammalian, with a little liver-like muskiness. If sadness had a flavor, it would taste like that whale meat in Taiji.)
Ironically, all the international pressure on Japan might be helping the whale trade, at least domestically. It’s become a issue of national sovereignty and pride for the older generation, but it’s not like people are clamoring for it. From an article in 2006:
Japan has enticed children with whale burger school lunches, sung the praises of the red meat in colorful pamphlets, and declared whale hunting “a national heritage.”
The result is an unprecedented glut of whale meat. Prices — once about $15 a pound — are plunging, inventories are bursting, and promoters are scrambling to get Japanese to eat more whale.
“To put it simply, whale meat tastes horrible,” said 30-year-old Kosuke Nakamura, one of the diners at a Hana No Mai restaurant in Tokyo who turned their noses up at whale meat.
Whale meat is very tasty, sad but true.
I think you meant “per Sei”.
Pigs OK, dogs not OK
Cows OK, horses not OK
Tuna OK, whales not OK
Meh. It’s all meat.
The scandinavians died off in Greenland because they refused to eat seals and live in harmony with the environment.
sending a vegan to eat omakase sashimi offends me – all that sushi gone to waste. send me. i’ll eat everything but 1 bite of the whale.
I think I see a few new items on the menu at the Chaco Canyon Cafe….
I saw whale meat for sale at an open-air market in Oslo. It was black — or perhaps just really really really dark grey — which was a surprise. I guess I was expecting something more fishlike, which I know is dumb. Unfortunately, my Norweigan wasn’t good enough to determine exactly what type of whale it was, but it was pretty cheap: about US$10 a pound.
I lived in Japan for over four years, and ate some odd things in my time there, including raw (or nearly raw) beef sashimi, shark fin, horse sashimi (painfully delicious) and whale meat. That last bit I was walking through a market adjacent to the Tsukiji Fish Market and some people sampling it literally saw the three foreigners and *sprinted* for us with their wares.
I tried it. I wanted to know what the fuss was about. It was prepared like bacon, seemed a bit rancid, and tasted pretty awful. I don’t see any redemptive value in a fight like this, but the things people get nationalistic about in Japan rarely make sense to foreigners. This is just the way its always been done, and will continue to be done until the resource is gone.
It’s pretty pathetic to eat whale meat in order to make anyone happy. Disgusting.
FUKKA YOU WHALE AND DOLFRIN SUSHI AND SASHIMI CHEF!!!
@3 The problem with eating whales is the same problem with eating bluefin tuna, they take so long to age fully and get to adult size that fishing or hunting demolishes populations. Other varieties of tuna are fine. They can grow quickly.
I’m surprised that there hasn’t been a story about some enterprising soul selling fake whale meat sushi. If the stuff tastes like crap, and the price is all about exclusivity, just substitute something cheap and come up with a convincing bluff.
For details, see the 1990 film “The Freshman” with Brando & Broderick.
When they grow thumbs, we are screwed.
@4 What? That doesn’t even begin to make sense.
@14 – I know, you’d think they’d adapt and eat local food, but …
Humans are stupid and selfish.
@11; thank you for making that clear. Also looks like I have to send Sea Shepherd another Benjamin now.
@ 14, welcome to the world of trying to understand Will, just like he was a sane person who understood anything he ever fucking comments upon. You’re better off scanning right past him as soon as you see his avatar.
Meanwhile, Makahs haven’t hunted a single whale since 1999 (save for the one unsanctioned protest hunt a few years back), even though it’s in their treaty that they can. Stupid U$ government is stalling.