In a bid to rejuvenate Japan’s whale meat culture and address supply challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, Iceland has resumed exports of whale meat to Japan for the first time in four years. Tokyo-based whaling company Kyodo Senpaku, which purchased the meat, organized a tasting event in Fukuoka City, a significant hub for whale meat distribution.
Stakeholders from across the nation, including food processors and market insiders, gathered at a logistics center in Fukuoka’s Higashi Ward to sample and evaluate the fin whale meat. The meat, not currently hunted in large numbers in Japan, was praised for its rich, melt-in-your-mouth quality and was likened to beef. Attendees were optimistic about the potential expansion of this high-quality, odorless and fatty delicacy in the Japanese market.
Japan, once a leading nation in whale hunting, had seen a significant drop in the industry due to a commercial whaling ban by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Despite resuming commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the IWC, restrictions have maintained the industry’s scale small. As the current catch limits led to an overwhelmingly insufficient supply, Kyodo Senpaku made the unprecedented move to import whale meat from Iceland.
The company imported around 2,700 tons of whale meat, surpassing the domestic production and marking a significant boost to the annual supply of whale meat in Japan, which had fallen to about 2,000 to 2,500 tons since the resumption of commercial whaling. This strategic decision was aimed at increasing the consumption of whale meat by restoring supply levels.
Following the tasting event, the whale meat was made available for business purchase on the same day. It is expected to feature in dining establishments throughout the country in the near future. Company representatives expressed a desire for consumers to fully embrace this delicacy and hinted at ongoing efforts to develop novel ways to consume whale meat. Sources: TNC & Yahoo News
Photo from Photo AC – Whale sashimi
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