David @ Tokyo
Perspective from Japan on whaling and whale meat, a spot of gourmet news, and monthly updates of whale meat stockpile statistics4/18/2010
Magonotei opens in Akasaka
A new restaurant in Tokyo's downtown Akasaka district that opened late last year serving whale gained some attention in local media in February, when it fully kicked into business.
Here's an article (in Japanese) from the Akasaka Keizai Newspaper. Magonotei is apparently run by the same operator as the Akanedoki restaurant in Shinjuku, which opened 3 years ago.
After Magonotei opened, they started by doing some test marketing for three months to study the preferences of Akasaka diners. At the end of this period they fixed their grand menu and kicked off on February 17.
From their experience at Akanedoki they were able to secure a supplier of high quality whale meat, and much knowledge of whale recipes. And so it was that they decided to branch out to Akasaka. A representative for the operator is quoted saying "Although Akasaka is in the center of Tokyo, we are the only ones who can offer such high quality whale meat at reasonable prices".
"I'm of the last generation that had whale cuisine served in school lunches", the quote in the article continues. "These days there are many younger people who've never eaten whale. For Japan's ancient traditional food to disappear, even though I know the wonderful taste, would be unfortunate. I want younger people especially to eat cheap, good quality whale meat and get a surprise about how delicious it is." His PR pitch continues, "Whale meat is low in calories compared to cow meat and pig meat, and low in cholesterol. And on top of that it's rich in protein, so I expect women will be pleased."
Included on the Grand Menu is sashimi (780 yen), tatsuta-age (fried whale - 720 yen), kujira cutlets (1,080 yen), kujira hot plate steak (1,180 yen), sarashi kujira (480), and other peculiarities such as whale tongue (720 yen). Apparently all items use fresh minke whale, according to the article, although one imagines it must have been frozen first.
"Especially now, the whaling issue is being taken up in the news and I feel that interest in it is heightening. We've had more customers here debating about whaling over their drinks", the quotes note.
Magonotei is open from 11:30 to 14:30 on weekdays (catering to the Akasaka lunch market), and is open for dinner from 17:00 to 23:30 Monday to Thursday, until 04:00 on Fridays and days before holidays, and from 16:00 to 23:00 on Weekends and holidays.
Food Stadium (Tokyo Food News Online) also has a similar article. In this one it notes the restaurant is "aiming to become an izakaya where every item on the menu is delicious, and customers want to come here everyday". They also have specially selected foods besides whales selected, included domestically produced vegetables and so on.
The article also mentions the restaurant interior, which has a nostalgic atmosphere of an old folk house in the countryside.
"There are many people who have a bad image of whale, but its a foodstuff that is healthy and rich in nutrition so I really hope to have women and younger people it. I'm sure once you eat it you will recognise its appeal." The article wraps up saying that whale is worth checking as 2010's "health and beauty food".
And so, the pictures! I went twice in March. If you go, be sure to check for the menu coupon in Hot Pepper etc, you can choose either a free plate of 5 whale items or others such as drinks discounts etc. (Check Gurunabi here: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/a636504/, Hot Pepper here: http://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000760684/). We went for the free plate of whale, picture included below.
First here's the menu. The section on the bottom right (enlarged) is espousing the nutritional value of whale.
And some of the wall decoration, a piece of baleen:
And a variety of dishes we had:
This one below is the free one we got for having the coupon:
Whoops, looks like we had half eaten this one before I snapped the photo.
Sashimi:
They don't skimp on the whale here (or they just treated us good - it was my second visit there plus I've been to Akanedoki several times), check out how thick they cut the pieces (from above):
This one below is a hot plate of whale steak and fried potato. Looks delicious, even with the poor photo quality of my mobile phone camera.
Another type of sashimi:
Whale, Carpaccio style:
And finally kujira cutlets:
Magonotei, like Akanedoki, is a great restaurant, and as noted in the articles they serve items besides whale too, if whale ain't your thing. But if you are reading this blog, I guess it is :)
Here's an article (in Japanese) from the Akasaka Keizai Newspaper. Magonotei is apparently run by the same operator as the Akanedoki restaurant in Shinjuku, which opened 3 years ago.
After Magonotei opened, they started by doing some test marketing for three months to study the preferences of Akasaka diners. At the end of this period they fixed their grand menu and kicked off on February 17.
From their experience at Akanedoki they were able to secure a supplier of high quality whale meat, and much knowledge of whale recipes. And so it was that they decided to branch out to Akasaka. A representative for the operator is quoted saying "Although Akasaka is in the center of Tokyo, we are the only ones who can offer such high quality whale meat at reasonable prices".
"I'm of the last generation that had whale cuisine served in school lunches", the quote in the article continues. "These days there are many younger people who've never eaten whale. For Japan's ancient traditional food to disappear, even though I know the wonderful taste, would be unfortunate. I want younger people especially to eat cheap, good quality whale meat and get a surprise about how delicious it is." His PR pitch continues, "Whale meat is low in calories compared to cow meat and pig meat, and low in cholesterol. And on top of that it's rich in protein, so I expect women will be pleased."
Included on the Grand Menu is sashimi (780 yen), tatsuta-age (fried whale - 720 yen), kujira cutlets (1,080 yen), kujira hot plate steak (1,180 yen), sarashi kujira (480), and other peculiarities such as whale tongue (720 yen). Apparently all items use fresh minke whale, according to the article, although one imagines it must have been frozen first.
"Especially now, the whaling issue is being taken up in the news and I feel that interest in it is heightening. We've had more customers here debating about whaling over their drinks", the quotes note.
Magonotei is open from 11:30 to 14:30 on weekdays (catering to the Akasaka lunch market), and is open for dinner from 17:00 to 23:30 Monday to Thursday, until 04:00 on Fridays and days before holidays, and from 16:00 to 23:00 on Weekends and holidays.
* * *
Food Stadium (Tokyo Food News Online) also has a similar article. In this one it notes the restaurant is "aiming to become an izakaya where every item on the menu is delicious, and customers want to come here everyday". They also have specially selected foods besides whales selected, included domestically produced vegetables and so on.
The article also mentions the restaurant interior, which has a nostalgic atmosphere of an old folk house in the countryside.
"There are many people who have a bad image of whale, but its a foodstuff that is healthy and rich in nutrition so I really hope to have women and younger people it. I'm sure once you eat it you will recognise its appeal." The article wraps up saying that whale is worth checking as 2010's "health and beauty food".
* * *
And so, the pictures! I went twice in March. If you go, be sure to check for the menu coupon in Hot Pepper etc, you can choose either a free plate of 5 whale items or others such as drinks discounts etc. (Check Gurunabi here: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/a636504/, Hot Pepper here: http://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000760684/). We went for the free plate of whale, picture included below.
First here's the menu. The section on the bottom right (enlarged) is espousing the nutritional value of whale.
And some of the wall decoration, a piece of baleen:
And a variety of dishes we had:
This one below is the free one we got for having the coupon:
Whoops, looks like we had half eaten this one before I snapped the photo.
Sashimi:
They don't skimp on the whale here (or they just treated us good - it was my second visit there plus I've been to Akanedoki several times), check out how thick they cut the pieces (from above):
This one below is a hot plate of whale steak and fried potato. Looks delicious, even with the poor photo quality of my mobile phone camera.
Another type of sashimi:
Whale, Carpaccio style:
And finally kujira cutlets:
Magonotei, like Akanedoki, is a great restaurant, and as noted in the articles they serve items besides whale too, if whale ain't your thing. But if you are reading this blog, I guess it is :)
Labels: Magonotei, whale gourmet
posted by David # 9:02 pm 
Comments:
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Hope you and your fellow poachers choke to death on it.
P.s. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18770-forensic-dna-blow-to-commercial-whaling-proposals.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=environment
Tell your poaching friends to keep their damned illegally caught whale meat off our shores.
P.s. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18770-forensic-dna-blow-to-commercial-whaling-proposals.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=environment
Tell your poaching friends to keep their damned illegally caught whale meat off our shores.
The whales are caught legally. If you've got a problem with it, then do something yourself to stop people smuggling this legally caught whale meat to our shores.
# posted by 
: 8:50 am
: 8:50 am
To anonymous:
Nope. These whales are caught for commercial purposes. See how this blog is off a page where the author proudly displays the commercially caught whale meat and being sold as a commercial product? Or do you thrive on being stupid? Just because the poachers called it scientific does not mean that its not poaching. And "WE" are doing something about it. The Hump has just shut down and the SSCS stopped at least 500 whales from being "scientifically" sold for david's sick poaching fetish. So now I will ask you, what are you going to do to stop us?
-Evol-D
Nope. These whales are caught for commercial purposes. See how this blog is off a page where the author proudly displays the commercially caught whale meat and being sold as a commercial product? Or do you thrive on being stupid? Just because the poachers called it scientific does not mean that its not poaching. And "WE" are doing something about it. The Hump has just shut down and the SSCS stopped at least 500 whales from being "scientifically" sold for david's sick poaching fetish. So now I will ask you, what are you going to do to stop us?
-Evol-D
# posted by : 1:55 am
: 1:55 am
Normally I don't entertain comments such as yours but its a lazy Sunday morning so I will this time.
You should familiarize yourself with the terms of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.
Firstly, understand that the convention envisages the "optimum utilization of the whale resources".
In Article V, it states that the IWC shall takes measures "such as are necessary to carry out the objectives and purposes of this Convention and to provide for the conservation, development, and optimum utilization of the whale resources", and also importantly that these measures "shall be based on scientific findings".
Secondly, the convention recognizes "that continuous collection and analysis of biological data in connection with the operations of factory ships and land stations are indispensable to sound and constructive management of the whale fisheries, the Contracting Governments will take all practicable measures to obtain such data."
If nations were to permit catches for research purposes but then not properly use the whale meat, it would contradict the convention's aim of optimum utilization of the whale resources. Therefore, the convention also requires that whales taken for research are not only for research, but fully. See the bolded parts below, especially the second part.
Article VIII
1. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Convention any Contracting Government may grant to any of its nationals a special permit authorizing that national to kill, take and treat whales for purposes of scientific research subject to such restrictions as to number and subject to such other conditions as the Contracting Government thinks fit, and the killing, taking, and treating of whales in accordance with the provisions of this Article shall be exempt from the operation of this Convention. Each Contracting Government shall report at once to the Commission all such authorizations which it has granted. Each Contracting Government may at any time revoke any such special permit which it has granted.
2. Any whales taken under these special permits shall so far as practicable be processed and the proceeds shall be dealt with in accordance with directions issued by the Government by which the permit was granted.
3. Each Contracting Government shall transmit to such body as may be designated by the Commission, in so far as practicable, and at intervals of not more than one year, scientific information available to that Government with respect to whales and whaling, including the results of research conducted pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article and to Article IV.
4. Recognizing that continuous collection and analysis of biological data in connection with the operations of factory ships and land stations are indispensable to sound and constructive management of the whale fisheries, the Contracting Governments will take all practicable measures to obtain such data.
You should familiarize yourself with the terms of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.
Firstly, understand that the convention envisages the "optimum utilization of the whale resources".
In Article V, it states that the IWC shall takes measures "such as are necessary to carry out the objectives and purposes of this Convention and to provide for the conservation, development, and optimum utilization of the whale resources", and also importantly that these measures "shall be based on scientific findings".
Secondly, the convention recognizes "that continuous collection and analysis of biological data in connection with the operations of factory ships and land stations are indispensable to sound and constructive management of the whale fisheries, the Contracting Governments will take all practicable measures to obtain such data."
If nations were to permit catches for research purposes but then not properly use the whale meat, it would contradict the convention's aim of optimum utilization of the whale resources. Therefore, the convention also requires that whales taken for research are not only for research, but fully. See the bolded parts below, especially the second part.
Article VIII
1. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Convention any Contracting Government may grant to any of its nationals a special permit authorizing that national to kill, take and treat whales for purposes of scientific research subject to such restrictions as to number and subject to such other conditions as the Contracting Government thinks fit, and the killing, taking, and treating of whales in accordance with the provisions of this Article shall be exempt from the operation of this Convention. Each Contracting Government shall report at once to the Commission all such authorizations which it has granted. Each Contracting Government may at any time revoke any such special permit which it has granted.
2. Any whales taken under these special permits shall so far as practicable be processed and the proceeds shall be dealt with in accordance with directions issued by the Government by which the permit was granted.
3. Each Contracting Government shall transmit to such body as may be designated by the Commission, in so far as practicable, and at intervals of not more than one year, scientific information available to that Government with respect to whales and whaling, including the results of research conducted pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article and to Article IV.
4. Recognizing that continuous collection and analysis of biological data in connection with the operations of factory ships and land stations are indispensable to sound and constructive management of the whale fisheries, the Contracting Governments will take all practicable measures to obtain such data.
The Sei whale meat that was imported into the US came from the North Pacific. Sea Shepherd has nothing to do with research whaling in the North Pacific. If you are a member of SSCS or its fanclub, you can ask yourself why that is.
The Hump closed its doors in recognition that what was done was illegal under US law. But if one restaurant was serving meat, others too are potentially serving whale meat to the US market.
You can write whatever comments you like if it makes you feel good about yourself, but your comments don't change the reality that here in Japan, whale is food. And as Anonymous appears to have eluded to, it won't stop more whale meat making its way into the USA if US border controls are so weak. I recall that the Terminator is currently Governor of California, so why don't you go and complain to him and you might actually have some success. You won't win prizes or anything for pointlessly writing futile comments here.
The Hump closed its doors in recognition that what was done was illegal under US law. But if one restaurant was serving meat, others too are potentially serving whale meat to the US market.
You can write whatever comments you like if it makes you feel good about yourself, but your comments don't change the reality that here in Japan, whale is food. And as Anonymous appears to have eluded to, it won't stop more whale meat making its way into the USA if US border controls are so weak. I recall that the Terminator is currently Governor of California, so why don't you go and complain to him and you might actually have some success. You won't win prizes or anything for pointlessly writing futile comments here.
Holy Jesus you are stupid poacher lover.
You apparently do not see the irony of you arguing for a loosing of whale hunting regulations with the FACT that Japan cannot enforce its own damned regulations. Yet you want me to complain to the California Governor? Its a Japanese problem! If African tiger meat makes it into my local 7-11 do I go to the mayor? No! The correct answer is that I make my complaints to the federal government (you see they deal with international matters, not the states). I tell them that Japan cannot manage its own laws and that permitting them to poach more whales only rewards them for their prior criminal activities. Any loosing of IWC regs to permit more whaling will only see more illegal whale meat show up on our (US) shores. So Japan is already in violation of your linked ARTICLE VIII section 2. It like bankers who have wrecked the economy telling the goverment that they do not need any more bank regulations. Its the crooks complaining how the law is bad for their business.
My fav that that you posted:
"and also importantly that these measures "shall be based on scientific findings"
Japan already hunts whales that all science considers endangered. Yet, they want to increase their catches. So the only thing that science has to do with this is that its the word painted on the side of the factory poaching ship. Funny, how no other nation needs to scientifically hunt whales to gain this data. As an engineer and a lover of science I find you use of the word in defense of poaching to be abhorrent. Funny how all the science pointed to a reduction in blue-fin tuna catches. Who lead the effort to ignore the science here? Japan.
Evol-D
You apparently do not see the irony of you arguing for a loosing of whale hunting regulations with the FACT that Japan cannot enforce its own damned regulations. Yet you want me to complain to the California Governor? Its a Japanese problem! If African tiger meat makes it into my local 7-11 do I go to the mayor? No! The correct answer is that I make my complaints to the federal government (you see they deal with international matters, not the states). I tell them that Japan cannot manage its own laws and that permitting them to poach more whales only rewards them for their prior criminal activities. Any loosing of IWC regs to permit more whaling will only see more illegal whale meat show up on our (US) shores. So Japan is already in violation of your linked ARTICLE VIII section 2. It like bankers who have wrecked the economy telling the goverment that they do not need any more bank regulations. Its the crooks complaining how the law is bad for their business.
My fav that that you posted:
"and also importantly that these measures "shall be based on scientific findings"
Japan already hunts whales that all science considers endangered. Yet, they want to increase their catches. So the only thing that science has to do with this is that its the word painted on the side of the factory poaching ship. Funny, how no other nation needs to scientifically hunt whales to gain this data. As an engineer and a lover of science I find you use of the word in defense of poaching to be abhorrent. Funny how all the science pointed to a reduction in blue-fin tuna catches. Who lead the effort to ignore the science here? Japan.
Evol-D
# posted by : 1:37 am
: 1:37 am
I'm sure your heart is in the right place.
But what you seem to have misunderstand is that Japan doesn't have rules that say people may not deal in Sei whale meat products. Japan, like a range of nations, has CITES reservations with respect to certain species, Sei whale is one of them. And catching these whales under special permit issued by the Japanese government itself too is, of course, also legal under the ICRW.
The USA, on the other hand, does have a legal obligation to regulate against trade in Sei whale meat, because it chose to be bound to restrictions in trade of products originating from that species. Evidently, the USA has not fulfilled those responsibilities very well in this case.
So if you have a complaint about regulations not being enforced, you are welcome to complain at my blog if it makes you feel better about yourself, i.e. that you are "doing something"... I don't want to take that away from you.
But in reality, your complaints here will achieve nothing else. Arnie, although he may just be state governor, is still in a significantly better position to deal with your complaints than I am.
Sei whale meat is only "illegal" under US law. US law does not apply in Japan. If you don't want whale meat coming into your country, complain to your authorities that they t let people enter with the whale meat. Simple stuff. We have customs checks in New Zealand, I don't see why it wouldn't work in the USA?
Japan isn't violating Article VIII. The meat is being dealt with as prescribed by the Japanese government. The Japanese government probably doesn't expect that people will be buying the meat and then taking it to the USA in violation of US law, but that is a violation of US law, not Japanese law.
For what it's worth, I'd rather Americans weren't eating whale too. That means there is less available for me.
If your complaint about "endangered" species being hunted is with reference to the IUCN Red List, that too would appear to illustrate some confusion on your part about the meaning of "endangered", in that context. The atlantic bluefin tuna is classified as "critically endangered", yet the USA has quotas for fishing of that species. I leave it as an exercise for you to reconcile this discrepancy.
As a lover of science, you may also enjoy learning about stock assessment science used in fisheries management. I doubt you will understand Japan's whale research until you have at minimum a basic grasp of it.
But what you seem to have misunderstand is that Japan doesn't have rules that say people may not deal in Sei whale meat products. Japan, like a range of nations, has CITES reservations with respect to certain species, Sei whale is one of them. And catching these whales under special permit issued by the Japanese government itself too is, of course, also legal under the ICRW.
The USA, on the other hand, does have a legal obligation to regulate against trade in Sei whale meat, because it chose to be bound to restrictions in trade of products originating from that species. Evidently, the USA has not fulfilled those responsibilities very well in this case.
So if you have a complaint about regulations not being enforced, you are welcome to complain at my blog if it makes you feel better about yourself, i.e. that you are "doing something"... I don't want to take that away from you.
But in reality, your complaints here will achieve nothing else. Arnie, although he may just be state governor, is still in a significantly better position to deal with your complaints than I am.
Sei whale meat is only "illegal" under US law. US law does not apply in Japan. If you don't want whale meat coming into your country, complain to your authorities that they t let people enter with the whale meat. Simple stuff. We have customs checks in New Zealand, I don't see why it wouldn't work in the USA?
Japan isn't violating Article VIII. The meat is being dealt with as prescribed by the Japanese government. The Japanese government probably doesn't expect that people will be buying the meat and then taking it to the USA in violation of US law, but that is a violation of US law, not Japanese law.
For what it's worth, I'd rather Americans weren't eating whale too. That means there is less available for me.
If your complaint about "endangered" species being hunted is with reference to the IUCN Red List, that too would appear to illustrate some confusion on your part about the meaning of "endangered", in that context. The atlantic bluefin tuna is classified as "critically endangered", yet the USA has quotas for fishing of that species. I leave it as an exercise for you to reconcile this discrepancy.
As a lover of science, you may also enjoy learning about stock assessment science used in fisheries management. I doubt you will understand Japan's whale research until you have at minimum a basic grasp of it.
"As a lover of science, you may also enjoy learning about stock assessment science used in fisheries management. I doubt you will understand Japan's whale research until you have at minimum a basic grasp of it."
You seem to be under an impression that this whaling is for scientific purposes. It is not. It is an attempt to bypass the moratorium on whaling. Have you ever wondered why so little actual peer reviewed science comes out of these expeditions? So when the poachers demand to start hunting endangered Fin whales, especially behind a false facade of science, do not be surprised when activist start trying to thwart your dinner plans.
The rest of your post was simply pouting and childish ranting. As evidenced by "Evidently, the USA has not fulfilled those responsibilities very well in this case." It is evident that basic reasoning (especially in the sciences) forces you to make such outlandish claims.
You seem to be under an impression that this whaling is for scientific purposes. It is not. It is an attempt to bypass the moratorium on whaling. Have you ever wondered why so little actual peer reviewed science comes out of these expeditions? So when the poachers demand to start hunting endangered Fin whales, especially behind a false facade of science, do not be surprised when activist start trying to thwart your dinner plans.
The rest of your post was simply pouting and childish ranting. As evidenced by "Evidently, the USA has not fulfilled those responsibilities very well in this case." It is evident that basic reasoning (especially in the sciences) forces you to make such outlandish claims.
The whaling is for scientific purposes, go back and check Article VIII, part 4. I put it in bold for a reason - you need to read, understand, and accept it if you wish to talk seriously of legal obligations etc, under the whaling convention.
You may have been under the impression that the moratorium was or is supposed to be permanent, but it is not. The moratorium is, as moratoriums are, temporary. And ultimately, under the terms of the whaling convention, the moratorium must be lifted. Japan's research under the whaling convention contributes towards that goal. Data obtained through Japan' special permit catches is and has been used within the IWC Scientific Committee for a long time for purposes such as the assessment of Antarctic minke whales. The former Chair of the IWC Scientific Committee notes the critical nature of the data input to it's research.
Again, I suggest that if you are a lover of science, you might take in interest in the work of the IWC Scientific Commmittee (or other fisheries management organizations with similar management aims, such as sustainable utilisation of marine resources) you may come to understand what Japan's contribution is and why it is important. If you read the BBC article however, and still dismiss Japan's work out of hand, then I'm afraid that I will have to question your "lover of science" credentials.
It was surprising that you reject the notion that it is the USA's responsibility to police it's own laws, not Japan's. I don't believe it is "outlandish" to expect that the USA would take responsibility for policing it's own laws. As I said, the USA should regulate it's borders to prevent the entry of products that are illegal under US laws, just as my home land of New Zealand does in it's case, and Japan does in it's case.
That the USA has not done it's job in keeping products that are illegal in the USA out of the country is an issue for the authorities in the USA. This isn't "outlandish" - it's actually simple common sense.
"do not be surprised when activist start trying to thwart your dinner plans."
Wow, are you an activist, are you?
You may have been under the impression that the moratorium was or is supposed to be permanent, but it is not. The moratorium is, as moratoriums are, temporary. And ultimately, under the terms of the whaling convention, the moratorium must be lifted. Japan's research under the whaling convention contributes towards that goal. Data obtained through Japan' special permit catches is and has been used within the IWC Scientific Committee for a long time for purposes such as the assessment of Antarctic minke whales. The former Chair of the IWC Scientific Committee notes the critical nature of the data input to it's research.
Again, I suggest that if you are a lover of science, you might take in interest in the work of the IWC Scientific Commmittee (or other fisheries management organizations with similar management aims, such as sustainable utilisation of marine resources) you may come to understand what Japan's contribution is and why it is important. If you read the BBC article however, and still dismiss Japan's work out of hand, then I'm afraid that I will have to question your "lover of science" credentials.
It was surprising that you reject the notion that it is the USA's responsibility to police it's own laws, not Japan's. I don't believe it is "outlandish" to expect that the USA would take responsibility for policing it's own laws. As I said, the USA should regulate it's borders to prevent the entry of products that are illegal under US laws, just as my home land of New Zealand does in it's case, and Japan does in it's case.
That the USA has not done it's job in keeping products that are illegal in the USA out of the country is an issue for the authorities in the USA. This isn't "outlandish" - it's actually simple common sense.
"do not be surprised when activist start trying to thwart your dinner plans."
Wow, are you an activist, are you?
"You may have been under the impression that the moratorium"
The moratorium was never followed here! That the whole point! Japan never gave up on commercial whaling. It just use this "science" as a cover! You website and your interviews with the restaurateurs gleefully advertising their poached kill is proof! Does mortal testing need to be done on the Fin whale to prove its endangered? Only if you want to eat it. Otherwise, all the other data shows that the Fin whale is still critically endangered and thus should not be hunted!
Given Japan recent absolute refusal to look at the science for bluefin before killing the CITIES agreement yes I will ignore the rest of ICR science. It is the definition of bad science. It is not used to determine an unknown truth or new idea but only to advance the political ideals of those funding the work. I'd rather take BP's scientific reassurance that oil drilling is safe than any of Japan's tuna or whale "science".
"That the USA has not done it's job in keeping products that are illegal in the USA out of the country is an issue for the authorities in the USA. This isn't "outlandish" - it's actually simple common sense."
Its the tongue in cheek taunting/gloating that reveals your childish impulses here. Our laws and law enforcement did work here and the Hump got what it deserved. The point was that it pretty hard to claim the this whale meat is revered science and not commercial whaling then have it sold out of the backs of car trunks. Is this science to you?
"do not be surprised when activist start trying to thwart your dinner plans."
Wow, are you an activist, are you?"
Nope, just a ranter in the internet. However, I do thank you for pointing our which establishments are serving up this science. It may give some other "activist" the opportunity to show the poacher servers some 'direct action'. So please, keep advertising!
The moratorium was never followed here! That the whole point! Japan never gave up on commercial whaling. It just use this "science" as a cover! You website and your interviews with the restaurateurs gleefully advertising their poached kill is proof! Does mortal testing need to be done on the Fin whale to prove its endangered? Only if you want to eat it. Otherwise, all the other data shows that the Fin whale is still critically endangered and thus should not be hunted!
Given Japan recent absolute refusal to look at the science for bluefin before killing the CITIES agreement yes I will ignore the rest of ICR science. It is the definition of bad science. It is not used to determine an unknown truth or new idea but only to advance the political ideals of those funding the work. I'd rather take BP's scientific reassurance that oil drilling is safe than any of Japan's tuna or whale "science".
"That the USA has not done it's job in keeping products that are illegal in the USA out of the country is an issue for the authorities in the USA. This isn't "outlandish" - it's actually simple common sense."
Its the tongue in cheek taunting/gloating that reveals your childish impulses here. Our laws and law enforcement did work here and the Hump got what it deserved. The point was that it pretty hard to claim the this whale meat is revered science and not commercial whaling then have it sold out of the backs of car trunks. Is this science to you?
"do not be surprised when activist start trying to thwart your dinner plans."
Wow, are you an activist, are you?"
Nope, just a ranter in the internet. However, I do thank you for pointing our which establishments are serving up this science. It may give some other "activist" the opportunity to show the poacher servers some 'direct action'. So please, keep advertising!
Japan has followed the moratorium. Originally it was going to keep it's legal objection to the moratorium and keep hunting - like Norway does. But then (seemingly due to discussions with the USA) it changed it's mind, and instead of catching some thousands of minke whales each year on a commercial basis (which is when the whalers go and catch the biggest minke whales they can find in the areas where they are most numerous so as to reduce costs of the hunt), it switched to a random sampling programme (where only enough whales for a valid sample are caught - some hundreds of whales as opposed to some thousands) and this involves a costlyso as to be able to obtain more useful scientific data than was able to be obtained under existing commercial whaling operations.
Japan may have been prepared to accept the moratorium, even on the numerous Antarctic minke whale, but it evidently wasn't prepared to forgo the collection of biological data that many in the IWC Scientific Committee regarded as crucial at the time to it's ability to set good catch limits.
Even today the data is regarded as important and you can see for yourself that it is being used when you read through the report of the IWC Scientific Committee.
I think your issue is that you wish that the moratorium was effectively a convention itself. It is not. The "moratorium" is only effective within the context of the IWC's convention. And if the IWC is going to impose a moratorium for reasons that "there are too many scientific uncertainties to set non-zero catch limits", the last thing that whaling nations are going to do is allow one of the most important sources of scientific data - catch data - to be cut off entirely.
Again, read the whaling convention carefully: "continuous collection and analysis of biological data in connection with the operations of factory ships and land stations are indispensable to sound and constructive management of the whale fisheries, the Contracting Governments will take all practicable measures to obtain such data."
My guess is that your problem is not with Japan so much as it is with the nature of international law and the purpose of the ICRW in particular.
Japan may have been prepared to accept the moratorium, even on the numerous Antarctic minke whale, but it evidently wasn't prepared to forgo the collection of biological data that many in the IWC Scientific Committee regarded as crucial at the time to it's ability to set good catch limits.
Even today the data is regarded as important and you can see for yourself that it is being used when you read through the report of the IWC Scientific Committee.
I think your issue is that you wish that the moratorium was effectively a convention itself. It is not. The "moratorium" is only effective within the context of the IWC's convention. And if the IWC is going to impose a moratorium for reasons that "there are too many scientific uncertainties to set non-zero catch limits", the last thing that whaling nations are going to do is allow one of the most important sources of scientific data - catch data - to be cut off entirely.
Again, read the whaling convention carefully: "continuous collection and analysis of biological data in connection with the operations of factory ships and land stations are indispensable to sound and constructive management of the whale fisheries, the Contracting Governments will take all practicable measures to obtain such data."
My guess is that your problem is not with Japan so much as it is with the nature of international law and the purpose of the ICRW in particular.
> You website and your interviews with the restaurateurs gleefully advertising their poached kill is proof!
What ends up on my dinner plate - in accordance with the ICRW - says nothing about the scientific data that is collected from the lethally sampled whales. Same with meat that some guy has taken to the USA, in violation of US law. In Japan it is both legal and expected that whale meat from the sampled whales is sold and consumed so as not to go to waste. Check the ICRW convention, once again to make double sure.
Fin whales aren't "critically endangered". And Japan is hardly catching them in numbers that will threaten the species in the Antarctic, as has been noted in a recent IWC Scientific Committee report. In the north Atlantic they are in great shape.
> Given Japan recent absolute refusal to look at the science for bluefin before killing the CITIES agreement
The CITES (not CITIES) decision was made not by Japan, but by a majority of the nations voting. Others that normally oppose whaling such as Australia also agreed with Japan that a CITES listing for the Atlantic bluefin tuna was not appropriate, and that the RMFO (ICCAT) should be taking responsibility.
No doubt Atlantic bluefin tuna have been well over-exploited - this is not in dispute - it's a question of how we bring the fishing under control. A CITES trade ban wouldn't have acheived that in the opinion of the majority of the CITES nations voting. What we need IMO is the fishing range nations to step up to the plate, as you say in the US, and regulate their fishing industries properly.
> I will ignore the rest of ICR science.
Well at least understand and accept that the ICRW is what it is.
> only to advance the political ideals of those funding the work.
Sustainable whaling policy does indeed need a scientific basis. We can't have sustainable whaling without the necessary science to support it.
I think your problem is with the policy that whales are a sustainably utilisable resource, more than anything. That's a valid position, you are entitled to it. But you basically have to accept that others like the sustainable use policy, and your ranting can't change that. I'm sure I can't change your position, either.
What ends up on my dinner plate - in accordance with the ICRW - says nothing about the scientific data that is collected from the lethally sampled whales. Same with meat that some guy has taken to the USA, in violation of US law. In Japan it is both legal and expected that whale meat from the sampled whales is sold and consumed so as not to go to waste. Check the ICRW convention, once again to make double sure.
Fin whales aren't "critically endangered". And Japan is hardly catching them in numbers that will threaten the species in the Antarctic, as has been noted in a recent IWC Scientific Committee report. In the north Atlantic they are in great shape.
> Given Japan recent absolute refusal to look at the science for bluefin before killing the CITIES agreement
The CITES (not CITIES) decision was made not by Japan, but by a majority of the nations voting. Others that normally oppose whaling such as Australia also agreed with Japan that a CITES listing for the Atlantic bluefin tuna was not appropriate, and that the RMFO (ICCAT) should be taking responsibility.
No doubt Atlantic bluefin tuna have been well over-exploited - this is not in dispute - it's a question of how we bring the fishing under control. A CITES trade ban wouldn't have acheived that in the opinion of the majority of the CITES nations voting. What we need IMO is the fishing range nations to step up to the plate, as you say in the US, and regulate their fishing industries properly.
> I will ignore the rest of ICR science.
Well at least understand and accept that the ICRW is what it is.
> only to advance the political ideals of those funding the work.
Sustainable whaling policy does indeed need a scientific basis. We can't have sustainable whaling without the necessary science to support it.
I think your problem is with the policy that whales are a sustainably utilisable resource, more than anything. That's a valid position, you are entitled to it. But you basically have to accept that others like the sustainable use policy, and your ranting can't change that. I'm sure I can't change your position, either.
My comments regarding the USA not policing it's borders properly should not be taken as taunts or gloating. I'm deadly serious (although I do think the US's ban on whale meat trade itself is a bit silly). The USA should enforce it's laws, as should all nations. The reason why we have a problem with bluefin tuna is in large part because nations permitting their nationals to go and catch fish have not been regulating and monitoring them appropriately. Japan too in the past had failed to regulate it's Southern bluefin tuna fleet properly, resulting in a hefty amount of over-fishing. The result is that the regulations were overhauled to fix the problem. This is what needs to happen in the USA with regards to preventing whale meat from entering if that is desired, and the same goes in the nations permitting overfishing of the Atlantic bluefin tuna.
> Our laws and law enforcement did work here and
The whale meat would never have made it into the country, if that were the case. I assume that some amount of whale meat had already been served up at the Hump before the activists exposed it. Other restaurants may be serving it too.
> However, I do thank you for pointing our which establishments are serving up this science. It may give some other "activist" the opportunity to show the poacher servers some 'direct action'. So please, keep advertising!
My site isn't the only one on the internet with pictures of whale meat dishes. If activists search in Japanese they could find many, many more. If those sorts of criminal actions were some the activists were prepared to take to stop people eating whale they'd have done so already.
You have no reason to feel threatened by the pictures on this little-read blog of mine. What you see is just pictures of what is the reality here in Tokyo. That's all.
> Our laws and law enforcement did work here and
The whale meat would never have made it into the country, if that were the case. I assume that some amount of whale meat had already been served up at the Hump before the activists exposed it. Other restaurants may be serving it too.
> However, I do thank you for pointing our which establishments are serving up this science. It may give some other "activist" the opportunity to show the poacher servers some 'direct action'. So please, keep advertising!
My site isn't the only one on the internet with pictures of whale meat dishes. If activists search in Japanese they could find many, many more. If those sorts of criminal actions were some the activists were prepared to take to stop people eating whale they'd have done so already.
You have no reason to feel threatened by the pictures on this little-read blog of mine. What you see is just pictures of what is the reality here in Tokyo. That's all.
Whale is Food in Japan Right? Just like you eat cat and dog and other species in this world. You people are freaking sick.........
# posted by : 3:07 pm
: 3:07 pm
Whale is a type of food in many places. Cats and dogs aren't eaten in Japan, but other species such as cow and pig and chicken are. Whale is just one type of meat.
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