My wife is from northern Japan and yesterday we ate whale that came to us directly from her hometown.
First time eating "never-frozen" whale. It was amazingly delicious! Melt in you mouth good! I would highly recommended if you can find an ethical source.
(I consider the whale we ate ethical as it came from a small village, named "whale river", that hunts a single one once a year and has been doing it for 100s of year, if not 1000s. They also hunt mink whales, a non endangered species.)
by lasagnahockey
25 Comments
Nah..
Give it here, I’ll do it 🫰
Oh boy, you just touched the only third rail in the world of sushi.
I’m down
Gotta try everything once
> I consider the whale we ate ethical as it came from a small village, named “whale river”, that hunts a single one once a year and has been doing it for 100s of year, if not 1000s.
I mean, would you consider human meat from a town that only kills one person per year ethical? The ethical concern with whales for many folks is their level of intelligence, not how many are left or how old the practice is.
I’ve also had this and it was amazing. It honestly shocked me because I thought it would be fatty/chewy but it was soooo soft.
I still feel bad for eating it but it was a cool experience.
Whale is surprising good..
I live in a fishing village Kyushu and sometimes help unload my friend’s boats. I’ve seen people slice up their fish and eat it, just after catching it and cleaning it.
A lot of my fisherman friends don’t freeze it.
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Nah….I couldn’t do that. That’s like the horse sashimi.
had whale meat (kujira) in japan but in shabushabu. was delicious
Delicious. Beef plus tuna combined.
Genuine question as I never knew people ate whale.. OP saying they ate it ‘never frozen’, does that subject them to the same parasites found in fish that are usually flash frozen in order to kill those parasites? Or is whale on its own level?
Please don’t downvote I’m just genuinely curious if OPs stomach will be OK lol, OPs wife and family’s stomach may be used to it but hoping he doesn’t get sick!
you ate.. what!?
Are you in Japan right now? I read your post title as that you manage to get this exported from northern Japan and imported into somewhere else.
I’m really curious as to the legalities of export/ import.
It looks really intruiging, do you know if/ how whale oil is consumed culinarily (if at all) in your wife’s hometown?
I don’t see any problem with it because the village, as the original poster notes, hunts a species of whale that’s not endangered so there’s no problem, I don’t get how there could be… If you have a problem with this you have a problem with all sashimi. A problem with all fish a problem with cow, pig, and chicken… If you’re vegan that’s your belief but you really don’t belong in a sushi subreddit if you’re vegan. If you’ve been anywhere near a slaughterhouse or know anyone who has the sad truth is all animals feel pain so if that bothers you become a vegan. I’m not a vegan but it’s a legitimate choice for people who feel moved to do so but cherry picking this animal are that animal makes no sense. Be vegan or eat animal meat….
I thought eating whales was universally illegal?
I heard this was some of the Only disgusting sushi around.. lol
I’ve had whale katsu and would eat again.
Fuck this
How is it
Mmmmmm… Mercury.
A few years ago (~2021) supermarkets here in Tokyo were flooded with Whale sashimi – but not anymore, seems like due to low market demand
Tried it once in Hokkaido (a small piece in a variety chirashi bowl), and it was pretty mid, not recommended.
One of those things where I wouldn’t go out of my way to try it, but if I was in the town your wife is from and someone hands it to me? You bet I’m trying it