Nagato Otsu Whale Food Culture Inheritance Association “Fin Whale Tasting Party” was held (7/18).

Last updated:

Jul 19, 2025
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Nagato Tourism Convention Association

Whaling mother ship "Sekihaku Maru" fin whale tasting

Today (Friday, July 18, 2025), a fin whale tasting event was held at the Aburaya Central Exchange Plaza in Nagato City by the Nagato Otsu Whale Culture Inheritance Society. At the tasting event, about 50 people, including those involved in the event and local residents, tasted whale dishes served by a cooking club in the city, including a "whale lunch box" and "whale soup.

The main dish, fin whale meat, was domestically caught by the whaling mother ship "Seki Kuji Maru"(*) in Shimonoseki, and the audience was surprised at the freshness and tenderness of the delicious whale meat.

While enjoying delicious whale dishes, participants also had the opportunity to take a quiz on whales and whaling culture, and were able to learn about the food culture of Nagato, which is known as the place of old-style whaling.

(*) The "Sekihaku Maru" will be completed in March 2024. It is equipped with new fishing and freezing facilities, and will operate within Japan's territorial waters off Hokkaido and Tohoku as well as within the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), whaling fin whales, which were admitted to commercial whaling last year for the first time in approximately 50 years, as well as Bryde's whales.

→Click here for restaurants in Nagato where "whale cuisine" is available.

The menu for the "whale lunch box" consisted of whale meat with aurora sauce, curry marinade, nanbanzuke (a type of fish marinated in soy sauce), vinegared dishes, bacon, and whale soup. Whale soup was served.

Nagato Otsu Whale Food Culture Inheritance Association “Fin Whale Tasting Party” was held (7/18).

Whaling mother ship "Sekihaku Maru" fin whale tasting

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