Japan officials promote whale meat
Reuters
2014-11-19
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This isn't your ordinary stir-fry -- it's made of whale meat.
The dish is the centrepiece of a publicity lunch by the Japanese government to promote its "scientific whaling programme".
Japan says hunting and eating whales is part of its culture, and officials are putting money where their mouths are.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPAN'S VICE ECONOMY MINISTER, DAISHIRO YAMAGIWA, SAYING:
"We've been discussing about ways to protect our food tradition, and we came to a conclusion that we, the government officials, should do something first - as it's said 'whoever suggests should start'."
The country will resume the controversial programme next year despite an April ruling by the International Court of Justice saying it should stop.
The new plan calls for hunting over 300 minke whales, a third of the quota for previous years.
The dish is the centrepiece of a publicity lunch by the Japanese government to promote its "scientific whaling programme".
Japan says hunting and eating whales is part of its culture, and officials are putting money where their mouths are.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPAN'S VICE ECONOMY MINISTER, DAISHIRO YAMAGIWA, SAYING:
"We've been discussing about ways to protect our food tradition, and we came to a conclusion that we, the government officials, should do something first - as it's said 'whoever suggests should start'."
The country will resume the controversial programme next year despite an April ruling by the International Court of Justice saying it should stop.
The new plan calls for hunting over 300 minke whales, a third of the quota for previous years.
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