This Japanese government-backed food festival is serving up only whale meat.

Over 300 visitors attended the festival to taste a variety of dishes that are not common in most restaurants. The whales were caught during the country’s highly-controversial whaling program. It was organized by the Institute of Cetacean Research, which, despite being a scientific research organization, is promoting the consumption of whale meat.

Japan has killed thousands of whales, but say it’s all for “scientific research." The program has sparked international outrage and was banned in 2014 by the International Court of Justice. Japan halted its whaling program for only one season and brought in 333 Minke whales from the Antarctic in the last year alone. Now, Japan says their goal is to whale commercially once again.