75% of whale meat offered for auction remains unsold

75% of whale meat offered for auction remains unsold

TOKYO, Japan - Whale meat is sold at an Osaka department store in January 2011. Three-quarters of more than 1,200 tons of meat from whales caught during Japan's self-described "research whaling" activities in the Northwest Pacific remains unsold, although the whaling organizer began inviting bids for the meat in 2011, according to the Iruka & Kujira (Dolphin & Whale) Action Network, a Japanese anti-whaling group. The Tokyo-based Institute of Cetacean Research has organized 13 rounds of public auctions since October, but 908.8 tons, or 75.0 percent of the 1,211.9 tons offered, remain unsold, according to a report compiled by freelance journalist Junko Sakuma and released by the group.

75% of whale meat offered for auction remains unsold

75% of whale meat offered for auction remains unsold

TOKYO, Japan - A minke whale, catch during Japan's self-described "research whaling" activities, is landed at Kushiro port, Hokkaido, in September 2010. Three-quarters of more than 1,200 tons of meat from whales caught during such activities in the Northwest Pacific remains unsold, although the whaling organizer began inviting bids for the meat in 2011, according to the Iruka & Kujira (Dolphin & Whale) Action Network, a Japanese anti-whaling group. The Tokyo-based Institute of Cetacean Research has organized 13 rounds of public auctions since October, but 908.8 tons, or 75.0 percent of the 1,211.9 tons offered, remain unsold, according to a report compiled by freelance journalist Junko Sakuma and released by the group.

Owner of whale meat restaurant in Tsukiji Outer Market shows off dish

Owner of whale meat restaurant in Tsukiji Outer Market shows off dish

Koichi Matsumoto, owner of whale meat restaurant "Kujira no Tomisui" in the Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo adjacent to the Tsukiji Market, Japan's largest fish and vegetable wholesale market, shows off a dish as seen in this photo taken on March 31, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Fresh raw whale meat served at restaurant in Tokyo's Tsukiji Outer Market

Fresh raw whale meat served at restaurant in Tokyo's Tsukiji Outer Market

"Kujira no Tomisui," a whale meat restaurant in the Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo adjacent to the Tsukiji Market, Japan's largest fish and vegetable wholesale market, serves a variety of dishes including fresh raw meat as seen in this photo taken on March 31, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo