Comments on: Japan’s Richest People, North Korean Plots, Whales, and More [Sunday News]

By: DAVIDPD

DAVIDPD — Fri, 10 May 2013 02:29:00 +0000

Nut milks (LOL) are indeed facsimiles of milk. Actually calling them facsimiles is an insult to facsimiles. They are just water that has been stained white. Specialty foods are there because certain people like them. If there was no market for them merchants would not sell them. Everyone has different tastes. Respect. That said, I hate anyone who eats dog. -_-

By: Hashi

Hashi — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:40:00 +0000

The type of whales that the Japanese hunt (Antarctic minke) aren’t endangered as far as I know

By: Sally

Sally — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:01:00 +0000

Problem with whales is, they are already being extremely endangered. And they are very important for the eco-system in the sea. (Also outside, because whales are like an undersea rainforest, they save a whole lot CO2.) The whales caught probably lived a happies live than the cows, pigs, chickens and whatever from massproduction farms. But the discussion about whaling isn’t about animal rights, it’s about destroying the eco-system which would also have an impact on the wellbeing on humankind.
(‘Cause who cares about animal’s feelings?)

By: Shollum

Shollum — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:06:00 +0000

And my local grocery sells some specialty cheeses. You can bet your socks that most of the people in the area rarely eat cheese that expensive and fancy, yet the store still sells them and they’re always in stock.
Similarly, they sell soy and almond milk (and another even sells hemp milk, but it’s more of a specialty store, so it doesn’t really count). I’m not knocking the alternative milks (they’re actually quite good in certain things, but calling it milk… man it just tastes wrong to drink it plain, since you’re half-way expecting milk and you get…), but I know good and well that not many people in the area drink them. You can tell because of how little shelf space they get (collectively less than a third of the milk shelf).

Also, I know quite a few people who have eaten squirrel. I’ve been to restaurants that serve alligator and rattlesnake and I’ve been to places that serve bison. Heck, there are restaurants that sell ‘mountain oysters’ (heads up, there are no oysters in the mountains). I’ve seen places that sell bugs, too.

My point being, just because it’s there doesn’t mean that it’s particularly prevalent. Besides, 東京 is a big city, so I’m sure you’re more likely to find specialty things there in larger quantities. That’s how it works in big cities.

Anyway, not trying to start a fight, just pointing out that things can be available and still not be prevalent.

By: Cam Abi

Cam Abi — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 03:48:00 +0000

It’s never really bothered me what kind of animal meat other countries eat. Just like in America we eat cow in India this could be considered totally outrageous. I only hope that whoever is catching these whales is doing it in a humane way, which is highly unlikely. Also, that they consider the number of whales in the sea so that the species does not go extinct. Everyone has different views on what animal meat we should or shouldn’t eat so I hate pushing my views on others and ask that they do not push their own views on me.

By: bigwonk

bigwonk — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:16:00 +0000

I don’t think it’s all that rare and maybe this reflects Tokyo. I always see whale in my local grocery store. Also, there’s a big restaurant dedicated to whale cuisine in Shibuya, 3 minute walk from Hachiko exit. Big white sign with くじら written in black. They’re not hiding. You can even see it with google street view. Head past Shibuya 109 and there it is and it’s been here for years.