Today was Taiji's Whale festival. Taiji is a small fishing village in southern Honshu where whale has been traditionally been and continues to be hunted and eaten. I went with my coworkers and a few ALTs from Mie. It was an interesting day to say the least. As a large posse of gaijin, we were nearly mistaken for Sea Shepherds as we approached the festival. In fact, it almost seemed as though we would be asked to leave the festival before we even got there, had it not been for a local friend of ours who kindly explained that we were indeed local English teachers coming to enjoy and experience the festival, rather then disrupt and cause trouble. After being ID'ed (there were 15 of us so this took some time), we were permitted to enter the festival. Once they realized we weren't Sea Shepherds, the police where actually quite kind about the whole situation and invited us to proceed. I can understand we looked suspicious as a large group of white folk in a small fishing village that has been the common subject of harsh cultural criticism and protest for years. (In fact, there were Sea Shepherds up on a mountain creeping down on those enjoying the festival - very Big Brother-like. I wonder if we will be making an appearance in The Cove 2...).
Free bowls of whale ramen were served and being the ramen lover that I am, I of course had to try some, despite my lack of taste for red meat. While the broth and noodles where quite delicious, the meat itself was nothing special. It tasted quite similar to beef only a wee bit more tough with a touch of sea-like flavour. All in all, not something I would go out of my way to have again.
After the festival the lot of us checked out the local whale museum where I fell in love with a whale puppet I now wish I would have brought home with me... (sigh). The museum was well worth while and covered subjects on the evolution and biology of whales as well as the history of whaling practices around the world (weapons and boats included - very fascinating). Although I couldn't understand much of the written information about the history and practices of whales and whaling, I was able to grasp quite a bit of insight through imagery as the museum was full of specimens, paintings, photos, antiques, and replicas. In all honesty after eating whale, then watching their friends do a show at the museum, followed by a gander at whale hunting gear and romanticized paintings of whale hunting, the whole process does seem quite violent and I personally have some mixed feelings on the matter. To each their own I suppose...
Free bowls of whale ramen were served and being the ramen lover that I am, I of course had to try some, despite my lack of taste for red meat. While the broth and noodles where quite delicious, the meat itself was nothing special. It tasted quite similar to beef only a wee bit more tough with a touch of sea-like flavour. All in all, not something I would go out of my way to have again.
After the festival the lot of us checked out the local whale museum where I fell in love with a whale puppet I now wish I would have brought home with me... (sigh). The museum was well worth while and covered subjects on the evolution and biology of whales as well as the history of whaling practices around the world (weapons and boats included - very fascinating). Although I couldn't understand much of the written information about the history and practices of whales and whaling, I was able to grasp quite a bit of insight through imagery as the museum was full of specimens, paintings, photos, antiques, and replicas. In all honesty after eating whale, then watching their friends do a show at the museum, followed by a gander at whale hunting gear and romanticized paintings of whale hunting, the whole process does seem quite violent and I personally have some mixed feelings on the matter. To each their own I suppose...
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