I Ate Whale Meat

Atlantic ^ | David Nakamura

[big black dog]

One rule of thumb I generally observe while traveling abroad: Always know what something is before putting it in your mouth. Recently, I broke that rule--and ended up regretting it.

I ate whale meat.

I didn't mean to. It just sort of happened during an otherwise routine company enkai--office party--at a hole-in-the-wall izakaya called Andy's Shin Hinomoto under the Yurakucho railroad tracks in central Tokyo. I ordered a beer and sat down next to my co-workers, just as the waitress was bringing out plates of food: generous cuts of sashimi, deep-fried chicken nuggets, a sautéed mushroom salad and--what the heck was that? On a plate next to some lettuce leaves and a wedge of tomato were thin-cut strips of stringy red meat.

[big black dog]

Sounds yummy!

[Welcome2thejungle]

Were you with Andrew Zimmern?

[AngryCapitalist]

Strangely enough, I get hungry everytime I watch “Whale Wars”.

[NMEwithin]

Sounds good to me...not sure why this guy feels so guilty about eating meat from a non-endangered whale.

Silly liberals..

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Whale meat? Try manatee! It’s good fer ya and tastes just like.....manatee!

[SlowBoat407]

How precious. He cares.

[CSM]

What is really sad is that they probably killed that whale just for him!

[ApplegateRanch]

From the title, I thought this was something about Barney Frank, Teddy, and more kinkiness.

I'm not sure if I should feel disappointed or relieved.

[Drango]

oh good grief David...grow a pair.

[freedomlover]

“I didn’t mean to. It just sort of happened during an otherwise routine company enkai—office party—at a hole-in-the-wall izakaya called Andy’s Shin Hinomoto under the Yurakucho railroad tracks in central Tokyo. I ordered a beer and . . “

---

And all he ended up doing was eating some friggin’ whale meat? Jeez I wish my office party stories were so tame.

[stuartcr]

I wonder what he said when they brought out the horse sashimi or the slugs?

[chae]

Well, was it good or not?
Seriously, this guy needs to get over himself, and now I have a mad craving for sushi.

[ClearCase_guy]

Good Grief man! If you hadn't helped yourself to the snacks at that office party, that whale would still be alive today!!!

What? He wouldn't? He was already dead? Oh. nevermind.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

You evil, evil person

/brainwashed

[2Jedismom]

Someone ought to give him one of those things those crazy people hit themselves with in other countries...where they flog themselves over and over and get all bloody...

Probably make him feel better and someone can videotape it and put it on Youtube and all of the world can watch him do it in horrified fascination.

Which is what he wants, I think.

[swain_forkbeard]

So he ate it but didn’t know what he was eating at first. So it was sort of a fluke.

[P8riot]

I am from Minnesota;
I went to Tokyo to
Visit the Land of Enchantment and quaint pagoda.
I almost died the night they tried
To make me eat that yucky sushi.

They think it sounds so yummy,
But, hey, I ain't no dummy,
I knew no way it would stay down in my tummy.
I took one bite, and I was right,
No likey icky yucky sushi.

Bridge:
It took some wine, but I finally agreed
To eat that dish of dead fish and seaweed.

What happened then I don't know,
I loosened my kimono,
I make a noise like the voice of Yoko Ono.
Then just like that, right on the mat,
Me sicky icky yucky sushi.

Bridge:
Don't eat raw squid, like I did, 'cause it's true,
It make you do like when you got the flu.

So if you're in Nagoya,
Here's a suggestion for ya,
Take my advice, stick with rice, and think twice before ya
Bow in disgrace, lose lunch and face,
No picky icky yucky sushi.
No likey icky yucky sushi.

(c) 2000 by Pat Donohue (to the tune of Sukiyaki)

[OB1kNOb]

It tastes kinda like fatty spotted owl.

[faucetman]

Strangely enough, I watch Whale Wars. Those libs are SOOOOO STUPID. It's a wonder they even survive. They do all kinds of STUPID DANGEROUS stunts better left to stunt men or at least Conservatives. They aren't being brave they just have no clue how risky the stuff they do is. But that is the liberal mind. While the Sea Shepherds would not welcome me on the Steve Irwin, I like the show and support what they are doing. There is no reason to allow Japan to circumvent the laws claiming to be doing “research”? What BS. Eskimos, okay, but the Japanese eat it only as a delicacy. Let the whales live, we've killed enough whales.

[PureSolace]

Yum Sea Cows!