Scientific evidence collected by Japan’s Whale Research Program can be consumed at Lucky Pierrot, a Japanese burger chain based in the port of Hakodate on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaidō.
Hamburger Lucky Pierrot
Source: Flickr
Affectionately known by locals as LaPi (ラピ), Lucky Pierrot serves 16 different varieties of hamburgers including scallop, squid, shrimp and Chinese chicken burgers. The burger chain achieved international notoriety for it’s contentious whale burger.
For just ¥380 you can get yourself a fried piece of minke whale meat (caught under Japan’s controversial ‘research’ program) dipped in miso sauce with lettuce and mayonnaise on a sesame seed bun.
Hamburger Lucky Pierrot's
Source: Wikimedia
Lucky Pierrot
The whale burger was launched in 2005 after a failed campaign by Japan to resume commercial catches of minke whales in the Pacific Ocean. Lucky Pierrot manager Miku Oh said of the launch:
“We have decided to add a whale burger to our menu due to strong demand from our customers and feel very thankful to the whales for allowing us to make the burgers.”
Here it is on the menu.
Whale Burger on Lucky Pierrot's Menu
And the verdict.
Enjoying a whale burger
Scientific Whaling
In order to undertake ’scientific whaling’ Japan is exploiting a loophole in (or conducting research in accordance with) the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.
“Article Ⅷ, International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
1. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Convention, any Contracting Government may grant to any of its nationals a special permit authorizing that national to kill, take, and treat whales for purposes of scientific research subject to such restrictions as to number and subject to such other conditions as the Contracting Government thinks fit, and the killing, taking, and treating of whales in accordance with the provisions of this article shall be exempt from the operation of this Convention. Each Contracting Government shall report at once to the Commission all such authorizations which it has granted. Each Contracting Government may at any time revoke any such special permit which it has granted.”
Other than the ‘Big Minke’ or ‘Whale Whopper‘ as I have seen it called, Lucky Pierrot offer another popular burger called the ‘Genghis Khan’ burger which is topped with thin strips of barbecued lamb.
For more on Japanese fast food chains check out Quarter Pounder Japan.
This article is a submission for the Japan Blog Matsuri hosted by sleepytako.
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Despite the environmental concerns and the poor whale, the whale burger looks too tempting….~Nom Nom~ -_-
Is that a Sperm Whale burger she’s eating or just a bit of excess mayo?
Apparently she doesn’t mind a bit of humpback either.
Probably doesn’t even know it’s whale. Can’t imagine her eating it on porpoise.
As long as whale populations (minke or whatever) doesn’t go into extinction, I think eating whales shouldn’t be outlawed, only strictly enforce quotas. Personally, I think it’s also okay to shame those who do choose to eat creatures like whales, dolphins, monkeys, dogs, etc…
And exactly why is it okay to eat cow, pig and chicken, but not whale, dog and horse?
Well the whale actually makes sense, as it’s endangered.
The other 2? Cultural taboo is the only reason. Just because your culture doesn’t eat a certain kind of meat is no reason to ridicule others about it. Don’t forget that there are plenty of people out there that think eating cow and/or pig is very wrong as well. And some thing -all- meat is wrong to eat.
Cultural taboo, maybe, but not the only reason. Another reason is the perception of intelligence.
I would eat one if I got the chance, as long as they don’t go extinct.
A burger or a whole whale?
Hmm… no matter how tasty it is, I’ll never try it… on general principle. ^_^
I hear ya Muza-chan. No matter how many times I have been presented with, and how brave I have been, I have never been able to bring myself to eat Nagano’s infamous raw horse meat. I keep thinking of Mr Ed.
hmmm, I’d love to taste one, is that bad?
I’ve had whale; it’s pretty tasty. It’s nowhere near as good as horse, but it is pretty good nonetheless. I would like to try it in a burger format :3