A survey was made of various cookery books from the Middle Ages to modern times to identify the consumption of whale meat in Japan.
During the Muromachi Period, whales were considered valuable because of their sheer size, and the meat was served to high-ranking people like the Shogun.
In the middle of the Edo Period, whale meat was served to the most important and least important members of a Korean delegation. Whalecatching had developed from harpooning to netting, enabling whales to be caught in large numbers so that whale meat became available for common consumption.
Until recently, whale meat had been a common local food in many areas of Japan. Its size made it considered suitable for serving at important events, and it stood as a popular food source.
The results of this survey clearly show that whale meat has been an important part of the Japanese diet over a long period of time.
