In an extraordinary auction held at a market in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, the highly coveted "tail meat" from Iwashi Kujira (Bryde's whale), a species of whale caught in commercial whaling, broke records by selling for an astounding 800,000 yen per kilogram, which is approximately $5,330 USD for about 2.2 pounds. This remarkable price, surpassing the previous record of 500,000 yen set just last November in the same city, highlights the immense value placed on this rare delicacy.

Around 2 tons of raw meat from three Iwashi Kujira whales, captured off Nemuro between October 27th and 29th, were presented at the market. While large whales are typically frozen at sea, this particular raw meat, never subjected to freezing, is renowned for its rich and intense flavor due to the aging process.

The winning bid for this highly sought-after whale meat came from a seafood processing and wholesale company.

This remarkable auction and the unprecedented value placed on the tail meat underscore the significance of Iwashi Kujira in the world of Japanese cuisine and culture. Balancing the need for resources and the preservation of our planet's remarkable biodiversity is a challenge that requires collective effort, as we strive to find harmony between nature's treasures and human necessities.