Japan Firm Opens Whale Meat Vending Machines

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A Japanese whaling operator has discovered a new technique to boost sales after fighting for years to advertise its products against protests from environmentalists: whale meat vending machines. The Kujira Store, often known as the Whale Store, is an unmanned establishment that has recently opened in the nearby city of Yokohama. It features three machines for making whale sashimi, bacon, and steak in addition to canned whale meat.

Products range in price from 1,000 yen ($7.70) to 3,000 yen ($23). The third site to open in the Japanese capital region, the shop features vending machines painted with cartoon whales. It debuted on January 24 following the introduction of two additional models as part of a fresh sales campaign by Kyodo Senpaku Co. in Tokyo earlier this year. "The issue is not the vending machines themselves but what they may lead to," said Nanami Kurasawa, head of the Iruka & Kujira — or Dolphin & Whale — Action Network. Kurasawa pointed out that the whaling operator has already requested more catches and to extend whaling outside of the existing region. In five years, Kyodo Senpaku plans to install vending machines at 100 places across the country, according to Konomu Kubo, a company spokesperson. Next month, a fourth will launch in Osaka.

The idea is to install vending machines close to supermarkets, where whale meat is typically difficult to find. According to Kubo, major supermarket chains have refrained from selling whale meat to prevent anti-whaling group rallies. "As a result, many consumers who want to eat it cannot find or buy whale meat. We launched vending machines at unstaffed stores for those people," he said.  According to company officials, sales at the locations have exceeded expectations, keeping staff busy replenishing products.