Food · Fermented foods
Kujira-niku (Whale Meat)
くじら 肉 (Kujira-niku)
Also known as: Kujira-niku, Whale meat, Akami (red meat), Honbi (skin), Unesu (ventral folds), 鯨肉, Mizo-niku (delicacy cuts)
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | くじら 肉 / 本皮 / うねす |
| Common Japanese notations | くじら 肉, 鯨肉, クジラ肉, 本皮, うねす |
| Origin | Whale meat from species permitted under Japanese commercial whaling (since IWC withdrawal 2019, Japan resumed commercial whaling for select species — notably common minke whale, Bryde's whale, sei whale); principal landing port Shimonoseki (Yamaguchi), Ayukawa (Miyagi), Wadaura (Chiba) |
| Typical functions | Heritage Japanese cuisine — kujira-no-tatsuta-age (deep-fried), kujira-no-tare (yakiniku-style), School lunch heritage application (declining), Specialty parts: honbi (skin), unesu (ventral folds), mizo-niku (delicacy cuts) |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard food labeling. Japan's 2019 IWC withdrawal allowed resumption of commercial whaling. Trade and consumption are legal in Japan. **International trade restrictions vary substantially by market** — many markets prohibit whale product imports. |
Kujira-niku (くじら 肉 / 鯨肉) is whale meat. Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after IWC withdrawal, with Shimonoseki, Ayukawa, and Wadaura as principal landing ports. Heritage Japanese cuisine application (kujira-no-tatsuta-age, kujira-no-tare). **International trade is restricted in most markets — appropriate only for domestic Japan or specific markets.**
Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Frozen kujira meat retail (regional and specialty)
What it is
Whale meat from common minke whale, Bryde's whale, sei whale (commercially permitted Japanese species).
Specialty parts: akami (red meat), honbi (skin), unesu (ventral folds), mizo-niku (delicacy).
Typical uses in Japanese products
Heritage Japanese cuisine (kujira-no-tatsuta-age, kujira-no-tare).
Regional foodservice in landing-port cities.
For OEM: domestic Japan retail and foodservice; international trade restricted.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. Domestic legal. Not a designated allergen.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | EU prohibits commercial whale product imports — not viable. |
|---|---|
| USA | US prohibits whale product imports — not viable. |
| China | Limited; subject to bilateral negotiation. |
| Korea | Korea has its own coastal whale catch tradition but limited trade. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification of regional landing port origin and target market viability.
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References
- MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — くじら 各形態
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.