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I knew in Korea and China people eat dog meat. But you can imagine my surprise when I discovered a restaurant in Tokyo – Japan, where dog meat could be consumed.
In April 2012, while I was talking with friends, I was surprised to discover that people in Japan could consume dog meat. To do this, just simply visit the neighborhood of Shin-Okubo in Tokyo. But is that the Japanese really eat dogs?
Dog meat in a … Chinese restaurant
The dog is an animal very popular and especially liked by the Japanese. It is not uncommon to see, usually small, dogs with their owners on the streets of Japan. With the cat, it is certainly the favorite animal of Japanese.
So when I learned that a restaurant offered dog meat consumption, I was amazed. This is why I decided to go check it out to see it with my own eyes. In reality, it is not a Japanese restaurant but a Chinese restaurant, located in Koreatown (Shin-Okubo) in Tokyo. This certainly explains this, as residents of these countries are dog meat eaters.
Dog Meat: What does it taste like?
Being curious by nature, I would have liked attempted to taste the dog’s meat. But I say “wish to try” because I did not do it for reasons that are personal to me. However, a friend decided to volunteer for me. This is one Canadian friend : Sean. We therefore visited this restaurant on 6 September 2012.
After entering the site, we settled at a table and ordered a basic plate of dog meat for 2000 Yen (about 26 dollars). For my part, I focused on a dish of seafood.
When the meat dish was served, I admit that its contents seemed most appealing. So much so that it made me want to devour it. I also think that most people, if they do not know that it is dog meat, will eat it without any problem. In any case, my friend, did try it.
It is armed with a fourk that Sean enjoyed the meat. From the first bites impressions were made: tasty meat and tender at the same time. After a few minutes, his plate was empty and the experience was over.
So we headed out and we paid the bill. At this point, we tried to learn a little more about the origin of this unusual meat. The only information we could get was that dog meat originated in China and that the animal was of average size.
To eat dog : it may shock but …
As I write this article, I already know that some people will be shocked, offended or whatever more. I understand their reactions and I respect that. However, I would like to clarify several points here:
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It is not Japanese culture but a foreign culture very well established locally.
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This is not because in our countries and cultures we do not eat this or that meat that those who consume are “barbarians” or whatever else.
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We must learn to respect cultures that are very different from ours even if we do not necessarily understand them.
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For some people eating dog is more than normal, as for others it is normal to eat kangaroo, rabbit, horse, camel or any other food.
Personally I have nothing against the use of animals as long as they are handled and slaughtered under conditions which do not reflect any abuse towards them.
Hoping that you will understand my point of view on this issue.
So here is this experience for the least original in a country where so many things are possible. Moreover, I would like to know your opinion on dog meat, consumption and the fact that a restaurant offers it in Japan, where dogs are so often loved, cherished and even idolized.
Find out Shin-Okubo on Google Maps (the restaurant is located in front of the 7-11 close to Shin-Okubo station)
NOOOOO WAAAAY!!!!!!!!
It is “South Korea” that there is culture which was eating the meat of the dog!
The store which you ate to it is “Shin Okubo.”
SHIN Okubo is the town in which many South Koreans live.
Please do not write the wrong recognition by a blog.
I regard your report as unpleasant!!!!!!
Hello Ayu,
thank you for your message.
The restaurant is not South Korean but Chinese as it is written in this article.
I am not writting anything wrong. The restaurant is a Chinese restaurant in Korea Town (Shin-Okubo) in TOKYO – JAPAN. Everything I wrote is 100% true.
Please don’t be offended by that.
I don’t think this is enough to say that the Japanese eat dogs. That’s like saying New Zealanders eat dogs because there are Tongan immigrants in NZ that eat dogs.
Actually I am not saying that Japanese eat dogs. I am saying that in Japan also we can eat dog’s meat, which is different. I am saying that in Japan we can find a place where to eat dog’s meat.
“Actually I am not saying that Japanese eat dogs. I am saying that in Japan also we can eat dog’s meat, which is different. ”
then we suggest you change the title of this article as you are completely giving a misleading impression to the readers as if Japanese DO eat dogs (on a regular basis like it is part of their daily life) rather than in Japan it’s POSSIBLE to eat dogs.
There is a big difference here, as you yourself know and have pointed out. The change of the article title is anticipated by many of us, hope you are sensible enough….
Hi aaa
thanks for your opinion.
As you mentionned I am not saying that Japanese people eat dog meat, not at all.
I am clearly saying that it is possible to find a place in Japan where you can eat dog meat. There is a huge difference here.
The thing is, that on this kind of topic you will always get people that don’t agree and think something different.
Any way, I am clearly saying that it is possible to eat dog meat in Japan which is definitly true. I am just talking about a fact and saying as it is, nothing more, nothing less.
Thanks for your opinion.
I like how you handle this sensitive topic. I think it is the height of close-mindedness for people to declare that others should not eat a certain meat because it is “disgusting.” More often than not, this “disgust” is a matter of cultural values and feelings of cultural superiority, not a matter of absolute moral values.
In the end, I think that it is hypocrisy to declare one animal edible and another not. This is particularly true if the ones trying to make the decision for others aren’t vegetarian/vegan or if the animal is not endangered. It’s fine if one personally abstains from eating something for any reason whatsoever, but in most cases, declaring that others should abstain too isn’t rational.
Thanks for allowing me a space to vent about this.
Hi Lynn,
thanks a lot for your opinion.
You definitly got my point here and I agree with you.
Yes, great, amazing experience guys ! the idea is also to skinned your own arm until the bone and then make it cook in the hot pot ! I’m pretty sure that it will be amazing too and make impress many peoples.
The problem is not what human can eat or not… the point is the believing around the question of dog consumption.Some Viets, Chineses, Koreans and some others south-eastern Asian countries believe that make suffering the dogs (or cats) will bring aphrodisiac attribute to the meat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubbRq_dvwhk you can look thousands of videos posted on this topic on youtube and on the web to see the reason why supported the consumption of this meat it’s uncivilized and more that stupid. Definitively, before to open the door of this kind of restaurant and, by this way, to cheer this disgusting business, it will be bright and clever to take a minimum information on this trade. Human who will take pleasure to make suffering an animal by stupid believing cannot be considered as human. Yes, it’s not a question of cultural respect, it just a question of life respect. Gandhi said “We recognize the degree of civilization of a people to the way it treats its animals.” – I’m agree on this point and the dog meat supporter have, on my opinion less value than a cockroach.
Hi Nicolas,
thanks for your comment and your opinion.
I want to say: STOP IT. It is not because some people do really bad things (and I agree with you on that, it is crual to kill animal this way) that they are all doing the same thing.
Open you mind a little bit and stop thinking that one thing you see on few videos is common thing for all the situation. Stop putting all Korean, Chinese and other people in the same box. Not all Chinese people eat dog, for example…..
Before reffering to Gandhi, please learn to respect other people. Who are you to decide who is human and who is not? Are you better than other people?
Hi Tunimaal,
Good to admit cruelty against the animals.
Then, about your quote, I clearly specified on the 5th line that “Some” peoples are concerned by this terrible practice; I never said “All” and this, for a simple reason that the best fighters against this trade are Vietnameses, Chineses or Thais new generations themselves who believes in Humanity and not in stupid believing from old generations. I stand against this trade in Thailand where smugglers send, every days, dogs to supply vietnamese and chinese markets. Please don’t hesitate to have a look on this link http://www.tradeofshame.org/ to know more about this fight.
I come from Occident and in my country, we respect the dogs, cats, animals by the mind and by the laws also. I consider that’s a great thing who have to be extended around the world – respect the animals feelings and fight the suffering should be supported everywhere.
I don’t consider that I’m better or worse than other people but something is sure, this trade is barbaric and peoples who cheers it don’t have my respect and I’m in my right.
You come from France and I Hope that you can understand this point. Promote dog meat is not a right thing and it’s not because you are in oversea that everything must be amazing and untenable practices should be respected.
Regards -
Hi Nicolas,
thanks for your comment and your opinion. I agree with you about cruelty against animal. This is something I am definitly against.
But now, I am not promoting it here. I am just telling about a Chinese restaurant selling dog meat in Japan, which is a fact. Also, as long as I know, we have no information about the meat sold there and if it was treated the way you are saying. You can’t assume that every single restaurant selling this king of meat does cruelty against them. It may be true in some case as it can be false in some others.
I am not promoting dog meat or anything else, just talking about a fact and giving my opinion. When you say ” Promote dog meat is not a right thing ” you clearly mean that all dog meat comes from dog that have been under cruelty. One more time, this is not true in all the case.
Hi Tunimaal,
Thank you for your answer and happy to read your position. Unfortunately, around the dog meat, there are a many popular beliefs as cruel slaughtering will bring aphrodisiac attributes to the meat. This is the common point between asian countries concerned by this practice and the first motivation for consuming this meat. That’s why peoples stand up for fighting because it’s the “traditional” way of slaughtering and there is unfortunately no exception on this market. You write “Personally I have nothing against the use of animals as long as they are handled and slaughtered under conditions which do not reflect any abuse towards them”. I’m agree on that but you really have to understand that dogs slaughter directly means global abuses and cruel traditional practices. Tradition is like this and they is no exception one more time.
I appreciate your open-mindedness because for a part of population which have your denomination, dog meat is “haram” – not allowed. If peoples concerned were flexible as you regarding slaughter abuse, there will have no longer argument and polemic concerning slaughtering method in western countries.
Have a nice day – regards.
Hi Nicolas,
the thing is that you are saying “that dogs slaughter directly means global abuses and cruel traditional practices.” but they are no proof at all for every single situation.
As for me, I didn’t eat dog meat at the restaurant because it’s agains my religion.
But yes I will never agree about torture to any kind of animal at all.
Hi Tunimaal,
They are no proof but there are innumerable facts around many countries and it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Moreover, I never meet the situation that you suggested… slaughtering dogs without abuse. Dogs needs to be stressed to offer delicious meat according to the traditional believing and obviously by the cruel methods.
Anyway, I’m happy to read you are not agree about torture to any kind of animal and not well-inclined in traditional slaughters which are definitely cruel.
Thank you for this debate and have a nice stay to Japan. Regards.
Hi Nicolas,
thanks for sharing your point of view and open minded to the debate.
Hope to read from you again soon