Feds: Sushi Restaurant Served Whale Meat

(AP)  Federal prosecutors have filed charges against the owner of a California restaurant and its sushi chef that marine mammal activists say served illegal whale meat.

Typhoon Restaurant Inc., which owns The Hump restaurant in Santa Monica, and Kiyoshiro Yamamoto, a 45-year-old Culver City resident, were charged Wednesday with illegally selling an endangered species product, a misdemeanor.

Two undercover diners requested whale as part of an $600 omakase or chef's choice, meal. The young women were working with the producers of the Oscar-winning documentary, "The Cove," to record the whole meal.

They pocketed a sample, and genetic testing confirmed that it was meat from the endangered Sei whale.

If convicted, Yamamoto could face a year in prison and a fine of $100,000. The company could be fined $200,000.

[hateisafourletterword]

Whale meat is overrated anyway. Chewy and really salty. Stick to tuna or salmon.

[deohgee]

I wonder if you could get a cat appetizer and a doggy dessert?

[brianbwb2011]

Difficult to see how the chef, who does not sell the meat, but only prepares it, will be convicted of selling the meat.

I don't remember a law saying that one couldn't cut and cook meat from an endangered animal, it is highly unlikely the chef killed the animal. He couldn't be charged with ownership of the meat either, as he is not the owner, the restaurant is.

The most deserving to be charged are the restaurateur who bought it, the distributor who supplies it, and the customs inspector who let it pass through the border.

[PopsH]

If this sushi restaurant had whale meat available, how many more have it hidden away in a back room? Perhaps there should be more investigation into where this resaturant got their supply?

[SIKCHUTNAY]

I AGREE THESE JAPPOS MUSTN'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!!

[brianbwb2011]

Difficult to see how the chef, who does not sell the meat, but only prepares it, will be convicted of selling the meat.

I don't remember a law saying that one couldn't cut and cook meat from an endangered animal, it is highly unlikely the chef killed the animal. He couldn't be charged with ownership of the meat either, as he is not the owner, the restaurant is.

The most deserving to be charged are the restaurateur who bought it, the distributor who supplies it, and the customs inspector who let it pass through the border.

[SIKCHUTNAY]

HE'S THE "CHEF" SO HE KNEW IT WAS ILLEGAL. DESERVES THE SAME FATE AS THE POOR INNOCENT WHALE SWIMMING ALONG THEN....

[skarrzpop]

I can only hope that this K. Yamamoto suffers a horrible death by rectal cancer and takes months to die. God how i wish i could perform my own form of JUSTICE to such people!! Why is it so many F--king asians dine on many endangered species?...I applaud the people that made THE COVE!! I only wish I could give them what [the japanese,some] they've done to so many forms of animal life!!! Why cant we ban whale hunting period?...Well i know that answer but..nonetheless.......

[gnimelf1968]

Because they are always trying to find something to ingest that will make them *****. I bet if someone said dog poop would work, they'd try it.

[MalloryDavis]

How horrible to wish this or any disease on anyone. Thank goodness your request most likely will not be administered. Unless you are not praying to a god of human conjur-which all gods are-it's not going to happen my mean friend.

[IndiasWorstTechSupport]

Not one lawyer will lose sleep over this. Nor will a person serve jail time.