Is it true that dead babies / foetuses can be bought and eaten in Japan?

Question

I recently read an article on the net about how dead foetuses can be grilled or barbecued and be eaten in Japan. The article went on further to say that they cost as much as 10,000 to 20,000 Yen. This has got to be one of the most horrifying, devilish and inhumane acts I've ever had the displeasure of knowing!

Is that a cultural thing or its just nothing but barbarism?

Answer 1

Accusations of cannibalism often arouse a knee-jerk reaction of fear, disgust, and anger from modern people. Strangely enough, we are willing to believe these rumors if they center around cultures we don't understand or have not experienced.

This rumor was circulated about Chinese people in Guangdong province, who are famous for eating nearly everything that moves (incuding, in fact, monkey brains). You apparently heard the rumor applied to Japanese people.

However, the pictures that allegedly prove these activities have been conclusively found to be part of an art exhibit. The photos were edge art taken by the artist, and involve false baby parts acquired from a dismembered toy doll. No cultural habit or wide acceptance of cannibalism exists in any Eastern culture. These rumors are urban legends.

The idea that another cultural group is eating babies or people is not new -- in fact, ancient Christians were accused of doing the same things by the Romans, who neither knew their beliefs nor tried to understand them. This kind of attack on another group of people is referred to as "blood libel," and often arises from ignorance, malice, or prejudice.

Having been to China and being acquainted with Japanese culture, I can assure you that these sorts of things are not happening. Please see the sources for more details, and best of luck!

Answer 2

This one has to be a rumor and even if that were true it would definitely be a deep, deep, underground practice in Japan, so no, it definitely isn't "culturally" a Japanese thing. Sure, there could be a Japanese "cult" responsible for this but the majority in Japan would find this equally appalling.

Of course I will admit the Japanese do eat rather exotic cuisine by Western standards (examples: whale meat, fugu (a poisonous puffer fish that could kill you instantly), grasshoppers, sea urchins, natto ( rotting soybeans that smell like, well rotten soybeans) and green cantaloupes that cost about as much as a purported dead baby fetus would and are much more palatable), but barbequed baby-yaki is a little far fetched and I guarantee that you won't find it on the menu at any restaurant with a side of miso soup and dipped in soy sauce and wasabi. ;)

Answer 3

I don't think it is true - there were a few sites that put in hoaxes to get a chill out of their visitors. The old manbeef site (now it is a porn site) used to showcase a ecommerce site that had a big catalog of human flesh and other organs for consumption. They also had a big FAQ and said they secretly provided man beef for US costumers. I was spooked by that but later came to know that it is just a "right of free speech site". If you need to get more infor on modern cannibalism read this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannibal#Modern_cannibalism

Answer 4

This is a load of rubbish. I have been to Japan and they are the friendliest people. They have an extremely modern and highly developed society. The food is similar to western food except maybe more fish. Stay away from those quirky websites.

Answer 5

It's not true. If it was, people in other countries would do something about it. It's probably just a rumor that are spreading around. Don't believe everything you read, hear, or see on the internet or anywhere else for that matter.

Answer 6

yes i am sorry to say it is true i have gotten e mails and a couple web sites there was even a couple with pictures very sick. i think its nothing but barbarism and very sick.
there was a TV special about a year ago about it also but it only ran one time it caused so much kayos i myself called the company and complained.

Answer 7

Racism - there are no depths it won't sink to divide us from one another, to make us vicious enemies instead of good friends, to breed violence rather than peace.

You ask if this nonsense is true, then you go on to react on the assumption that it's factual. You don't have far to go to find barbarism, my friend!

Answer 8

I've been to Japan. I never heard of any Japanese doing this. It's definitely not in their culture. Things like this could happen anywhere in this world if you look hard enough.

Answer 9

I hear that it is used as an art. Seriously I don't find any art on that kind of situations. I completely disagree with that kind of things they are doing. Let's just be thank full with ourselves that we respect life and unborn life.

Answer 10

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