Network delights as moves made to ban dog meat in Korea

Jul 07, 2023 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Fuji News Network is reporting that changes are afoot in South Korean culinary culture with a ban on eating dog meat apparently imminent.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is moving to revise laws that would ban people from eating dog meat.

The Seoul Municipal Government is also fining restaurants that handle dog meat and is deliberating a draft ordinance to encourage dog meat sellers to change business.

Popular opinion behind these moves against what had once been a widespread practice is believed to be an increase in concern for animal welfare.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee are known dog lovers and are believed to have influenced the shift in attitudes.

Dog meat for human consumption was sold in about 50 restaurants in Tokyo and Osaka until about 2010, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

The ministry reported to the Diet that about 30 tons of dog meat for human consumption was imported into Japan from China in 2013. The Ministry said about 20 tons was imported from Vietnam in 2018, the most recent year it has made a public comment on dog meat imports into Japan.

Japan's Ancient Capitals Await World Heritage Status

Residents in Nara Prefecture are celebrating after UNESCO's advisory body recommended the archaeological complex known as the Asuka-Fujiwara Ancient Capitals for inscription as a World Heritage site, bringing the historic birthplace of Japan's ancient state one step closer to international recognition.

Tropical Depression Brings New Heavy Rain Threat to Southern Japan

A tropical depression is expected to move northward this weekend and could bring another round of heavy rain to parts of Japan, following a week in which Typhoon Jangmi (Typhoon No. 6) caused significant rainfall and left some areas vulnerable to further weather-related damage.

Samurai Blue Historic Breakthrough in 2026 World Cup

Expectations for Japan are unusually high heading into the 2026 World Cup, with the team now aiming not merely to reach the knockout stage but to finally break through the Round of 16 and advance to the quarterfinals for the first time.

Controversy Erupts Over Prime Minister Takaichi’s Alleged Smear Video

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration is facing mounting scrutiny over allegations that members of her campaign were involved in distributing online videos that disparaged rival candidates during the February House of Representatives election, with opposition parties intensifying their questioning in the Diet and demanding further clarification.

Japan Calls for Next Generation Hunters; Bear Sightings Exceed 50,000

The Japanese government approved its 2026 Environment White Paper at a Cabinet meeting on June 5th, warning that a record-high 50,000-plus bear sightings recorded nationwide during fiscal 2025 have become a serious threat to public safety while also highlighting growing concerns over Japan's aging hunting population and the need to train a new generation of hunters.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Food NEWS

Japan's Squeezed Consumers to Pig Out on Itoham's Low-Cost 'Sunny Price' Ham

Major meat processor Itoham announced on June 5th that it will launch a new lower-priced product line next month as companies continue to grapple with rising costs driven by inflation and instability in the Middle East.

Trying RARE All-You-Can-Eat Domino's in Tokyo

Did you know that some Domino’s Pizza locations in Japan offer an all-you-can-eat deal? It is a super rare experience available at only a very limited number of stores.

YOSHIKI and Global Wine Experts Turn Their Attention to Hokkaido Wine

World-renowned musician YOSHIKI is betting on Hokkaido wine as Japan's next global export success story, joining a growing list of international figures and industry leaders who see the island as one of the world's most promising emerging wine regions.

$100 Japanese Street Food Challenge in Kyoto!!

I'll attempt to spend $100 on street food in Kyoto, Japan, but there's one problem: Japan is not really a street food country. Most people prefer to eat indoors, and finding street food is surprisingly difficult almost anywhere in the country—except in places like Nishiki Market. (More Best Ever Food Review Show)

World’s First Fully Farmed Eels to Go on Sale in Japan

Japan will begin trial sales of the world’s first fully farmed eels for consumers on May 29th, marking a major milestone for the aquaculture industry as domestic eel prices have already fallen by about 40% from a year earlier.

The Mystery of Kyoto's Unique Curry Udon Revealed

Curry udon, a dish combining the fragrance of spices with one of Kansai's most beloved noodle staples, has developed into a distinctly different style in Kyoto, where a thickened dashi-based curry broth created to withstand the city's harsh winters has become the defining feature of a local comfort food tradition.

Inside Tokyo’s CRAZIEST Seafood Feast | Japan byFood

Japan byFood featuring Shizuka are heading to a Dancing Crab Tokyo that's redefining the new normal table etiquette with NO plates, NO utensils, and definitely NO staying quiet! (Japan by Food)

Harvest of Matcha Tea Leaves Begins in Nara

Production of tencha, the raw material used to make matcha, has begun in Yamazoe, Nara Prefecture, a village known for producing Yamato tea, with around 20 tons expected to be manufactured by the end of July.

< 2 3 4 5 >