A Whale Of A Story

News Flash:

A small whale was netted sometime this morning off the coast of Ojika by a seafaring motley crew of fishermen from Madara.

According to the uncorroborated reporting of Mr. Ikeshita, the high school's PE teacher, the whale caught was about 5 meters long. "mimashita! mimashita!" (I saw it! I saw it!) Mr. Ikeshita reported as if wanting to erase any doubt that it was, in fact, a whale, and it was, in fact, caught in the sea around Ojika.

When asked if he eats whale, Mr. Ikeshita said, "mochiron." (Of course.) He then promptly looked to his co-workers for support in this action. Ms. Higashikawa shook her hand fiercely in front of her face and denied any claims that she had ever eaten whale. "tabenai desu," (I don't eat whale.) she said. Mr. Kawabe plead the fifth, and refused to answer. "I will answer that question with silence," he said.

(Because Mr. Kawabe is an English teacher, his contribution to the interview is in no need of translation.)

Feeling sorry for the lack of support Mr. Ikeshita's fellow teachers showed him, this reporter added her own experience of eating whale to the interview.

"i-kai tabemashita," I said.
(I ate whale once.)

"doko de," Ms. Higashikawa asked.
(Where?)

"Fukuoka de. osushiyasan de. tabete mitakkata," I replied.
(In Fukuoka at a Sushi restaurant. I just wanted to try it.)

Reports that Ojika's local sushi restaurants will soon be carrying kujira sushi are yet unconfirmed.