Why did Japanese start eating "whale meat"?

Do you know why Japanese people started eating "whale meat"?

Japanese people have been eating whale meat since around 14000 B.C.(Jomon period).
At the Nara period(710-794), Buddhism flourished in Japan, and the eating of four-legged animals became toboo. That's why the people started eating seafood including whale meat.
After World War Ⅱ, there was no enough food in Japan. Therefore the American government encouraged Japanese people to eat whale meat, and eating whale meat beacme popular.

I don't think that Japanese people need to eat whale meat.
Do you think there are any good solutions which Japanese stop eating whale meat?

Japanes vending machine

Vending machine

for soft drinks



There are many vending machines on the street in Japan.



This photo is a vending machine for soft drink.It sells both cold and hot drinks.The price of one can or bottle is from 120 yen.

Japanese Monk

A Japanese Monk

You can see a Japanese monk on the street.

The back is Apple store in Tokyo.