Operation Management

Cultural and commercial roles of edible wasps in Japan

Marketing

Wasps are also sold live at the markets during the harvest season in autumn. They are quite

expensive at around US$100 per kilogram for an entire nest. Demand is increasing, so wasp

foodstuffs are imported from other countries such as Republic of Korea, China and New

Zealand and then cooked at the shops where they are sold. Vespa mandarinia is similarly

retailed at the same price, but is not being imported yet.

Raising Vespula

In central Japan, when a colony of Vespula is found at an early stage it will be brought home

and set in a wooden hive box. Care is then taken to position the nest where it will be sheltered

from the elements. The colony is protected from predators and given food. Hives come in

various shapes and sizes, depending on the environment they were found in.

A roof is put over the hive to protect it from direct sunlight and the wasps are fed with meat,

fish and sugared water (Plate 4). Raising Vespula requires tender care, originality and

ingenuity.

Plate 4. An example of a protected Vespula spp. hive (Courtesy Kenichi

Nonaka)

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Kenichi Nonaka

Group raising of Vespula is becoming popular throughout central Japan and a network of

Vespula societies has been established. The people involved recognize the importance of both

resource conservation and indigenous knowledge of local customs.

Social entertainment

A Wasp Festival is held each year, with people competing for the biggest nest, whether raised

at home, or collected in the fields or mountains. People congregate for all manner of

festivities celebrating the harvest (Plate 5). Food products made from wasp larvae are popular

delicacies and make interesting souvenirs for visitors. The main event of the festival is the

nest-weighing contest. This is where contestants can witness the results of the year’s efforts.

The nests are sold directly on site. This is a good opportunity for people to share information

on raising wasps....