used to 動詞の原形で、以前は～していた、
という表現です。
not any moreはもう～していない、という表現です。
not nowを代わりに使って、今は違う、と
言うこともできます。
また、used to do thatで、それ(鯨を食べること)は以前やっていた、と簡素にまとめることもできます。
It was common in the past for Japanese people to eat whales, but not anymore.
Nowadays, Japanese don't eat whale meat anymore.
It's no longer common for people in Japan to eat whale meat.
"It was common in the past for Japanese people to eat whales, but not anymore." states that in the past eating whales was done but in modern day Japan whales are no longer eaten.
「It was common in the past for Japanese people to eat whales, but not anymore.」は、日本では、昔は鯨を食べていたけど、今ではもう食べてませんという意味です。
Whale used to be common fare but times have changed
It was popular and now it isn't
"Could I order a whale steak when I'm in Japan?"
"Yes, of course!"
"How often do you eat whale meat?"
"Personally I'm a vegetarian."
"Are there like whale burger bars on every street corner?"
"No. Whale used to be common fare but times have changed."
In the past people used to eat whale but not anymore.
It was common for Japanese people in the past to eat whale but not now.
"In the past" means long ago.
"used to" is past tense explaining it does not happen any more.
"It was common for Japanese people in the past to eat whale." This explains that it was a popular meal for Japanese people in the past.
"But not now." This explains that it is no longer popular for them to eat whale.
"In the past" means long ago.
"used to" is past tense explaining it does not happen any more.
In the past＝過去に、昔は。Used to＝○○をしていた（昔習慣的にしていた）ことで、今はもうしていないこと。
"It was common for Japanese people in the past to eat whale." This explains that it was a popular meal for Japanese people in the past.
"But not now." This explains that it is no longer popular for them to eat whale.
It was common→よくあった。昔、鯨はポピュラーな食べ物だった、ことを説明している。But not now→でも今は違う、今はそうではない。今は鯨を食べていないことを説明する部分。
Japanese people used to eat whale a lot but now not so much.
Eating whale is rarely heard of nowadays in Japan.
This phrase explains that Japanese people used to or in the past ate whale a lot. When we say not so much, it means there are very few people who eat whale or on the rare occasion.
Rarely heard of - not so common, you wouldn't normally hear of people eating whale nowadays.
日本人は昔はよくクジラを食べた、と伝えるフレーズです。
"not so much" は、クジラを食べる人がほとんどいないこと、またはめったに食べることがないことを表します。
Rarely heard of - あまり一般的でない（not so common）、この頃はクジラを食べるという人は聞かない
The phrase 'in the past' can be used to express something that was done before and no longer done in the same way or no longer done at all. To say that the Japanese used to eat whales in the past, would mean that this is no longer something commonly done.
Hope this helps
Teacher Jemxi
"in the past" で、以前は行われていたが今は変わってしまったこと、または全く行われていないことを表せます。
"the Japanese used to eat whales in the past" と言えば、クジラを食べることが一般的でなくなったことを表せると思います
参考になるといいです
Teacher Jemxi
日本 
アメリカ合衆国 
イギリス 
南アフリカ 
