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Jun 22 2007 10 Comments

Japanese justification

Whether the arguments put forward for a lifting of restrictions are due to cultural or culinary concerns, Japan’s yearly culling of a limited number of protected whales for ‘scientific purposes’ is laughable to say the least. A stance that is even more suspect when one looks at the numbers involved. And then of course there is the huge amount of ‘by-products’. So much so in fact that children are being fed whale meat for lunch, burger bars are putting it between buns and supermarkets are flogging the stuff fresh or in cute little cans.

Yet whilst the unrepentant fisherman of Wada in eastern Japan may not win the hearts of many people due to their hunting of whales not on the protected list, they certainly can’t be accused of the same kind of hypocrisy. As like it or not they are legally allowed to do it — no spurious subterfuge needed.

Japanese whaling

Although that said, whether their recent butchering of a bottlenose whale is a suitable sightseeing spot for a school excursion is debatable to say the least.

Japanese whaling

Categorized: Current Affairs

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. karinaa says

    6/22/2007 at 9:17 pm

    thats just gross

    Reply
  2. Emma says

    6/23/2007 at 6:23 am

    That’s digusting. At least the kids can see where their meat is coming from rather than some UK kids never even seeing a cow in a field.

    Reply
  3. Bunny says

    6/23/2007 at 10:41 am

    “Papa.”

    “Yes, little Akira.”

    “Papa, when I grow-up…”

    “Yes.”

    “I want to be a whaler.”

    Reply
  4. an englishman in osaka says

    6/23/2007 at 6:58 pm

    “Don’t have nightmares, kids!”

    Reply
  5. morfikirler says

    6/23/2007 at 10:38 pm

    Hijyen yok be kardeşim.Olmadı şimdi.

    Reply
  6. guitarslinger says

    6/25/2007 at 1:46 pm

    Thats a lot of blood in that picture. Guess you would get used to it if you worked there, but i’d be curious to see what the children touring the facilities are thinking when they see all of that.

    Reply
  7. itsuker says

    6/26/2007 at 2:35 pm

    So~ what will the fishermen fish after the whales disappear? Never thought of that? They may be able to make a living right now, but what of their children?

    Reply
  8. Takechanpoo says

    6/30/2007 at 7:47 pm

    Hey gaijin dudes,
    I support opposing overfishing whales.
    Apparently Japan have been overfishing them compared to real demand. Unfortunately some part of hunting whale have become money sourse of YKZ.
    But aside from those, you gaijins never can blame eating whale itself or butchering whale itself. This is our culture.
    If you want to blame eating whale itself in Japan, dont eat meat of any kind of animal. You gaijins should notice your arrogance.
    Related to whether cruel or not, dont creat selfish standard arbitrarily.

    Reply
  9. i love WHALES says

    10/15/2007 at 11:05 pm

    THOSE ARE SURE SOME COOL PICS GEORGE! Its good the kids learn how to kill Whales so they wont be out of a job in 10 years like some americans.

    Reply
  10. Whales Should Be Saved says

    7/14/2013 at 1:36 pm

    this is strange. The Northern Right whales and the humpbacks, are getting extinct. I am not saying it’s Japan’s fault, but other countries are in the habit of whaling too such as Iceland and Norway…
    I’ve read other info about it’s Japan’s culture to eat whale’s meat ;( which is sad!

    Reply

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