Monday 24 August 2009

Japan ploughs on with its defence of whale hunting



Thank you for your coming to our web page. We established this page to share the idea of the sustainable use of marine resources with people as many as possible.

As recognized from the page title, the main contents of this page are about the sustainable use of marine resources, especially, cetaceans. Cetaceans are one of the most important marine resources not only for human being but also for all other creatures. These marine resources are complicatedly connected to each other, and then proper managements of cetaceans are critical to keep marine ecosystem healthy. Cetaceans also contribute to our cultural life and economic activities directly and indirectly. You can enjoy great taste of whale meat as well as can enjoy whale watching. Therefore, we are caring all environmental issues concerning cetaceans such as the natural environment, social environment and economic environment. In these contexts, we, the Whaling Section of Japan, understand that only the sustainable use of marine resources can satisfy these aspects.

We realize that the earth be shared by all creatures including human being, not dominated by only a specific group of countries or creatures. It is our brief that we should respect each other, getting over the difference of culture, ethic groups, species, etc. in order to achieve the sustainable world. It sounds difficult? No, it is very simple. Just start recognizing our world is not only for a group of people but also for every creature, regardless the difference of smartness, physical abilities, etc. Why not start with us - the Whaling Section of Japan?

From the Embassy of Japan in Australia:

In Japan, whales have been caught and utilized as food for more than 2 thousand years. The culture of food and eating habits has been formed in the course of history under the specific environment of each country or each location even within a country. People in Australia have made use of many creatures such as cattle, kangaroos and rabbits, or like Hindus, other cultures have never had beef.
We believe it is not appropriate to lightly condemn the behaviors of others as bad, barbarous or primitive, or rather there should be an attitude of respect for the cultures and habits of different cultures.

Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research - media kit, July 2009

1 comment:

Unknown said...

The information provided by the Japanese is 'short on the truth'. Before WWII not many Japanese actually ate whale meat. Only after they were virtually left to starve after WWII did they really get into large scale whale hunting.
The fact is that they are not doing research whaling but commercial whaling. Before the zero quota in 1986 Japan did very little research and even know the IWC condenms it's so-called research as uneeded and less than useful. Non-lethal research has provided much more useful data than Japan has ever done.
I don't buy anything Japanese.