Japan to tighten controls on ivory market amid int'l criticism

Name and shame companies and their CEO's.... clearly illegal yet nothing is done?

They have done virtually nothing since 1990, so what will they start doing now. Hankos or seals are engrained in the national psyche, with elaborate ivory ones a status symbol for VIPs, corporate bosses and talents.

My favorite part of this picture is the guy pointing at the writing on the tusk with his middle finger. Every time I mention that Japanese people tend to point at things with their middle finger they strongly deny it. This is another example.

Japan has been an utter disgrace when it comes to ivory!

Here is to hoping the end is NEAR!

So while other countries were burning it to discourage trade, Japan was actually still making items out of it, and this goes on thirty years later, really is a hard country to love

They do know that the whole Elephant dies, and the tusk is removed with a chain saw, and at the end of the day ivory and plastic are very similar

2.4 tonnes of ivory... How many elephants' faces were hacked off in order to get that pretty little hanko in people's hands?

This is one point where Japan loses face big time, along with the hapless elephants.

Only under international criticism does Japan change

Japan will tighten controls on its internationally maligned ivory market in July

Internationally criticized. To malign means to smear or unfairly criticize with spiteful intent.

They have done virtually nothing since 1990, so what will they start doing now. Hankos or seals are engrained in the national psyche, with elaborate ivory ones a status symbol for VIPs, corporate bosses and talents.

They can use synthetic ivory, like other countries do.

You know this is embarrassing when even China has done much more to combat illegal ivory trading.

as usual Japan is incapable of reforming from within, it has to be shamed up by the outside world for action to be taken. Backward nation on many levels.

So while other countries were burning it to discourage trade, Japan was actually still making items out of it, and this goes on thirty years later, really is a hard country to love

Since the animals are long gone burning the ivory seems wasteful especially because the poachers will already have been paid.

I can still go down to my local Hanko shop (name stamp) and get an ivory stamp made in 15 minutes. There are so many of these little hanko shops selling ivory stamps I sincerely doubt if their ivory is registered.

Since the animals are long gone burning the ivory seems wasteful especially because the poachers will already have been paid.

When I see their beautiful tusks burn, I feel a similar pang. But I know that unless they destroy them the trade will continue and so will the poachers.