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Minister denies Japan is hotbed of illegal ivory exports

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Environment Minister Masaharu Nakagawa said, "We have been bolstering distribution management in the market and taking necessary measures," following a call by the wildlife trade monitoring body TRAFFIC of the conservation group WWF to shut the market.

Which is double talk for, "Yeah we trade illegally but this is Japan and we do things OUR way."

6 ( +15 / -9 )

Oh for Pete's sake, ivory too??

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Netsuke is a popular collection item for Americans, if they stop selling and buying them, it will discourage the ivory smugglers.

-8 ( +8 / -16 )

see ivory everyday. don't see elephants every day.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Netsuke is a popular collection item for Americans, if they stop selling and buying them, it will discourage the ivory smugglers.

So it's not the hanko trade then? It's those Americans buying their netsuke that keep the Japanese ivory trade going.

Really?

8 ( +14 / -6 )

2.42 tons of Ivory illegally exported, that's a lot of dead elephants. And the minister claims there is no problem? Don't worry about the elephant in the room, it's actually the mountain of dead elephants you will notice first.

5 ( +13 / -8 )

Another one of those Japan does not simply give a hoot.

7 ( +13 / -6 )

"Nakagawa did acknowledge some cases in which Chinese people purchased ivory in Japan and took it abroad..."

Yeah, we do it... but it's not OUR fault! We have no choice! What? Oh... yes... I did just admit it... well, stop attacking our culture!

3 ( +15 / -12 )

This,

Minister denies Japan is hotbed of illegal ivory exports

Plus this,

seizure records showed unlawful exports of ivory from Japan totaled 2.42 tons between 2011 and 2016.

Plus this,

Japan insists on keeping open its market, arguing the proposal does not apply to it.

Equals, TIJ!

Is it just me or do other people see a regular pattern in Japan's international persona?

6 ( +15 / -9 )

Japan proving to be eye rollingly mundane and barefaced as ever.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

Japan getting something wrong, AGAIN! For drying out loud Japan, do something RIGHT for once, its good for you & your country DOH!!

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

I saw plenty of ivory items in my two-month travel around Japan, this past October-November. If I had wanted a piece (and I didn't) I knew it was illegal to bring home, in spite of the fact it would easily have gone through customs and immigration.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Disillusioned: "Is it just me or do other people see a regular pattern in Japan's international persona?"

Definitely NOT just you.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Japanese exceptionalism should come as no surprise to anyone who has moved here from abroad. I find it tedious in the extreme.

@bungle - as at the current time, you don't have the same half-dozen or so down-votes that everyone else has who has made comments slightly critical of Japan's ivory trade.

In fact, your total up-votes are as many as everyone else's up and down votes added together.

I wonder whether your comment is being misinterpreted by Japanese readers as a positive comment about Japan.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

"We want to closely monitor the situation and take further measures if controls need to be strengthened

Nothing needs to be further monitored. The domestic market needs to be closed.

China, the world's largest consumer of ivory, followed up by declaring the closure of its domestic ivory market by the end of 2017. But Japan insists on keeping open its market, arguing the proposal does not apply to it.

China showing up Japan yet again.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Netsuke is a popular collection item for Americans, if they stop selling and buying them, it will discourage the ivory smugglers.

I'm certain that Americans are the drivers of Japan's ivory market.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Summary of article:

"Yeah, please put all the blame on the Chinese. We only sell the stuff."

3 ( +6 / -3 )

"We want to closely monitor the situation and take further measures if controls need to be strengthened."

i.o.w. We won't do a damn thing.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

I think it is very interesting in this site to see how the voting goes, especially on threads that are likely to be critical of Japan.

To suggest that Japan might be a bit myopic and selfish when it comes to the ivory trade seems to draw out a core group of down-voters.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The report is not asking the Japanese government's opinion on whether there is a problem. It is asking for the Japanese government's help in solving the problem.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

This man, the environment minister no less, misses the point and an opportunity. He is concerned about illegal exports, but seemingly not concerned about imports, legal or illegal and where ivory comes from. Instead, immediately on the defensive like he has a clue and blaming Chinese tourists. In this day and age, where ordinary folks in developed countries are shunning ivory and as environment minister, he should discourage the trade in and the use of ivory by educating the people here. Which shouldn’t be necessary in the first place, if one possesses just an inkling of common sense.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Maybe he wants to explain the shops that were (Or still are?) in Akihabara, with huge boxes full of ivory items?

And how about the shops that are still selling endangered turtle shell trinkets like ashtrays, glasses, etc? If you go to Amami Oshima you can find shops still selling shamisen plectrums made out of endangered sea turtle shell and they have big stocks of them.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

First give the game wardens in Africa proper equal weaponry to ambush the bloodthirsty illegal poachers. This should be total war, not some feeble retreat and monitor.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Can't we come up with better breeding technologies to increase Elephant population? Since there seem to be enough appetite and market demand for ivory, we should perhaps think about such possibility like we do for some other animals and fishes. No?

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Can't we come up with better breeding technologies to increase Elephant population? Since there seem to be enough appetite and market demand for ivory, we should perhaps think about such possibility like we do for some other animals and fishes. No?

No.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

nandakandamanda - First give the game wardens in Africa proper equal weaponry to ambush the bloodthirsty illegal poachers. This should be total war, not some feeble retreat and monitor.

What a great idea. You should go there and risk your life. Don't just send proper weapons to the game wardens, bring them the weapons, and join in the hunt for human beings. Human beings who would equally armed. After all, talk is cheap, but this is your chance to become a real hero of whatever movement you support.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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