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© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.Dolphin hunt film canceled in Tokyo after protests
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KumaNoPooh
This was an awesome movie. One of the best I have seen this year.
shufu
To be honest I didnt like the movie, I thought it was totally biased, however I think it should be shown. Refusing to show it because of nationalist pressure sends a stronger message than if they show it but nobody went.
Mikanojo
The protests are nonsense.. the killing of dolphins for food (or whales for that matter) as a matter of Nihonjin pride and tradition is senseless. It is indeed a tradition for this small village.. but it is a bad tradition, that needs to have ended many many years ago. The video needs 2 b shown through the internet - it is very understandable that a business would not want scandal and bad feelings toward them from their local public.. but the information DOES need to be told and exposed to the people of Nihon as well as the rest of the world and the killing of dolphins needs to end.
nylex4
cancelled due to protests....how predictable was this??
KumaNoPooh
After watching the movie, why do the Japanese go to great length to hide and lie about this if they claim there is nothing wrong about (I would say killing but that would be one or two dolphins)slaughtering dolphins. Normaly people who act like this no it's wrong to do this, but just continue on. I hope they all get mercury poisoning and pass it on to other generations and weed out the population by killing them off, like their doing to the dolphins.
Zenny11
Only cancelled at ONE cinema, they decided that they would make a loss by showing it and having protests outside = business decision.
shufu
mikanojo - who are you exactly to decide which Japanese traditions are good or "bad"? Its very easy to say that as someone looking in from the outside.
I don't think anyone has the right to decide which traditions are good or bad that except for Japanese people. Its not so easy to separate this tradition from daily life for the people of that town. But I do agree it needs to be shown, for people to make up their own minds about it. Although most people in Japan are not going to see this as terribly negative.
MistWizard
What? No obstruction of business charge? (snicker). Better check them for knives too! LOL!
KumaNoPooh
The movie also shows you how strong the Japanese Fishing Association (I mean the Fishing Yakuzya) is and how corrupt law enforcement is in Japan.
gaijinfo
Funny how the only thing Japanese will protest is anything that puts Japan in a bad light. Political corruption, child porn, unemployment, pollution, police incompetency, no problem.
But the threat of Japan not being held up as a perfect and unique society?
Take to the streets! Japan Pride!!!
kirakira25
There are many traditions around the world that may be part of historical culture but shouldn`t necessarily continue in a modern, civilised world.
In this case however I don`t know what theya re so afraid of. The idea of millions of Japanese getting up to protest...well...anything....is pretty laughable to me.
Mikanojo
@shufu: kyokugaisha? Gomen.. i am no outsider. I live in America now 3 years but i was born in Sapporo and spent most of mai early life there. I am saying that dolphin slaughter is wrong, period. I am also saying that there are many old traditions that we have come to learn were wrong, as we have grown as a culture and as humanity in general. Once dolphins were thought of as being fish.. later we learned they were not fish but mammals, and later still as we spent more time studying them we come to see that they are much more intelligent than had been guessed. They play games, like catch.. and make their own ring bubbles to swim through, they use tools such as shell bits to scrape each other clean, and sponges they hold in their snouts as bumpers when they dig.. we learned that they have a complex language that has more distinct sounds than any human language, and generally speaking, humanity as a whole has become aware that we share the world with other non-human cultures.. and MOST of us have come to respect those cultures.
Zenny11
kirakira25.
Won't be millions, just the usual fringe guys(which are small in numbers).
You get nutcases everywhere that will protest anything and make any cause their life-goal.
leonffs
Nothing unusual here. Japanese business will do anything to save face. Although now of course they just look like a bunch of cowards. For every 99 things I love about Japan there are things like this that just absolutely disgust me.
JeffLee
What are the "factual errors"?
stereoman
Are we talking about the film protesters or the dolphin hunt protesters?
Throughout this whole controversy, Tsutaya and other video rental chains must be licking their lips as this will mean more business when this movie FINALLY lands on video (and will be available to one and all).
Jbizzle
Cowards! I hate these nationalistic punks. True cowards...oh well...my girl really wants to see it, so do I. Somebody let me know when tsutaya gets it....
Zenny11
Just take her to to one of the cinemas that will show it.
Looks to me like people DON'T read articles fully, they just respond to the head-lines. ONLY one cinema cancelled the showing.
OssanAmerica
I don't personally approve of eating dolphins. But anyone who has spent any time in Japan knows it's a local thing. I don't approve of the way these film makers secretly filmed the Cove knowing full well their intent to paint the local people as monsters. I think it was cowardly and devious. So I'm not surprised that their action has caused friction beyond the subject matter and the black truck idiots have gotten into the act. This was all pretty predictable.
Disillusioned
It seems the truth can be a bitter pill to swallow for a lot of Japanese.
Mikanojo
Although i think the film definitely needs to be seen and openly discussed about, i do not feel any anger toward the Theater N Shibuya for choosing to remain separate from the political activist frenzy that is growing over this film. Some theaters may choose to show the film simply BECAUSE it is so controversial.. but when you are a business you must consider who your usual customers are. Being controversial in a way that could reflect hannichi (anti-Nihon) sentiments is rarely a good thing when you live and work in Nihon. In the article it also mentions where some of the faces of the fishermen were blurred out.. to avoid troubles.. that is a serious consideration. It is 1 thing i think, to watch strangers on a screen slaughtering dolphins.. it is quite a different effect if you were to recognize the killers as being family members, or your neighbors.. o_0 It could lead to incidents involving protesters who would go to the village just to cause troubles and as an excuse to harass the local fishermen.
Zenny11
Agree with Mikanojo.
One thing to see someone commit an act in a different country, another thing to see it was a neoghbour, etc.
bluefrog
Good one MistWizard.
This movie shines the light on a terrible situation. How many defenders of this "tradition" would also defend killing tigers for penis soup?
hokkaidoguy
I thought the reason was because they've only got one theater and no one would have gone to see it.
meloveulongtime
got my copy...the distributor sent out 100 free copies to Yokota residents because they cancelled it here on base at the base theatre. Must say it is a very troubling movie and I can see why Japanese want it to be cancelled...also it is not subjective. It is presented in a very honest, objective matter.
OssanAmerica
Except that the villages that hunt dolphin and people who eat it are so few that "alot" doesn't apply. Where "alot" probably does apply is that most Japanese don't like foreigners telling them what they can or cannot do in theit own country. No more than any one of would.
Now that's really disgusting. Ever try it?
dreamland
The truth hurts.
KyokoSmile
gaijinfo at 07:27 AM JST - 4th June
Funny how the only thing Japanese will protest is anything that puts Japan in a bad light. Political corruption, child porn, unemployment, pollution, police incompetency, no problem.
But the threat of Japan not being held up as a perfect and unique society?
I hail to this poster, for he has expressed nothing but truth! Kudos!
maryhinge
Meguro is very quiet now those thugs got their way. But I am sorry the film will not be shown now.
CoolCali
Why wait for the lame rentals which will probably be vandalized. Go watch it on Bestdocumentaries.com right now.
neko10
Total cowards for not showing this remarkable film!
kyoken
what a euphemism
smithinjapan
Ultimately it's the choice of the production company whether or not they end up viewing the movie, but I think they are cowards for giving in to these right-wing nuts so easily, and unfortunately it emboldens the right-wingers to keep on doing what they are doing.
More than that, though, why don't they start arresting these nuts? 'Protest' is one thing, but anyone who's been here for longer than a year or so knows what some of these idiots are capable of. And screaming into loudspeakers all day in the public isn't exactly protest. They are seeking to threaten and intimidate, not to mention obstructing business. But I guess when you have election cars doing the same thing you can't really start arresting the people responsible, now can you? :)
Zenny11
Yeah, once I got upset with one election car blaring away.
Shouted at them to "shush it" all I got in reply was "Thanks for listening". WTF. Granted those elections guys & right wingers have to quit at 20:00.
Said that it is up to each cinema to decide which films to show.
LFRAgain
This really says all that needs to be said about the intelligence and maturity level of these morons threatening protest.
OssanAmerica at 08:10 AM JST - 4th June,
Well said. The approach taken by activists wasn't very far removed from basically smacking the people of Taiji in the back of their head with a ball peen hammer. I'm no fan of the dolphin hunts either, but deceit is not exactly the best way to win friends and influence people.
herefornow
OssanAmerica -- nonsense. These folks making this film were not cowardly in any way. The cowards are the people of the village who try to intimidate anyone who wants to show the world what this wonderful "tradition" consists of. And, of course these morons in the trucks are also cowards, as they know how spineless most Japanese are, so they know they can intimidate legitimate busineeses into caving in to their threats. And, the final group of cowards is the Japanese police and government for allowing this kind of pseudo-Nazism to persist. If you recall, at the last Tokyo film festival, The Cove was shown, just one time, and all the press were herded into a staircase after the showing so they could not interview anyone in the audience to get a reaction. Great defense of free speech. The constitution here is a joke.
KobeKid
there are powerful economic interests that feel threatened by this film. It's not the dolphin meat, it's the sale of live dolphins all over the world that drives these hunts.
tkoind2
Nationalist dirt bags in this country are living in some fantacy world where Japan won WWII, where everyone sings nationlist songs while staring happily at the flag, and nothing ever happens that cannot be fully justified as "the Japanese Way."
This lot are no better than the right wing morons in Eastern Washington and Idaho who still think Hitler was a pretty cool guy.
I wish the real Japanese people would have more courage to tell this windbags to stop making so much noise and let others get on with their lives. Their threats and blackmail should not be tolerated.
I wish I owned a theater, I would screen this film today! Let the windbags come!
mrsynik
Let me guess, these nationalistic scumbags trotted out the "Canadians club seals" and "Ozzie's (sic) eat kanagroo" lines again as an excuse to legitimise their brutal slaughter of dolphins, and in term ban the showing of this film? They're so predictable it makes me sick.
Zenny11
WHEN was the film being banned? That is news that has NOT hit the media yet.
borscht
I believe I read that the filmmakers had to secretly film it not because they wanted show the dolphin hunters as monsters but because the dolphin hunters - backed by the police - obstructed their ability to film on national park land, which is always open to the public.
I fail to see why the dolphin hunters didn't want their national heritage/pride filmed by non-Japanese so that the entire world could learn about it. Isn't pride something to be, er, proud of?
vdokng
All this talk about hurting Japanese pride... The film points out something that many in Japan don't know about. It's informing people. While it is bias, it's a topic that should be discussed. The right wing nut jobs are always whining about something. You know what hurts Japanese pride more? A government that changes every year
tkoind2
vdokng. Here here!
sirgamble
What a farce, it's like canning to kill a mockingbird because people didn't like the message around the time. Not saying The Cove is anywhere near as good in terms of quality as a text, but it has a message, and I don't think things should be canned just because a vocal minority smells change and doesn't want it published.
If the Japanese people who don't like this are so proud, why don't they make their own documentary that portrays their feelings and views their practices in a more positive light? I'll watch that... and I can tell you, it's not gonna be banned in the USA, Australia, UK, Canada...etc just because people don't like dolphin hunting.
gogogo
It's not an attack on culture, stupid right wingers.
OssanAmerica
I disagree. If so, why did they have to film secretly? If the purpose was to bring the issue into the open among the Japanese people, then starting by effectively deceiving and betraying them is not the way to do it. I personally think that's the crux of the problem now and why the black truck morons are in the picture. Any "gaijin" camera crew in the Japanese boonies is probably now going to be looked upon with suspecion, even if all they are doing is filming temples.
muttinjapan
Right on tkoind2 This was a well made documentary that Japanese should be able to see - or not! - haven't we figured this out in the past 200 years, it's called free speech! If you don't like the film, don't watch it. They simply show the truth of what happens in Taiji (admittedly, the Japanese don't look very heroic in the film, but there are two local councilmen who stand up against the B.S. in Taiji and are very brave, people to celebrate) Whitewash everything from textbooks to films, that's the Japanese way! Very lame and very sad. If you read through history after WWII there was a real movement for change (not just the stupid slogan) and people were protesting and writing great stuff, making great films and questioning their soceity and the corruption, mostly in the 50s and 60s...what happened?!
OssanAmerica
Well after the way the villagers were just "secretly filmed" and made into monstrous villians for the world to hate, can you blame them? To them it's just a tradition and don't thnk anything of it.
Undoubtedly the black truck idiots are cowards. But the cowardly cove crew also took advantage of how naive and spineless Japanese villagers are.
Well there are KKK, Aryan Nation members here in the U.S. And there are Neo-Nazi groups in Germany. I suppose the constitution in these countries is also a joke? Obnoxious groups like these exist because of the constitution which permits their existence protects (even) their rights, not in spite of it. If you want a country where they would not be allowed to exist, try China. But just TRY to "secretly film" something there that they don't want you to.
2020hindsight
Can somebody tell me what happened? Is it one theater in Tokyo won't show it, but others will? Or the whole screening nationwide is canceled. Very unclear.
Zenny11
2020hindsight.
So far just ONE cinema that cancelled the movie.
Jbizzle
^^^ I don't live in Tokyo zenny. Thanks anyway...let's hope they screen the film in Fukuoka.
Zenny11
The movie was never BANNED in Japan.
They couldn't find a distributor for it, now one has been found and some cinemas agreed to show it.
One Cinema in shibuya cancelled their showings due to threatened protests and other threads via phone.
Only difference to overseas showing is that some faces will be blurred, etc. Footage is uncut as such.
Zenny11
jbizzle. Check your local cinema listings, some should show it.
It is not a major national release so check with cult-cinemas, etc.
MokiDugway
I'm all for showing the film, and find it a shame that rightwads have threatened the operators of the theatre.
But most of the non-Japanese folks so upset about the dolphin hunt are just self-regarding boobs. Dolphins are wildlife. Wildlife gets hunted, end of story. Are the dolphins being hunted endangered? That at least would be a legitimate objection. As it is, we have mostly comfortable, mostly white, mostly urban boobs getting upset while all around them are far bigger concerns, real atrocities in their own communities that they don't or won't look once, much less twice at.
In Hong Kong there is a population of Chinese white dolphins: they are truly threatened, endangered species due to pollution, loss of habitat, loss of food supply. But you know what? That wouldn't make for good cinema. Better to have some easily identifiable bad guys, like some Japanese fisherman, and a nice horrific set piece, like a bloody slaughter of (non-endangered) dolphins, to get the western audiences all worked up.
koiwaicoffee
What a shame.. the right wing still has the power to intimidate people and cancel one film.
Sadly,It doesn't matter if it's not shown because I guess no japanese would go to see it anyway.
Zenny11
Most of the japanese don't care about the dolphin hunt one way or the other.
And you can't live in japan without knowing about the dolphin hunt/Cove unless you never open a newspaper and don't watch or listen to the news on the Telly/Radio.
tokyotales
Smith - nail on head - again! ;)
cleo
Because the local dolphin-killers physically blocked and threatened with violence anyone trying to film in the open.
If anyone deceived 'the Japanese people' it was the dolphin-killers of Taiji who on the face of it sold their town as a cute, quaint place dedicated to the wonder of dolphins and whales ('We have a Whale Museum, and Whale Festivals - fun for all the family!'), while creating bloodbaths in a cove hidden behind blue tarpaulins and 'Keep Out' signs in a supposedly open-to-all National Park.
The black truck morons are of course 'obstructing business' and should be charged accordingly. I doubt that they would show much remorse in court.
herefornow
OssanAmerica -- that is by far your weakest defense of a post yet. Probably because you don't actually live here and see these issues first hand and how they play out. As others have pointed out, secrectly filming is not cowardly when authorities are making it virtually impossible to film in an open manner. Are the people who secrectly film the atrocities committed in countries like Burma and recently Thailand cowards? Or Russia? Or China? And, as far as your defense of the Japanese constitution is concerned, again, your obvious naivete on the reality of Japan is glaring. For while the constituion here may provide for certain rights, the actual laws to enforce those rights many times don't exist. Or the police and prosecutors refuse to enforce them. And, as evidenced by what happened at the film festival, freedom of the press can be re-defined as needed.
cleo
And are they allowed to 'obstruct business' with impunity?
ASUKA_RYO
The movie has been filmed in secrecy because it is like going to film a drug dealer....you cannot ask him "please let me film you while you sell the cocaine, thanks"..... I know, it is not unlawful to kill the dolphins but then the fishermen should not be ashamed of what they do, if it is such a noble thing. I agree that in the movie the faces should not be shown though. Problem is that the uyoku protect the fishermen, so it is not possible to "normally" film a documentary there.
And... It's always funny to see the double standards in this country.
The "uyoku" threaten protests (which are not real "protests" but are just "THREATS", you just have to listen to what they say....btw I live in Shinjuku and I see these clowns very often so I know what I talk about) but get NEVER arrested. Does somebody have seen an article about some arrest of uyoku ? I have not. (or at least they should be arrested more often than they are atm)
I just wait to hear: but the uyoku do not break the law. (laughing...."oh yes they do not".....ironic of course) Just to do an experiment, take some of the foreigners on this board, make them emulate the uyoku's behaviours (many videos with them threatening, insulting and pushing policemen, rofl) and then experience the love of the Japanese double standards.
Japan just needs to arrest that bunch of clowns and throw away the keys. Then I would have more respect for the law in this country.
Kevin Lee Brooke
Total horse$hit they cancelled it.
Kevin Lee Brooke
How spineless. Can't believed they caved.
sirgamble
All I can say is this... if whaling/dolphin hunting (which the movie calls the same thing) are really Japanese culture, then why isn't it something they are proud of?
Zenny11
Sirgamble and others.
What are you on about? The movie has NOT been banned or cancelled, what happended one cinema decided to not show it after they said they would.
One cinema don't make Japan nor a nation-wide cancellation/ban.
No-one is on about the US bases cancelling the movie either.
Damien15
What are they trying to hide? Could it be that even they are ashamed of what's being done? Aren't they affraid if this is known by general public, there will be an opposition? Their so proud culture will be questioned? Yabanjins!!
Zenny11
Damien15.
It is know by the general public, as it is common in the news in Japan. There is NO coverup or restrictions on the film being shown.
taj
Beautiful idea, Cleo! Charge the black van bastards with obstruction of business.
I've called the police on them a few times when they were disrupting my work while harassing a nearby company. The cops come with their microphones and decible-meters, but they can't really do much. "Everyone has the right to express their opinion; even these guys."
Long ago also tried siccing the cops on the electioneers, demanding that they measure noise levels and give them a fine, but have had even less luck with that. Recently I've started shouting sense as loud as I can while they slowly roll by spewing non-sense. They don't seem to notice, but I feel all the better for it.
stevecpfc
My wife and i forced the Osaka police to move on a bunch of these right wing black truck thugs when i said they were spouting hatred and offending myself and my wife.
They made them move and apologised for not removing them earlier. They took time to be "persuaded" to move though and seemed to feel it was their right to spout offensive filth.
These idiots are given too much leaway, so what if the have Yakuza connections. send out a message taht this stuff will no longer be tolerated ever.
Whatever anyone thinks of the film, people should not be terrorised by thugs and all threats by these idiots must be taken seriously and they must be punished.
NuckinFutz
What do you expect in a country with a disfunctional government and a populace that for the most part doesn't what the rest of the world thinks?
Mittsu
At least the message of "stop the movie" makes a change from the "give us our northern islands back".
smithinjapan
Ossan: "I disagree. If so, why did they have to film secretly? If the purpose was to bring the issue into the open among the Japanese people, then starting by effectively deceiving and betraying them is not the way to do it."
I'm a little torn on the 'filmed in secret' thing. I mean, I can understand someone doing something in secret to present a negative view of it, but at the same time, you have heard the mayor of Taiji say COUNTLESS TIMES, "Everything about the dolphin hunt is COMPLETELY open, and nothing is secret." If so, why did they have to film in secret, indeed! Fact is, they were blocked from making the footage. Now, if everything's so open, why are they blocked? Why are there always massive tarps up around the slaughter area?
What's more, you never really give an opinion either way about the movie being cancelled here. Are you for the cancellation or against it? Regardless of whether you like a controversial documentary about a certain topic or not, I personally think the people should have a right to see it and decide for themselves. Don't you? Or do you think they should just be told what the movie is, what it means, and about its contents by people who still think the Emperor is god and should be put back in complete power?
Ken Watanabe
The rights to go insane are really going "insane."
melonade
smithinjapan:
this little statement says a lot about the real issue at hand here. well put, I completely agree.
Zenny11
Again the movie is still being shown nationwide, so what's the Fuzz?
Can anyone tell me who "cancelled" or "banned" the movie nationwide?
IvanCoughalot
Mod - let's get this clear.
Have plans to distribute the movie been dropped (and therefore it cannot be seen in Tokyo, or has only one cinema decided not to show it?
Please clarify.
peachy871
ivancoughalot...according to the very first words of the article above, one theatre dropped it.
ttryu
I love to eat dolphin meat and whale meat and I am totally against anyone who tries to stop dolphin hunt. This movie is a smear campaign against dolphin hunt. Dolphin hunt is a PROUD Japanese tradition. This is just one of the many attempts by eco-terrorists to destroy another nation's culture heritage.
Peaceful_Man
Hmmm I am weighing up the ethics of someone who tries to stop a dolphin hunt with a movie, against the ethics of right wing protesters who try to stop a movie with threats and gaisen trucks.
IvanCoughalot
I love this proud tradition, which is so chest-puffin', tear-jerkin' traditional that a) nobody knew about it until the barbarians made this film and b) has to be carried out under media blackout and cover of tarpaulin.
Why would we want TV shows extolling this great tradition, when we can watch people cooking omelette every night and clapping?
Kapuna
Show the movie on NHK!
Zenny11
No-one watches NHK. :P
isthistheend
ttru, you "love to eat dolphin and whale meat"? Are you aware of the mercury levels in the former, and why there's a protective numbers game on the latter? Neither of these things matter one iota to you?
TigerDragon
Thank goodess they canceled it. I saw it on "epix" channel over here. It was full of lies and propaganda.
unrested
NHK was gunna play it but you pretended you didnt have a tv when they came to the door asking for 3000 yen!
Bholder
ethical and culturological considerations aside, the basic issue here is that supposed right to free speech of a dubious, fringe group is allowed to infringe on freedom of theaters to decide whether or not to show the movie and public right to information and freedom to decide themselves whether to see the flick or not.
i strongly feel that this sort of thing need to be outlawed and even more strongly suspect that in letter it might be so. coercion and threats have no place in civilized discourse and if the laws that are presumably there are not enforced we can be sure that one by one, more of these theaters will be forced to "reconsider".
as long as this is tolerated anyone can be the next victim, for whatever irrational reason some group of thugs chose to dislike you for!
chinpira
Q) Permission from Distributor Lionsgate and Director Louie Psihoyos to copy and distribute 200 DVDs of their movie "The Cove"?:
A) A few emails, links to this JT discussion and related news.
Q) 200 blank DVDS?:
A) 1559YEN
Q) Time to burn 200 DVD disks?:
A) About 24 hours on a single burner.
Q)The reaction of the right wingers as the movie is distributed free of charge to any passerby in their vicinity?:
A) PRICELESS
tmarie
Why are the police not offering protecting to the theater? That is what they should be doing - and these guys should be arrested if they were to start bothering movie goers.
Bholder
chipira - i like the way you think! you can count me in...
even though one may feel that someone really should be doing something about this finally, unless there is this sort of initiative it's all gone by the morrow.
my2sense
Just a heads up... There are Japanese pulling a lot of quotes from us (JT) on this particular topic. Not sure if its media related or some left wing anti gaijin thing.... Just letting you know many of your posts are being twisted, translated and posted elsewhere in Japanese and the web.
stevecpfc
my2sense, no surprise. Some right wing extremists who pretend dolphin are fish, the film is Japan bashing and they are victims etc, when they spit anti foreigner abuse on Japneseforums. The simple minded fools.
Nessie
Bingo.
Not entirely accurate. It is my understanding that you need permission to film in a public park, and they either didn't or couldn't get it. Even so, they were obviously singled out. I doubt they would have arrested Mr. Sansai-tori Oyaji for filming wild vegetables in a public park without a permit.
I also agree with what Cleo said, despite our different stance on the whaling controversy. We agree on civil liberties. If there are threats of violence, then the authorities should investigate.
my2sense
sorry guys--- that would be right wing.
bubzabub
There's no need to show a movie so ludicrously biased and full of inaccuracies in Japan.
yokomoc
lol, I think someone's posted this thread on 2chan. Welcome all loons!
IvanCoughalot
yokomoc - got a link?
wowowassy
Japan pride her self to be democratic nation and yet its no difference from Communist China or North Korea.. Media black out on some sensitive issue, and control what to be shown and what is not to be shown to the public... I say the movie should be shown to public and let the public decide!
ASUKA_RYO
It is a very complicate argument and my points are these:
1) to me traditions are very important and it is hard to really blame the Taiji fisherman, they are continuing a tradition and the dolphins are not endangered as a species (if they were endangered then it would be different though !). The planet survival is ABOVE any tradition.
2) My PERSONAL position is that I would like that those dolphins were not killed BUT I would feel an 'hypocrite' because to eat I also need many animals to be equally "killed"....and I love my yakiniku. So in a selfish way I would like the Taiji people to stop BUT I repeat it would be a selfish desire.
3) I also think that if somebody wanted to do a movie like the COVE they have all the rights to do it (but without showing the faces of people without consent). So the Cove has all rights to be shown, to be seen and to be distributed (without threats) but it also has to convey the truth and to protect the privacy of the people that are filmed.
4) The uyoku have no right at all to THREATEN people, they should be arrested for this. "Protesting" is one thing, "threatening" is another. Like in October when 2chan otaku/uyoku were threatening to "kill" gaijins. Arrest them and throw away the key. Police attitude must change.
5) "support for the film signals betrayal of Japanese pride" Stupid propaganda uyoku style. Laughable as always. Being proud of Japan is completely another thing. Even if I'm a foreigner I'm proud of Japan for its arts and beautiful things, for its traditions, the poetry and food, not for the propaganda that these fanatics spew out. Many of those uyoku are even more ignorant than gaijins about Japan (history, philosophy, arts, literature...) There is no pride in hate, violence, threats and militarism.
funkymofo
Care to explain to us the inaccuracies and bias?
MistWizard
I don't see why. You should be more concerned about how its all edited. As if those loons in Taiji would not "accidentally" do something to break your camera if given the chance. You know what camera's cost? Nobody lets you near slaughter with a camera. Test the theory anywhere.
presto345
The more screaming we hear and the more protests we see from zealots, the more public awareness will rise to something being wrong here. The film is all over the internet on file sharing sites. Very easy to download. The producers won't mind.
gogogo
I can't wait for the headline "Dolphin hunt canceled in Tokyo after protests"...
Why is that the people protesting the Dolphin hunt get arrested and harassed by police for obstructing business but the people protesting the Dolphin hunt film seem to win everytime?
genkimark
Japanese thugs- 1, Free Speech in Japan- Nil.
Trapped
Yappari!
OssanAmerica
It's not defense of anything.
It's a good bet I've spent more years in Japan than you have, on and off from the 70s.
Sure it's cowardly. If a foreign camera ctrew pulled the same thing in any little town USA, how do you think we'd respond?
You;re comparing REAL threats from totalitarian regimes. Do you think for a moment that filming in Japan is against the law? Or like every other democratic country, permitted provide you have permissionm NOT from the government but from the people you're filming?
If you are unable to understand that it is the extent to which the constitution permits and protects the rights of everyone, including groups we don't appreciate, then it's YOUR naivite that's glaringly exposed for all to see.
ASUKA_RYO
"...the constitution permits and protects the rights of everyone, including groups we don't appreciate..."
This sentence made me smile. Call it euphemism..... =)
So,by your words, it is OK to THREATEN OF DEATH, to use violence, to show fists,to scream into other people ears, to use loudspeakers at a forbidden sound level (forbidden by law) etc. (the list is long) These are the actions that people like you, Ossan, forgive with your words.
Uyoku's behaviour can't be forgiven, or understood. It's a criminal behaviour that just "happen" to be forgiven in Japan (yes, here laws are very elaaaaaaaaasssstiiiiic and may vary from case to case).
So please avoid to use too many euphemisms, it is NOT "groups we don't appreciate", it is "criminal" groups. You may say that they are NOT criminals but it doesn't change they ARE.
Then I DARE you to take the same behaviour and see what happens: push and shove policemen, shout on loudspeakers and punch people that try to protest against you. If it is not a criminal behaviour then you should not be arrested. =) 楽しみにしています。I'm looking forward to see it. May I film it ?
kwatt
there are surely some people who don't like the movie on theaters around here. Most Japanese don't mind the movie because they don't kill them and not eat, but in a little country town they eat them, not sell for business. I wait for the rental.
TigerDragon
Have any of you even seen this film? Its full of propaganda and distortions of the truth. And yes I've seen the film.
guest
ASUKA_RYO at 10:39 PM JST - 4th June
WOW I LIKE YOU. YOU SPEAK THE TRUTH!!
Perfect post, you said every thing that I was thinking but didn't know how to say.
OssanAmerica
Call it whatever you like but I doubt you can call it inaccurate.
Please how me where I said any of the above. You are "putting words" into my mouth.
Not in the slighest. Actions, criminal or otherwise have not even been discussed.
You're entitled to your opinion. And since I'm not even addressing the actions of any particular group, merely their "unfortunate" but undeniable "right" to exist under a constitution, I hoinedstly couldn't care less.
Please do not dictate to others what words they may or may not use. Again that too is something protected by the constitution, is it not? Criminals should be prosecuted as treated as criminals when they conduct criminal acts. You seem to have a problerm with wanting to write people's posts for them and decide what they are saying. Bad habit.
You can go dare someone who cares. As it seems you have your panties in a knot over the activities of the Black Truck idiots, I suggest that you work on getting the laws of your country changed so that driving around being loud and obnoxious, etc. is a chargable crime. I dare YOU to do something more constructive than telling people on a message board what words they can or cannot use.
Ken Watanabe
They have the rights as long as they don't kill or hurt ordinary people.
MrDog
I see 2 more cinemas have cancelled now.
ASUKA_RYO
"They have the rights as long as they don't kill or hurt ordinary people."
Ahhhhh, ok. Now it is clear.
Nessie
They don't have the right to threaten violence--not the legal right, and certainly not the moral right.
steam
This is great! Let's hide the truth, stay ignorant. The japanese way!
ASUKA_RYO
Ossan,
my country is Japan lol. And here, in my country, the law establishes a limit on speakers' volume that uyoku always break.
So I wonder, why do not they get stopped and fined ? Do not think too hard.
By the way there are laws against pushing and shoving the policemen, against beating people around etc. So, you see, it is not a problem of laws, it's a problem of upholding them fairly.
And lastly: freedom is hostage of these "groups we don't appreciate"TM, they can do whatever a common Tanaka san cannot, lest a foreigner.
sf2k
That's for me and others to find out for themselves, like any other movie in a free democracy.
sf2k
why are there no anti hate laws in Japan? That's the real message here, that the police can't do anything about uyoku or their protesters. Like the KKK in the 60s. The distributors have a legal right to show the film, so let them. Making this out to be a great film may not be warranted for some, but let them choose. Denying people from seeing it only reinforces Japan to be an ignorant backward country.
OssanAmerica
Then I suggest you do something about it. Make noise, stand up for yourself, start a grass roots action. I know that some "boryoku dan" groups have been ousted from their premises in some parts of Japan by action taken by the surrounding neighbors.
Sounds like you have a mission.
I can't think of a single democracy where there doesn't exist problems of this sort. But I can tell you that remaining silent and doing nothing about it does nothing. Complaining about it on a board read by foreigners doesn't do anything either.
And they will continue to so until the people make their voice and position heard. Loud enough that politicians will feel that not listening will hurt them politically.
KobeKid
It's quite obvious that Ossan hasn't seen the film, so yes how tiresome.
Two more theaters have cancelled the film, one in Ropppongi and one in Osaka.
kwatt
Uyoku's demonstration is legal action in Japan, so there is nothing police can do about it as long as they do not break the law. Movie theaters should not stop showing the movie in public. It should be on schedule if theaters think freedom of expression/knowing.
Nessie
I feel for you Ossan. Rationality does not enter the picture when dealing with some of these posters.
The police are enbling the uyoku, and the theaters are gutlessly caving.
BurakuminDes
I have not yet seen the movie - but I'd love to rock up to a cinema if there happened to be some of these thugs protesting! Gonna try and go the big gaijin, black-van cowards? Good luck! LOL
OssanAmerica
It's quite obvious that you haven't read a thing I wrote. The contents of the film were never discussed.
KobeKid
from comments about "cowards" on this thread to comments about the levels of cruelty involved in how the fisherman kill the dolphins on other threads about this topic, it's obvious that you haven't seen the film.
michaelqtodd
Today is World Oceans Day. I am in Hong Kong attending the premiere of Sharkwater the Movie. Sharks,whales and dolphins are not food. The Cove helps people to understand this and if we start treating them like they are then the food chain in the oceans will be broken.Just from this perspective the movie is a must see
From the point of view of freedom of expression this kind of action by the Japanese Police/ government sets and extremely dangerous precedent
OssanAmerica
In your opinion. Anything that humans eat is food. I personally object to the eating of dogs in parts of China and Korea, but I'm not going to be telling the people there that it's not food.
nandakandamanda
We are the greatest predator the world has ever known. The question is how gently we can live on this planet. Do we really have to be the bull in the china shop, smashing left and right, or can we walk through the shop with a minimum of damage to the carpet.
The Uyoku have a right to demonstrate, but they have warned that they will make the demonstrations so loud and unruly that the neighbors will complain to the Police, not about the Uyoku, but about the cinema which didn't cave in and brought all this trouble. Ever the way....
Anyway I haven't seen the Cove, but Japan does not react well to head on attacks. Was there no other way of making this flick other than forcing people's backs up?
Kevbodian
I'm confused. Title says protests but first paragraph says threats of protest. I'm pretty sure that means protests never actually ocurred.
Icewind007
Why would a protesting movie not be shown because of protests?! And why would this at all reflect on Japanese pride or the Japanese as a whole? What small percentage that actually use any product of this practice feel that is represents the Japanese people as a whole?
In any case, if they aren't hurting the ecology and they kill the animals with accepted humane means, then there's no problem. If they are, then I'd understand why this movie means anything. (however, I don't know if this is true or not)
Just because dolphins have been given this "majestic, beautiful creature of the sea" title from movies and shows, there should be no reason to consider them different from any other source of meat.
KeikoTokyo
I find it so sad/embarressing that we claim freedom of speech, yet while right-wing groups preach, while others trying to conduct their lawful business are put out of business by them, yet we pursue Interpol to arrest foreign activists on the same charge? Yet we do not enforce this same law at home?
Hurtado
Haha sensitivity!!! Dolphin tastes good whats the big problem?
Ken Watanabe
Consumerism and liberal democracy corrupting citizenship in Japanese society. Welcome to the brave new world!