Start of Taiji hunting season for dolphins, small whales postponed due to storm

I used to turtle hunting with the local on Groote Eylandt. On one occasion They speared a 4.5 metre saw fish. Meanest looking fish I have ever seen. They give me the rostrum 1.4m long and they decorated it with dreamtime story of our for Magpie geese hunt from another time.

This is a disgrace on the reputation of Japan. If it's some great part of traditional culture, let's all watch it, like Kabuki or manga. Be proud of it.

But no.

They know the world is repulsed by it so they stick up blue tarpaulins and arrest anyone who tries to report on it.

It didn't even start until 1969.

This is not culture. It is bloody barbarism.

I am generally pro whaling or rather, anti one culture telling another what they should and should not eat. However, the animals being slaughtered should be dispatched in the quickest and least suffering way. After witnessing the Taiji "hunt", this is not the case. Bloody barbarism is a fairly accurate description.

They know the world is repulsed by it so they stick up blue tarpaulins and arrest anyone who tries to report on it.

They certainly do not arrest anyone who tries to report (much less actually reports) on it.

Furthermore, whalers cannot arrest anyone.

The world is repulsed by this unnecessary cruelty and all for what, a letting of blood lust. Japan is a great country but this doesn't reflect well just like the pointless killing of bulls in Spain.

While I don’t support this slaughter it is their culture. However, the wonton slaughter of these dolphins every year without quotas and caps will result in there being no more dolphins for them to hunt.

Their culture - their rules.

Their culture - their rules.

We hear this quite a lot. I've never seen anyone proudly say 'My culture, My rules' about this or whaling.

Seems even people who approve of this sordid part of Japanese 'culture' are keen to distance themselves from it.

I can't really blame you for doing so either. It's appalling and I think you know it.

It's crazy to think that dolphin hunting and whaling, which have been practiced since ancient times, are despicable. Back then, there was no beef or pork, and whales and dolphins were a valuable source of nutrition. That is a culture unique to Japan.

And it's culture all over the world too.

Even Europe and America whaled in the past, and it's white people's fault that endangered whale species appeared as a result of that.

Saying that whaling should be stopped because the numbers have decreased, or that enclosure whaling is cruel, are just one-sided feelings, and I think forcing this on Japanese people is just discrimination.

Good hunting!

That is a culture unique to Japan.

It really isn't.

Sorry, but the argument that 'We still do cruel things in our culture so shut up' doesn't work with me. I'm free to say what I want about cruel cultures

in my culture.

My culture, My rules.

I hope a devine wind intervene next week

Some time ago (link below), two politicians from Taiji moved to prevent dolphin or pilot whale meat from being served to schoolchildren in Wakayama. So describing this as "their culture" is not so straightforward.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2007/08/01/environment/taiji-officials-dolphin-meat-toxic-waste/

John-san

What makes you think I am American?

And how can something which started in 1969 be “culture” in a country with such a long history as Japan?

Also, if this slaughter is “culture “ why are we not allowed to watch it? Why must it be hidden behind blue tarpaulin?

This massacre shames Japan.

It's already proven they mix the whale and dolphin meat with regular fish meat for sale because it's so unpopular by itself.

I hope that storm continues, or some force majeure continues to hamper whaling activities. Ganbare, mother nature. Japan is a great country, but like all things, they have their dark side. This is one of them.