Japan will never stop whaling: minister

Sending children to work in coalmines and sweatshops used to be a cultural tradition in the U.K. Just because something has a "long cultural tradition" doesn't always mean it has a divine right to continue. However, the above comment by Tony is correct in that, even though the vast majority of its population no longer eats the stuff, Japan is going through some kind of self-assertion stage and outside pressure on this issue is only going to work against its aims to stop whaling.

Whaling has long been part of traditional Japanese culture, so I just would like to say ‘please understand this is our culture' Doesn't say much for a Harvard education, if this is all he can come up with to justify it.

One of the reasons Japan continues to hunt whales is precisely because other countries kick up such a stink about it. Japan won't be dictated to by non-Japanese. If there were no international furore, Japan probably would have ceased whaling years ago, for purely economic reasons.

Since when has using sophisticated tracking systems, explosive harpoons and hunting in Antartica been a part of 'Japanese tradition', typical arrogant politition crap. Next time there is a disaster in Japan my money will go to Sea Shepard and not to the thieving Japanese government.

At no time does he mention how much of that mercury laden goodness ends up on his dinner table. Hmmm....

Until there are no more whales left. same as eating maguro sushi......

Hope he doesn't go for a swim, someone's likely to put a harpoon in him !

Japan is an island nation surrounded by the sea, so taking some good protein from the ocean is very important.

Yeah, and that is why the oceans around Japan are desserts full of huge jellyfish. Japan does have a tradition of whaling, but they also have a tradition of raping everything from an environment until it is gone and then moving onto another area. They are like parasites or locusts plundering the oceans with no regard for conservation.

I say...let Japan hunt whales... only not hunt whales in INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WHALE PRESERVE WATERS.

I doubt ancient Japanese Whalers ventured that far south for a catch.

Let Japan hunt whales that cross into their waters. Eskimos are allowed to hunt whales by using ancient traditional methods, and no other. Japan should follow suit. Culture preservation comment noted, reviewed and acknowledged.

End of story. No one can argue that.

If he really wants to keep this "Japanese culture" going, keep it going ONLY in Japanese waters, and go back to whaling culturally the way it used to be, with manual harpooning in long boats with no technology onboard.

“a cultural attack, a kind of prejudice against Japanese culture”

The guy doesn't even bother to pretend it's for science.

"Japan is an island nation surrounded by the sea, so taking some good protein from the ocean is very important. For food security I think it’s very important. We have never said everybody should eat whale, but we have a long tradition and culture of whaling."

Show me when and where that 'very long tradition of science' began in the Southern Ocean.

Pathetic. And yet he still hides behind the loophole.

Japan is an island nation surrounded by the sea, so taking some good protein from the ocean is very important.

Why are people in the UK, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Hawaii, New Zealand, Auastralia, Taiwan, Jamaica, Bermuda, etc etc not all whaling for this same reason? By the way, regular fish have protein as well.

Yakuza rules this country, because regular folks are too affraid to raise their voices. Even when the whaling is loosing money year after year, even when last whale restaurants are closing their doors, even when there are 100's of tons of untouched whale meat in cold storage, even when considerable portion of the aid collected for tsunami victims given to whalers, Japanese folks will not raise their voice. Yakz knows this and that is how they make these kinds of statements. We'll see I guess.

Japan is an island nation surrounded by the sea, so taking some good protein from the ocean is very important. For food security I think it’s very important. We have never said everybody should eat whale, but we have a long tradition and culture of whaling.*

This comment is exactly same as the one you heard from supporters of whaling decades ago... I wish I could hear more substantial commnets from the Minister.

It's like a broken record listening to this illogical nonsense,,,,,,,,,,

Whaling has long been part of traditional Japanese culture, so I just would like to say ‘please understand this is our culture.

Yup, Every morning I watch at the window as the fleets of whaling boats make their traditional foray into the ocean to engage in their "longstanding cultural tradition"

but wait, I thought that this is "research" not "hunting". Which one is it? If the REASON claimed for hunting whale is for "science" perhaps the fisheries minister should be more selective with his words? It's utterly contradicting the claimed purpose of whaling no?

long tradition... 68 years or so doesn't seem like THAT long of a tradition for a country with as much history as Japan.

hilarity.

Jesus Christ, any observation about Japan that isn't 100% positive is seen as anti-Japan. Anything of a questioning nature gets the same old 'But you don't understand out culture!!' pulled out every single time.

" Hayashi, a graduate of the prestigious Kennedy School at Harvard University who first entered parliament in 1995, said in fluent English: “Whaling has long been part of traditional Japanese culture, "

And at the prestigious Kennedy School at Harvard University, they taught him that sending high-tech factory ships with satellite communication, sonar, and explosive harpoons half around the world to the arctic is "traditional Japanese culture"? Come again? Exactly how old is this "tradition"?

(scratching my head)

“Japan is an island nation surrounded by the sea, so taking some good protein from the ocean is very important. For food security I think it’s very important. We have never said everybody should eat whale, but we have a long tradition and culture of whaling.

“So why don’t we at least agree to disagree? We have this culture and you don’t have that culture,”

Pathetic... I live on an island, and we once hunted whales... now we don't, and we never will again. This constant banging on about culture is becoming silly now. I know.... towards the end of the ice age, when Britain was being colonised my ancestors hunted mammoths and woolly rhinos... so should I go to Africa and hunt elephants and rhino? Hey, it's part of my ancient culture.... Sounds stupid? Yep, and so does this moron's excuse for continuing to hunt whales.

Get out of the Showa era time bubble.

Whaling is a failing industry that only continues with tens of millions of Yen of tax payers money. It hunts and kills far more whales that it can sell. There is still 6,000 tons of last year's hunt unsold. Eighty-seven percent of the Japanese population do not eat whale meat, so how is this a cultural matter? It serves no useful Scientific purpose for a country already dangerously overloaded with debt. So explain to me why is this archaic, unsupportable industry forcing the Japanese taxpayers to keep it alive. Has it been taken over by the Yakusa?

While Japan reaseaches , the South sea looking for whales , China is Reaseaching near Japan islands,,,

an Eye for an Eye ?

“Japan is an island nation surrounded by the sea, so taking some good protein from the ocean is very important. For food security I think it’s very important. - See more at: http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/japan-will-never-stop-whaling-minister#sthash.E3uy1dPo.dpuf

So what part of sending a whale killing fleet to the other side of the world does that fall under?

CH3CHO: "Those who are against whaling are the people who are too afraid to face the fact that there are enough whales"

This is one of the funniest arguments I've read in a while. Only a moron needs to kill something to count it and say it was alive, to claim it's tradition immediately after claiming it's for science, etc. Hayashi doesn't know what it is to be tradition.

Japan is an island nation surrounded by the sea, so taking some good protein from the ocean is very important.

Then why don't you do it around that ocean that surrounds you? But no you gotta go down to almost Australia to do it.

If we go back further into cultural history there was a time when humans ate other humans for their high protein content too, but societies the world over have agreed to give up that practice. So I continue to hope that the Japanese people can agree to give up the killing and eating of our mammalian relatives the whales too. They are not fish!

This minister's statement is misleading. Japan most certainly will "cease" (temporaily stop) all whaling if doing so is necessary to allow stocks to replemish so that whaling can be resumed again. This is exactly what the IWC 1986 Moratorium is all about and what Japan's research whaling concerns

Ossan,

Japan has NO CREDIBILITY in this regard, just look how Japan chases tuna, squid, octopus to every sea/ocean there is, decimating & heavily depleating populations on the way.

And then they do what.......................go to catch more!

Oh and toss eels onto that list of things that Japan is hunting towards extinction, Japanese not very good with limiting their consumption, they have proven umpteen times they are simply UNABLE to conserve any marine resource.

Going to the Antarctic is way beyond absurd!

"Research" has now become a japanese "Culture",it seems.

What you're saying is that technology cannot be used to further already existing practices.

No! What the planet is saying is, you cannot use technology to exploit the progress of other nations. Japan NEVER had a tradition of hunting whales in the southern oceans, so their argument is moot! Let them hunt whales in the seas around Japan, but stay out of the southern oceans cos that is not tradition. It is exploitation and theft on a grand scale!

What does him going to Harvard have to do with anything and whaling??? Zuckerberg also went to Harvard - nonsense filler

anyways.. if whaling is tradition, then they should do it in the traditional boats that used to float up and down the coast. Pretty sure 1600's Japan wasn't trolling the arctic for whales in the name of science. If they just came out like Norway and Iceland and not under false pretenses...

They'll probably hunt the whales to get a total number, and realise they've killed them all so they can find out how many there are...

Just pay for them to not fish.

There is “a long historical tradition about whaling”, he told AFP

America had a long history of whaling as well, but we got over it.

That said, there are some whales I have no problem with harvesting - the Minke whales in particular. Right now I would rather Japan be harvesting Minke whales - which are not threatened - than bluefin tuna which IS threatened.

Talking of tuna, it is Atlantic blue fin tuna that is endangered, which is caught mainly by Europeans and Africans. Do not blame Japan for what non-Japanese do.

ch3cho,

True, BUT do you know where most of the tuna ends up.............................JAPAN!!!

And the reason why African & Europeans catch is because like everyone they want to make a buck, BUT they sure as hell arent going to watch Japanese factory ships catch tuna right off their coasts & get nothing for it! THATS why they are in on it, but make no mistake its Japans ravenous comsumption of tuna that have wrecked stocks worldwide!!

@ineedboot yep you have your slab of mercury, Ill donate some more cash to the bringers of pain SS. LOL

This kind of attitude in Japan has always made me sick....maguro and unagi get red listed and what does everybody do? eat as much of it as they can! I am doing my part and not consuming them. I love Unagi and Maguro so I want to be able to eat it again some day! Not fish it into the ground and never taste it again like the Japanese seem to want to do. I agree with everything everybody else said about fishing in international waters and not fishing traditionally.

The only thing I can say about this is, " Swiper No Swiping, Swiper No Swiping !!!! "

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AarHxXD_vKY

You mean to tell me that even if there are no whales Japan will continue whaling? Now that is the true meaning of Gambatte Kudasai!!!

@Go Go Go. Exactly right. He just admitted to it. Well, there are some Websites and Facebook sites promoting a boycott of Japan Inc till the slaughter stops. One of them sells anti-whaling T-shirts, Boycott T-shirts. I did my part and shared those sites with my Facebook friends. Basically what this guy is doing is confirming Japan's insult to people's intelligence. Like we do not know any better. Yes, maybe you feel like hunting. But when your hunting causes these animals to stop coming to my nation's waters because you did not give them a chance to make it, then we, (the rest of the world), demand for you to reduce or stop your activities. Imagine when migratory birds come to your neighborhood and you enjoy their chirps. But then one of your neighbors starts shooting them, every year less come back until they stop completely. Would you not be concerned about your neighbor's activities causing this problem? For Japanese, there is a problem only when the situation is not to their benefit or advantage. Like the Diaoyu island is not a problem, but Dokdo and Southern Kuriles are problem. Futenma is a problem but not Iruma Air Base, etc.

The whale meat indu$try must be big and poweful. Otherwise, the politicians wouldn't back them like this.

Whale's mercury exceeding many times the Japan health department allowable amount so eating this animals is not very healthy and is more about tradition then nutrition.

Australia and New Zealand in particular, voice outrage over Japan’s annual expeditions in the Southern Ocean, which the International Whaling Commission considers a sanctuary for the ocean giants.

A naive question. So why don't Australia and New Zealand do something about it?

A big thank you from the people of Australia and New Zealand

I can see you are some kind of representative of not one but two nations.

In doing so you have saved the lives of around 900 whales

And what for? There are at least 500,000 of the useless big flubbers.

radiation free rice yield to send home

I can assure you there is plenty of that already here. Nice gesture though. How about making the scheme of a scale of several thousand farmers?

The salmon tonnage from farming here are huge

What, aren't you worried about saving their lives?

One has to wonder how this buffoon got into Harvard.

@Bad2Dbone yeah China recently place buoys near the disputed islands, they claim its for research. Im starting to believe they may have a claim now.

Japan flouted international condemnation about there military buildup before the second world war. the rest is history

@ineedboot comon you making it like youve got the moral high ground and a superior intellect. pleeeease you chow down on that lump of blubber Ill have some nice chicken or some fish. your kitchen never too hot for me boots. LOL

If the Japanese public really understood how their tax money is misused to support whaling, which never had a long tradition, they would be supporting the anti-whalers. There is huge stockpile of unwanted whale meat that is growing every year. There is no research that justifies the whale hunt. Furthermore, there is are few people who want to eat whale meat. And furthermore, whale meat is full of dioxins. You should not eat it.

What is whaling except pork barrel politics, something that the rotten and corrupt LDP has down to a fine art.

SamuraiBlue

Ok how are you going to count the number of whales at the age in their 20's, 30's 10's,etc. How about gender? Thatis what IWC is asking as further information so to discuss if whaling is sustainable. Sorry your analogy is busted.

LOL you really didnt think that one through now did you? How do you think all these other nations get this data through NON LETHAL research. They take samples from the animals thats how. Its amusing many nations can currently do it yet Japan cant seem to grasp it. But as everyone knows and as the Australian minister has just recently come out and said Japanese research whaling is a sham nothing more

Well spoken Mr Yoshimasa you just admitted Japan's whaling program is for food over research. Now if the rest of the world would grow a pair and start doing something about it

Long historical tradition? Let me see, ocean whaling in Japan started about the beginning of the twentieth century, wasn't it? Of course, politician's memories are notoriously feeble!

I have nothing against eating whale. As long as it is ecologically sustainable, I don't understand why we should refrain from eating whales while we keep eating any kinds of other animals.

But the fact is, the whole whale hunting operations is heavily subsidized by the taxpayers and is absolutely not sustainable economically. As the above comments by the Minister Hayashi furher indicate, whaling is kept afloat only for BS nationalist reasons. Taxpayers should not subsidize some governmental fantasies.

Wow J-Culture is spreading like wildfire!

All the way down to Antarctica you say!!

What a simpleton, note to Harvard, you need to review who you let in & worse who you let graduate!

I can't imagine why Japan wouldn't stop whaling at some point. Sailing off to Antarctica with modern ships isn't traditional, people don't tend to buy the meat, and the government is wasting a lot of money doing it. So you can pretty much say that there's not much reason for commercial research whaling.

Now if a bunch of Ainu wanted to take off in a rowboat with a hand thrown harpoon - that I could call traditional. But I don't see them rushing out to do so.

Methinks the minister doth protest too much.

KonstaFeb. 28, 2013 - 05:46AM JST "Japan will never stop whaling: minister" Of course, it will. The next day an American court decides that whaling is illegal.

Whaling is already illegal under US laws. However, like the IWC, it allows scientific research whaling.

gelendestrasseFeb. 28, 2013 - 06:03AM JST I can't imagine why Japan wouldn't stop whaling at some point. Sailing off to Antarctica with modern ships isn't >traditional,

Please see my response to WillB.

Baked beans = Good source of protein.

Whale meat = Good source of mercury.

We'll see about that.

Does Great Nation Chavinism dictate the right to drive a species into extinction? Remember that every dog has its day, and castles made of sand fall into the sea; eventually. We as humans have driven many species into permenant extinction, and in the long run Japan will not have to worry about people stirring a stink about whaleing for there will be none to hunt.

Since the Japan whale operation is annually using millions and millions public funds to support this hunting, why don't the voters of Japan decide if they want to continue wasteful operations? Hayashi doesn't pay dime on this project. Maybe he should resign.

They did decide. That's why it's continuing.

Kristianna Thomas,

Does Great Nation Chavinism dictate the right to drive a species into extinction?

It is off topic talk. There is no question of extinction.

in the long run Japan will not have to worry about people stirring a stink about whaleing for there will be none to hunt.

There are 500,000 minke whales, as agreed by IWC scientists. Japan is catching less than 1,000 each year. Japan catching such tiny amount of naturally renewable whale resources could not bring about such thing.

Of course The Japanese are harvesting whales for food!!! Any idiot Japanese Researcher can tell you that!!! Japanese Researchers are all idiots because they have to kill the whales every year to find out the same thing for the last 50 years that they already knew about.

Never? Even after there are no whales left? Somehow I doubt that.

Even after there are no whales left?

If there are no whales left, it would not be whaling. It would be fishing.

If this chump wants to be traditional, let him go out in a longboat with a harpoon and take a Nantucket sleighride !

sorry folks, he meant to say that japanese are traditionally "fishermen" in the past,present and for ever..

CH3CHO - Those who are against whaling are the people who are too afraid to face the fact that there are enough whales.

Enough whales for who? Everybody or just Japan, Iceland and Norway? It only took a hundred years to virtually wipe out whales from all oceans from the 1850's to the 1950's when all countries were hunting whales and the reason the whaling industry collapsed was because a lack of whales made it a non-viable industry. So, you are saying that, we should grant permission to those countries who want to hunt whales and let them profit from the conservation and evolution of other countries? Most whale species have only recovered to around 40-50% of their population a hundred years ago. There are enough cows for the world. There are enough kangaroos for the world (not that anybody eats them). There are enough pigs, chickens and sheep for the world. There are NOT enough whales for the world! Japan has no right to plunder and profit from the conservation efforts of other countries, especially in the southern oceans, which were never their 'traditional' whale hunting grounds. That is a very naive statement CH3CHO.

The interesting point here to me is that he obviously thinks of culture as some ossified edifice that does not change, evolve, and adapt over time.

Which is (a) clueless in itself, if you consider how Japan (and the rest of the world) has actually changed over the last few decades, let alone longer, and (b) infinitely depressing, that he thinks Japan is incapable of ever changing.

CH3CHO

Lethal counting is the method accepted by scientific committee of IWC.

Funny that, the IWC actually has said you dont have to kill whales to count them. Your comment is akin the justifying the Japanese government killing its citizens just to count how many there are. Both illogical and laughable excuses

To keep the tradition of whale eating, Japan needs resumption of commercial whaling.

Fine but do the whaling around your own nation simple as that.

Do you know the distance between Australia and the Antarctic Continent is as wide as that between Canadian and Mexican boarder of the US? Japan owes nothing to Australia as long as whaling is concerned.

Actually its less! The distance from our southern most territory to the antarctic is less than you claim. But out of curiosity what is the distance from Japan to the Antarctic by comparison......

Seems like this politician is just using the whaling issue to make a statement in line with the bold Abe foriegn policy stance. "Japan hangs tough on whaling'. Looks a bit pathetic really, but I doubt he cares. He will get brownie points from hs boss for saying stuff like this.

Rediculous. What an ignorant man if he thinks other countries who observe the moratorium don't have a history and culture of whaling. That's embarrasing for a minister to say something so innacurate. For my part, my objection to Japanese whaling has nothing to do with predjudice or cultural impirialism, which then means he is wrong on both counts. 2 strikes. It's simply about being a responible global citizen and swallowing your pride and sucking it up for the common good of all. The Japanese position is simply selfish tunnel vision. And I object strongly to it.

CH3CHO

I do not see any logic in your comment. International community agreed in 1980's on the moratorium of commercial whaling until whale stock is estimated through scientific research whaling. Japan is collecting the data on whale stock through research whaling as agreed back then. What is "selfish" about Japan?

And l dont see the logic in yours. Let me ask you this. Do you need to kill something to count it? How do you count the population of Japan for example do you kill a percentage and then calculate from that or do you use non lethal methods to count?

The fact is when it comes to counting populations (whale, human or other) you do not use lethal research as a method. That is common sense, the IWC agrees, everyone agrees.... EXCEPT JAPAN! Now what does that say. Is Japan more interested in research or putting meat in the freezer? I know the answer, the world knows the answer yet Japan continues this charade...

Final day~ Please vote.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/take-strong-action-stop-japanese-killing-whales-southern-ocean-antarctic-whale-sanctuary/qfwCLZMj?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl

Japan will hunt whales off coastal waters as they've traditionally done but these wasteful expeditions to the Southern Hemisphere were actually the brain child of an American general so they could get protein when the country was starving.

OssanAmericaFeb. 28, 2013 - 06:30AM JST Whaling is already illegal under US laws. However, like the IWC, it allows scientific research whaling.

Our statements do not contradict. Japan legally uses this exactly exception left by the US (and others), even though everybody knows the real situation. If a law doesn't work, it must be changed. Removing the exception will stop Japan from whaling under the threat to lose more in trade or taxes, or such.

We have never said everybody should eat whale, but we have a long tradition and culture of whaling.

And this statement above all others shows the arrogance of the Japanese. We don't want everyone eating whale just us so we will continue to do as we please and ignore world opinion. All because we have some pretend long tradition and culture of whaling. What a joke. As l said this perfectly sums p the Japanese arrogance over this issue.

＞Just give me one good reason that Japan should stop whaling

It's impossible to kill a whale humanely. That's reason enough.

Talking of tuna, it is Atlantic blue fin tuna that is endangered, which is caught mainly by Europeans and Africans. Do not blame Japan for what non-Japanese do.

Japan has blocked attempts to rein in tuna fishing. But we digress.

Be honest, and as subjective as you like; when you go, would you rather have it quick and painless with a bolt to the head, or would you prefer to be chased around for hours, shot at random by someone with a not very good aim with an exploding barbed harpoon, reeled in and left to struggle with your head in the water until they get in another shot or you slowly bleed to death?

I'd rather be born free in the wilderness and have a chance for survival than to be born, fed, and raised with certain death at a young age.

I would personally have no problem with Japan's "traditional food culture" if the whales, tuna etc. were actually caught traditionally by Japanese fishermen in the northern Pacific. When one country's food culture has global environmental impacts however...

@Daniel Oliver JostFeb. 28, 2013

I'm sorry you got thumbed down... The "pro-whalers" must've got there first.

No matter what side of the fence you sit on this issue, you have to marvel at Japan's national characteristic of obstinance. In a country that has to borrow 50% of its budget, supporting a program that loses vasts amounts of money and hence takes away resources that are badly needed elsewhere, is nothing short of criminal.

Japan is whaling in the whale sanctuary in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. There is no justification whatsoever for whaling there. As for 'Whaling has long been part of traditional Japanese culture', so were outcasts and non-humans, doing away with the Ainu, ritual suicide and beheading. Grow up, Japan.

Darren Brannan

Let's create tougher laws on tuna fishing and be stringent with it.Fair trade.

I agree there should be catch limits of various species of tuna, especially the endangered Atlantic blue fin tuna, which is caught mainly by Europeans and Africans.

But why did you say "Fair trade"? What are you trading with what? You agree that there are enough whales for whaling. Are you saying whales should be traded with tuna? I think you are not interested in conservation of marine animals or environment. All you are interested in is international power game.

I think Japan should stop whaling but not instantly. Gradually slowing down it's market for whales until such time that no one even knew whale was edible. That would be a solution which I think is more effective than ramming and trying to sink whaler ships since sinking these ships would not only be a great loss of Japan's oceanic equipment but also unhealthy to the environment.

Lets solve problems in a sophisticated and civilized manner or we won't even be able to solve them at all.

NG comment. Boycott Japanese products.

Tamarama,

I do not see any logic in your comment. International community agreed in 1980's on the moratorium of commercial whaling until whale stock is estimated through scientific research whaling. Japan is collecting the data on whale stock through research whaling as agreed back then. What is "selfish" about Japan?

Heffalump

Japan is whaling in the whale sanctuary in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. There is no justification whatsoever for whaling there.

I am afraid you are wrong. The validity of Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is disputed at the International Court of justice. In the face of Australians, officials of US state department estimates Japan will win the case. We will see the results in a couple of years.

@CH3CHOFEB.

Will you tell me how you avoid double counting whales without immobilizing them?

By using Standard survey methods - a ship travelling at 10knots using two independant observer platforms and recording the surfacing of each whale spotted along a random teansect line within an area.

Its the method Norway uses and is accepted by the IWC. Its also roughly the method Japan uses on the SOWER non lethal surveys in the SO.

Crap sampling in the SO is fine in theory, but "crap" in practice. do not take my word for it, look up Martin Crawthorne, A New Zealand marine scientist whos spent most of his adult life studying whales in the Southern Ocean and read what he has t say about sampling methods in the SO in anything other than flat calm conditions. To say hes critical is an understatement :-)

Japan will never stop whaling: minister

Of course, it will. The next day an American court decides that whaling is illegal. When it happens, Japan will altruistically move to another source of protein. Because I don't know what can be more critical for an economy in trouble than energy (from Iran). The minister speaks too much.

Japan will never stop whaling: minister

Japan will never stop whaling minister

"Humanely" is an entirely subjective term. There are those who hold that every method now in use to kill animals for consumption is "not humane".

Not only kill, but the way farmed animals are kept. You're preaching to the choir on that one. If you think it's inhumane then the solution is not to create more inhumanity elsewhere, but to refuse to consume any inhumanely-produced food.

Be honest, and as subjective as you like; when you go, would you rather have it quick and painless with a bolt to the head, or would you prefer to be chased around for hours, shot at random by someone with a not very good aim with an exploding barbed harpoon, reeled in and left to struggle with your head in the water until they get in another shot or you slowly bleed to death?

Farmed animals are not relevant to this discussion.

The city I work at introduced whale meat to the school lunch menu. It is served 3-4 times a year. I am sure most children across Japan are getting it on their menus. I believe that school children and teachers are one of the largest consumers of whale meat in the country. I suspect that they want to create another generation of whale eaters. I refuse to eat it.

In my city it is usually prepared with a ketchup sauce which they call "Norway- Style" I think the name is used to draw affinity to other countries that eat whales. The month that whale meat is served, there is usually a big write up on the monthly menu that they take home.

Hayashi did admit that Japan does not hunt whales for research but for whale meat. There is also no tradition of whale meat eating in Japan. Sure there were some subsistence hunting but that doesn't make it a tradition. Also adding whale meat as a supplement after WWII until 1960 doesn't mean that Japan is a whale eating people.

We have never said everybody should eat whale, but we have a long tradition and culture of whaling.

Ok Japan used to have a long tradition and culture of slicing the heads off of idiots too yet they managed to stop that as well.

If you aren't telling people to eat the whales then pray tell why is it that the whale meat ends up on some people's dinner plates? Whale doesn't even taste good, it's pretty nasty in comparison to maguro.

I do understand it is part of the culture but that doesn't make it justified. That being said, I think the Sea Shepherd society are a bunch of attention-grabbing idiots. Don't get me wrong...I agree with the goal but I strongly disagree with their methods. Mainly because they try to play victim and act shocked and indignant when the people they are attacking/harassing fight back.

But the biggest reason I cannot stand Sea Shepherd is that their approach is actually making things worse. They are increasing the desire of people like the fisheries minister to hang on even harder to this "cultural tradition". Morons. There are better ways to bring about change. Sea Shepherd seems ignorantly hellbent on making sure Japan clings to whaling.

Why dont he tell the Truth. That whaling is a comercial venture and not scientific as a starter ,then follow up with what percentage of the population that eat whale or use whale products and what percentage of the whale is wasted then people just might believe his position a little. Japan is in no position to persue others fishing in their territorial waters when they already do it in other areas like Australia of which, government has been very tollerent. Japans own actions have negetivated their own claims for teritorial waters by ignoring others.

The Australians have picked up on what this minister has been saying - all about culture and tradition and food, not one mention of scientific research - and will likely use it as clear proof in their court case that Japan's 'scientific research' programme is nothing but a very flimsy veil thrown over what to all intents and purposes is commercial whaling.

Well done, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. I think you may have just given Australia all it needs to win its case at the ICJ, in the form of a confession.

Well done, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. I think you may have just given Australia all it needs to win its case at the ICJ, in the form of a confession.

Yes yes. Good luck, man.

Are you under the delusion that the Japanese are carrying out their research for research's sake?

@Tony, good point. Remember in 2004 when people form all over the world wrote letters asking them to please not re-elect George Bush? I'm sure it did nothing but help his numbers.

then MR minister and any other minister who follows, expect a long expensive stressfull cultural whaling program for many years to come. bring on the pain SS.

I think We have this culture and you don’t have that culture,” said the 52-year-old, who views the whaling port of Shimonoseki in Japan’s southwest as home. http://www.hireprofessionalseoexpert.com/

@ineedboots might be time to for you to cool off and go have a whale steak, blubbery fulled goodness yum!

By all means, hunt them. Just a) hunt them in YOUR waters and b) hunt them the traditional way. End of story.

Some people are reaching sticking their heads in the sand believing Pseudo science as actual science. There is no way you can detirmine the age of a species by analysing visual and acoustic surveys, satellite tracking, biopsy sampling, faeces sampling, statistical modelling and/or any other non leathal research. If that was possible more murder cases with DNA evidence would had been solved. Personally I do not believe collecting faeces samples under water which is contaminated with various other objects be any use for research.

Guillaume Varès

Any and all nation have the right to protect a domestic industry that is unfairly prosecuted by anther nation or nations. That is exactly what is happening at IWC and Japan is responding against this unfair prosecution following the preset regulations and rules designated by the foresaid regulating organization.

Oh yes Japan WILL stop whaling, and sooner than you think, my dear Honorable Minister Hayashi...

1) First of all, fierce criticism has already started to form WITHIN Japan. Can it be that in your function as Minister you have not yet heard of the recent protests organized by groups such as Action for Marine Mammals? Or are you just (rather unskillfully) ignoring this aspect?

2) Now to the "long historical tradition about whaling": regarding small scale coastal whaling, certainly. Wasting tons of fuel and taxpayers' money to go all the way to the Southern Ocean to whale however only started rather recently, in the 80s. So not too much history and tradition there...

3) "Japan is an island nation surrounded by the sea, so taking some good protein from the ocean is very important. For food security I think it's very important."

A typical argument of the baby-boomer generation. Piling up tons of whale meat in freezers because nobody wants it is CRIMINAL in today's overpopulated world!

4) "Whaling has long been part of traditional Japanese culture, so I just would like to say 'please understand this is our culture'."

No, we shall not understand it, because it is not your culture. And let me know if you need some help on Japanese culture. (Perhaps you spent too much time at Harvard and have forgotten...)

Kind regards from Switzerland, Daniel Jost.

Kristianna Thomas

So, you are not against commercial whaling, as long as such whaling is sustainable. Thank you.

Since the Japan whale operation is annually using millions and millions public funds to support this hunting, why don't the voters of Japan decide if they want to continue wasteful operations? Hayashi doesn't pay dime on this project. Maybe he should resign.

cleoFeb. 28, 2013 - 10:16AM JST "Just give me one good reason that Japan should stop whaling" It's impossible to kill a whale humanely. That's reason enough.

"Humanely" is an entirely subjective term. There are those who hold that every method now in use to kill animals for consumption is "not humane".

I beleive the whole whaling industry is pretty messed up!....To eat or not to eat.??? That's a hard question!

Japan will be stopped if there is ever a whaling sanctuary

A big thank you from the people of Australia and New Zealand to the Japanese people in calling your whaling ships home early this year. In doing so you have saved the lives of around 900 whales and for that we are truly grateful. We are pleased to be currently hosting a pilot scheme by several Fukushima rice farmers in the northern part of our country. I hear the crops are growing well and we look forward to your possibly expanding your land lease here to increase radiation free rice yield to send home. Why not approach our govt about leasing an area of clean water for fish farming. The salmon tonnage from farming here are huge, and you don't have to chase them around Antarctica. Regards, The Aussies.

Unless a study will show that whales are an endangered species, ....

Japan shouldn't have to stop whaling, personally I don't see anything wrong with it, providing it's done in moderation. If it's not, then it makes little sense, since all the whales will finally become instinct, then what. But with that said, yes, I think it's fine, Japan is an advanced technological country, so I'm sure they don't have any ambitions of killing all of the whales.

End of story. No one can argue that.

Allow me. So what you're saying is that technology cannot be used to further already existing practices. Comment noted, reviewed and acknowledged.

Daijotboots: "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Whale steak coming up"

Can you at least admit Japanese whaling has nothing to do with science?

There are enough whales for sustainable whaling. There is no reason that whaling should be banned.

There is potentially irreversible .... Iphone. Sorry for repeating. I see some people have made some of these points already.

Tamarama

It's simply about being a responible global citizen and swallowing your pride and sucking it up for the common good of all.

Don't really see why the above have anything to do with anti-whaling. It's more like projecting ones opnion towards others without any logic based on science.

Outta here

Ok how are you going to count the number of whales at the age in their 20's, 30's 10's,etc. How about gender? Thatis what IWC is asking as further information so to discuss if whaling is sustainable.

Sorry your analogy is busted.

Outta here,

"Report of the Scientific Committee Panama City, Panama, 11-23 June 2012" page 39. http://iwc.int/cache/downloads/6r8jq8llm4cgso0sc0k000w8c/2012%20SC%20REP.pdf

The results provided in the paper are illustrative primarily because the IDCR/SOWER abundance estimates used had not been finalised, and the age-at-length data for recent years from JARPA II are not yet available.

Do you see? Scientific committee of IWC cannot finish their paper without age at length data from Japanese research whaling.

SamuriaBlue & CH3CHO,

You say l dont get it? Thats laughable you guys think the only way to research something is to kill it. Lets count the whales..... ok grab the harpoon..... Oh wait as Samuria said how do you do that they live under the sea..... OOPS. Samuria if you can harpoon a whale you can surely put a tracking device on it or get a biopsy sample. Australia has been doing it for years as have other nations. The only difference we dont use the research excuse as a way to fill our freezers.

LOL

Now countries that really conduct research on these animals use the following non lethal methods to count numbers and gain other key information. Visual and acoustic surveys, satellite tracking, biopsy sampling, faeces sampling and statistical modelling. The funny thing is your country already does use non lethal research it just does more lethal research to fill the freezers....

gogogo, you are wrong. Read my comment Feb. 27, 2013 - 07:15PM JST.

When one country's food culture has global environmental impacts however...

Oh please. Global. Environmental. Do you know how many non-endangered whales they catch or set targets to catch? And what minute percentage of the non-endangered population this constitutes? Or is that kind of information/fact inconvenient for an emotional plea?

If these whales were so smart you'd think they'd learn to avoid the ships. But they don't. They are just as dumb as fish.

cleo, you really do not read the comments by other people. Your question about "scientific research" has been explained number of times by the commenters here. Why do you partisipate here if you do not read other comments?

@ineedboots its not SS that the Jgov should be worried about it the bad image it s giving Japan on the whole, only way Jgov will stop SS is to use leathal force, Im betting they havent got the kahoonas to do it, bring on the pain SS. LOL

Is it for Research or for your own culture?

Are you having some kind of Difficulty understanding that Japan intends to resume commercial whaling?

the bad image it s giving Japan on the whole

Please. The vast majority of the world couldn't give two unkos about it, and of those who do it is for about three weeks of the year when the pirates and press whores endanger human lives and the surrounding environment by comitting illegal and irresponsible violent acts. Oh and after approaching a vessle at sea, blame said vessle for any contact, even when video evidence shows thrusting to ensure a collision.

only way Jgov will stop SS is to use leathal force

Read something.

There are NOT enough whales for the world! Japan has no right to plunder and profit from the conservation efforts of other countries

We've already covered this on the other thread. But I guess you're avoiding that for a reason.

Originalposter: "you have to marvel at Japan's national characteristic of obstinance. In a country that has to borrow 50% of its budget, supporting a program that loses vasts amounts of money and hence takes away resources that are badly needed elsewhere, is nothing short of criminal."

That's where 'tradition' comes in.

smithinjapan,

Lethal counting is the method accepted by scientific committee of IWC. They are not morons, but you are. To keep the tradition of whale eating, Japan needs resumption of commercial whaling. To restart commercial whaling, IWC must agree that there are enough whales for sustainable whaling. To estimate the whale stock, Japan needs to collect data through research whaling, as mandated by IWC. Mr. Hayashi is very logical in this regard.

Disillusioned,

Do you know what IWC did before the whaling moratorium? They set the catch limit of whales for each country. If there are enough whales, what is wrong with setting quota?

It was American whalers who depleted the whale stock of Northern Pacific. Japan whales near the Antarctica. Do you know the distance between Australia and the Antarctic Continent is as wide as that between Canadian and Mexican boarder of the US? Japan owes nothing to Australia as long as whaling is concerned.

Outta here

Sorry but you can not date age by simply observation or DNA research or any other non leathal research especially when they live under sea.

You really do not get it do you.

Outta here, remember it was Green Peace and other environmentalists that advocated lethal counting back in 1980's.

Will you tell me how you avoid double counting whales without immobilizing them?

The science committee of IWC almost agreed on counting method last year. If Japan stops research whaling, they will start arguing the methodology all over again.

Guillaume Varès

But the fact is, the whole whale hunting operations is heavily subsidized by the taxpayers and is absolutely not sustainable economically.

Give me a break. If it were economically sustainable, it would be called COMMERCIAL WHALING. Are you saying that Japan should start commercial whaling in the face of international moratorium of commercial whaling?

KabukiloverFeb. 28, 2013 - 12:47AM JST "Australia and New Zealand in particular, voice outrage over Japan’s annual expeditions in the Southern Ocean, which the International Whaling Commission considers a sanctuary for the ocean giants."

A naive question. So why don't Australia and New Zealand do something about it?

Your question isn't naïve at all. It is the biased AFP that doesn't tell you that the same IWC that created the Southern Ocean Sanctuary also authorizes research whaling under Scientific Permit and exempts research whaling from recognizing moratoriums and sanctuaries. AFP always also mentions that the whalemeat is consumed by Japan even though the same IWC regulations REQUIRE that the meat be utilized. The whaling is going on in international waters CLAIMED by Australia but not recognized by most countries, which limits what Australia can do to exert sovereignty over it, lest it prejudices it's own claim. Hence no country can legally do anything to stop the research whaling, apart from action filed with the ICJ which is still ongoing.

Daniel Oliver Jost, GW, ect.

Just give me one good reason that Japan should stop whaling, when scientists agree that there are ehough whales for sustainable whaling. And do not give me crap like "whales are inteligent".

Talking of tuna, it is Atlantic blue fin tuna that is endangered, which is caught mainly by Europeans and Africans. Do not blame Japan for what non-Japanese do.

Nessie, he never said never.

I don’t think there will be any kind of an end for whaling by Japan, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told AFP in an exclusive interview.

The news agancy who put a wrong title is to blame.

Japan has blocked attempts to rein in tuna fishing.

If I remember correctly, what was proposed in 2010 was total ban of tuna fishing. I think total ban is way too extreme and such measures like setting quota within sustainable yield is more appropriate. I think the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna is doing a good job maintaining sustainable southern bluefin tuna fishing.

http://www.ccsbt.org/site/total_allowable_catch.php

GWFeb. 28, 2013 - 09:48AM JST

"This minister's statement is misleading. Japan most certainly will "cease" (temporaily stop) all whaling if doing so is necessary to allow stocks to replemish so that whaling can be resumed again. This is exactly what the IWC 1986 Moratorium is all about and what Japan's research whaling concerns. "

Ossan, Japan has NO CREDIBILITY in this regard, just look how Japan chases tuna, squid, octopus to every sea/ocean there >is, decimating & heavily depleating populations on the way.

I'm afraid they do. In 2010 the IWC attempted to negotiate to the current gridlock and Japan negotiated in a straightforward manner, agreeing to drop research whaling in exchange for limited commercial whaling that would diminish down to nothing over time. Yet Australia wrecked the IWC's works by refusing to budge from "no whales must be killed at all position". This from a country that is a member of an international organization formed and existing to regulate the WHALING INDUSTRY. It is Australia that has no credibility at all, even among anti-whaling nations like the United States.

Oh and toss eels onto that list of things that Japan is hunting towards extinction, Japanese not very good with limiting >their consumption, they have proven umpteen times they are simply UNABLE to conserve any marine resource.

Wow you are remarkably misinformed. Eel stocks have been diminishing GLOBALLY over the past decade in both the Atlantic and Pacific because of habitat destruction. Damming of waterways disrupts the eels life pattern of living upstream and in freshwater and returning to the sea to spawn. Japan is the ONLY COUNTRY THAST HAS PUT EELS ON THE ENDANGERED LIST. The reduction in stocks have nothing to do with fishing or consumption. It's amazing to whatr extent prejudice can twist facts that can be easily googled by anyone

Going to the Antarctic is way beyond absurd!

Not at all. British and Norwegians were whaling there since the 1800s. Japan has been whaling there since the 1930s. Australian factories :processed" whales until 1978.

cleo,

Not only kill, but the way farmed animals are kept.

Whales are not even farmed at all. To compare humane treatment of farmed animals with whales does not make sense. Your question asking how to prefer to die shows no empathy for farmed animals.

then MR minister and any other minister who follows, expect a long expensive stressfull cultural whaling program for many years to come. bring on the pain SS

Good luck. I think I know who will be broken first; a ragtag bunch of pirates and press whores who ignore laws and rulings when inconvenient, or the government of the world's third largest economy.

Whaling has long been part of traditional Japanese culture, so I just would like to say 'please understand this is our culture' Doesn't say much for a Harvard education, if this is all he can come up with to justify it.

I put my money on the word "fluent" being thrown about all too easily.

Please don’t forget this fact that America and Russia keep whale hunting every year. America and Russia are killing 414 whales in total for one year. Each of these two countries has whale hunting quotas of 67 Bowhead Whales and 140 Gray Whales every year. (134 Bowhead Whales and 280 Gray Whales in total) However, the number of surviving Bowhead Whales (=Greenland Whale) is just only 9,000 in total on the earth at present. Bowhead Whales have already become extinction due to excessive hunting in North Atlantic Ocean. Bowhead Whale has been designated as an endangered species at Washington Convention. The reproductive power of Bowhead Whales is weaker than other types of whales. While the pregnancy period of Minke Whale being subjected to Japanese research whaling is 10 months, the pregnancy period of Bowhead Whale is 13 – 14 months. A Bowhead Whale’s female gives birth once in 3-4 years. America and Russia should stop hunting Bowhead Whales immediately, or Bowhead Whales will become extinct pretty soon if nothing is done.

Daijoboots,

Can you at least admit Japanese whaling has nothing to do with science?

Japanese whaling is for food, but research is for research which is necessary for understanding how many whales may safely be taken.

Such basic concept is easy for even children who can understand that whales are uncountable as they spend most time beneath surface of the seas. They are not countable like cows that anti-whalers fondly eat. Anti-whalers can never understand it. Amazing really.

Japan can not safely catch whales for food without the research of whale resources. Small catch of 900 minke whales is from agreed estimate of 500,000. It is very small number, but taking whales may help scientists well understand population dynamic of whale population. This will help whalers decide better number of whales to be caught for commercial purpose.

Once sustainable populations have been verified it's game on for commecial whaling. Bring it on! Man!

It should be game on, now. Last year estimate of 500,000 minke whales in Antarctic ocean was agreed by IWC scientists. IWC scientists already can set very conservative commercial catch limit with this number.

So far, IWC refused to set a number anyway.

Why Japan is agreeing to rules of IWC which does not do it's job of managing whaling!?

This minister's statement is misleading. Japan most certainly will "cease" (temporaily stop) all whaling if doing so is necessary to allow stocks to replemish so that whaling can be resumed again. This is exactly what the IWC 1986 Moratorium is all about and what Japan's research whaling concerns. Of course the media depict this as if Japan will continue to hunt whales even if they become extinct, a physical impossibility and counter to the purpose of whaling. AFP is absurdly biased on all the coverage of this topic.

WilliBFeb. 27, 2013 - 04:22PM JST

" Hayashi, a graduate of the prestigious Kennedy School at Harvard University who first entered parliament in 1995, said in fluent English: “Whaling has long been part of traditional Japanese culture, "

And at the prestigious Kennedy School at Harvard University, they taught him that sending high-tech factory ships with >satellite communication, sonar, and explosive harpoons half around the world to the arctic is "traditional Japanese >culture"? Come again? Exactly how old is this "tradition"?

It is the "Whaling" ie; the taking and consumption that is tradition. Same tradition exists in Korea as well. The equipment used is not the "tradition". The Inuits of Canada currently engage in "traditional whaling" except they don't use bone tipped harpoons or skin hulled kayaks anymore, they use high powered scoped rifles, outboard engines and use snowmobiles to carry whalemeat to he supermarket where it is sold. Nobody is arguing that they aren't carrying on a "tradition".

loophole

Hasn't this been pointed out before? Many times? There is no loophole. This is the real broken record, made and perpetuated by some in the West.

Royblack - NG comment. Boycott Japanese products.

It's easier to sue the eco-terrorist SS in court and use the pro-violence supporters money to fund the whaling effort. The FBI consider the eco-terrorist SS to be eco-terrorists and the U.S. court, using the standard of UNCLOS, says the continued violence of the eco-terrorist SS proves they are pirates. The eco-terrorist SS has no legal authority to attack anyone, anywhere in the world.

Hayashi said, “So why don’t we at least agree to disagree? We have this culture and you don’t have that culture.” The reason that the pro-whaling and anti-whalers can't agree is because the pro-violence supporters of the eco-terrorist SS demand boycotts of Japan and applaud the sinking, ramming, and disabling of other vessels. The pro-violence supporters of the eco-terrorist SS believe that violence is the answer when you're trying to force others to do your bidding.

gelendestrasse,

people don't tend to buy the meat

This is just anti-whalers' fantasy. In reality, I can buy whale meat that is shipped from far away ICELAND at my neighborhood supermarket. As even foreign product is available in Japan, it is clear that there is good demand for such a product.

the government is wasting a lot of money doing it.

This is separate issue due to unfortunate dysfunction of IWC, which disallows Japan to catch whales on the commercial basis.

So you can pretty much say that there's not much reason for commercial research whaling.

You should listen to the market. Not the anti-whalers. The market, which offers ICELAND whale meat, is clear about it.

Daniel Oliver Jost,

fierce criticism has already started to form WITHIN Japan. Can it be that in your function as Minister you have not yet heard of the recent protests organized by groups such as Action for Marine Mammals?

I have never heard of this group. And I can still buy whale meat from ICELAND even at my supermarket. Fierce may be criticism from some minority groups, but it does not have strong influence at all.

to go all the way to the Southern Ocean to whale however only started rather recently, in the 80s.

It started in 1930's, not 1880's. Just before international whaling community formed the IWC.

A typical argument of the baby-boomer generation. Piling up tons of whale meat in freezers because nobody wants it is CRIMINAL in today's overpopulated world!

Japanese population is shrinking, so be not concerned. And please understand that tons of whale meat in freezers does not prevent extra supply from ICELAND coming to Japanese market. Amount of whale meat in freezers is tiny, relative to other products.

No, we shall not understand it, because it is not your culture. Kind regards from Switzerland, Daniel Jost.

Please enjoy your chocolates, in Japan whale meat is enjoyed. Thank you.

Christopher Blackwell

If Japan makes money out of research whaling, it is no longer research whaling but COMMERCIAL whaling. Are you saying that Japan should start commercial whaling? "Japan should stop whaling because it is not commercially profitable" is just dumb.

how is the killing of whales affecting any of your lives? i could understand the antiwhaling sentiment a bit more if the eating of whale somehow jeopardized your livelihood or your health. but it does neither. should we all be one homogenous society where everyone eats, thinks and acts the same way?

and belittling his educational background does nothing to further your argument.

It is a simple matter, and no business of the rest of the world what Japan does or does not do. Whales are fish, Period. I know a lot of eco freaks have made it a cause but they need to get a life and stop interferring with the legal and proper business of other countries. Nuff said. What a silly waste of time and effort. And topics. Lets cover better news.

Can you at least admit Japanese whaling has nothing to do with science?

Sure. If that would make you feel better in some way. But I don't believe that. Once sustainable populations have been verified it's game on for commecial whaling. Bring it on! Man!

I'm going to repeat a comment I made earlier, for those struggling with the tradition/technology dilemma.

What you're saying is that technology cannot be used to further already existing practices.

And now one more.

Imagine where you would be today if that were actually the case.

iceshoecream

"Japan is an island nation surrounded by the sea, so taking some good protein from the ocean is very important." Then why don't you do it around that ocean that surrounds you? But no you gotta go down to almost Australia to do it.

Well said. Problem is like locust the Japanese first devour and strip the resources from around their own nation then move on to other regions and do the same...

gogogo - Well spoken Mr Yoshimasa you just admitted Japan's whaling program is for food over research. Now if the rest of the world would grow a pair and start doing something about it

The vast majority of the rest of the world doesn't care about whaling, whalers, whales, or the bizarre rants and lies of Watson. Nations do care about the illegal and unlawful pirate actions of the eco-terrorist SS. Violence is NOT the answer that so many eco-terrorist SS supporters encourage. That's why Watson is a fugitive from several nations, That's also why many nations refuse to register eco-terrorist SS scows or have kicked the eco-terrorist SS scows off their national registry.

Christopher Blackwell,

Whaling is a failing industry that only continues with tens of millions of Yen of tax payers money.

Tax payers money does not support import of commercial whale meat from ICELAND to Japanese market. Tax payers money supports only research whaling, which is public-good expenditure.

There is still 6,000 tons of last year's hunt unsold.

It is only February! If we eat last year's whale too quickly we would run out. Also, as whale from ICELAND is available, it too shows your idea is incorrect.

It serves no useful Scientific purpose

It's not true. Without research there can not be efficient commercial whaling in future.

So explain to me why is this archaic, unsupportable industry forcing the Japanese taxpayers to keep it alive.

You need no explanation, your basic understanding of reality is wrong. Check it.

might be time to for you to cool off and go have a whale steak, blubbery fulled goodness yum!

That's a great idea. Might have two actually. Plenty more where that came from. But as for cooling off, that won't be ncecessary. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Whale steak coming up.

smithinjapan,

when IWC says "scientific research", it means, as written in article 4 of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling;

(a) encourage, recommend, or if necessary, organize studies and investigations relating to whales and whaling;

(b) collect and analyze statistical information concerning the current condition and trend of the whale stocks and the effects of whaling activities thereon;

(c) study, appraise, and disseminate information concerning methods of maintaining and increasing the populations of whale stocks.

Research whaling by Japan is just doing (b) and (c). They are counting the whale stock by sampling and killing them. I remember, in 1980's, environmentalists argued that whales cannot be counted because they swim around and possibly double counted. So, the method environmentalists accepted was lethal counting.

Now, Green Peace is still arguing that the estimated size of whale stock is not reliable because the sample size is too small. I think they are dumb. If they keep saying so, Japan will increase the sample size. They should accept the fact that there are enough whales for sustainable whaling, and allow restart of whaling.

Those who are against whaling are the people who are too afraid to face the fact that there are enough whales.