Taiji town holds memorial service for dolphins

No need to hold memorial services if you stopped killing these creatures! All done to assuage their guilty consciences!

It's a little unclear what's going on.

Lighting incense in front of a dolphin statue, because the hunts on in 2 weeks time from now? Are they praying for a good (dolphins) harvest next year, or are they asking their souls for forgiveness?

I am sure the remarks of people mentioned are clearly stating they are praying for a ZERO harvest ever.

The hunting version of "Itadakimasu." A hypocritical act, using religion to excuse the killing.

Mind you, it's more than animals get before being slaughtered in abattoirs in other countries, so at least this town acknowledges the suffering they cause, albeit superficially and ultimately meaninglessly.

Weak sauce , if you were really sorry and remorseful you wouldn't kill in the first place.

Weak sauce , if you were really sorry and remorseful you wouldn't kill in the first place.

It's not about being sorry and remorseful. As it says in the article, We will not forget the feelings of gratitude toward whales. This is a very common attitude towards animals by hunters as well. They respect the animals they are about to kill, and they are thankful for them. They aren't sorry or remorseful for killing them, because if they were, as you say, they wouldn't do it.

I'm sure they appreciate it. Idiots.

When people thought they were just killing dolphins, they were cold-hearted murderers. Now they are seen to be paying respect to the animals they'll kill, and they're idiots.

Dolphin hunting is a part of Japanese tradition and must be preserved and expanded. Dolphin is nothing but one type of fish. Go on a trip for dolphin/whale hunt would be a fantastic experience. After that, you could eat your catch fresh. It is such a stupidity that so many people are brainwashed and humanize dolphins and whales. As a result, they deprive dolphin meat lovers such as myself a good meal dolphin sashimi. We must get rid of all the concepts of "endangered species" because it is a conspiracy to deny us to eat a good meal. Wealthy people in the world eat these so-called endangered species day after day and no one is willing to talk about it. We must legalize all dolphin hunts and making dolphin meat commercially available.

We must legalize all dolphin hunts and making dolphin meat commercially available. it already is legal and comeerically available, problem is hardly anybody eats it. Add to the fact that all dolphin meat has high levels of mercury why would you want to eat it considering there are far more cheaper safer meats available.

Like the respect of the sea day, Is to thank the oceans for letting us rape them.

can you really compare a graceful dolphin with a cow, pig, or a chicken?

A dolphin that gets to live free, going where it wants, when it wants, maybe eventually being killed by either another animal or a human, vs a cow, pig or chicken, that is forced to live in confined spaces, being force-fed antibiotics and other chemicals to ensure they are as fat as possible before being slaughtered?

Seems the dolphin has it a lot better.

Due to restricted fishing, whales and dolphins and all other sea mammals are grossly overpopulated. This restriction has ruined the balance of nature and has decimated our fish stocks. In order to restore nature's balance, we must start a massive worldwide hunt for these creatures and eat their meat. I have NEVER met a single person who does not like the taste of whale/dolphin meat. The trouble is too many people are in self-denial and refuse to try out these delicious meat. When I lived in Japan, I specifically looked for these meat and I loved the taste of it. These meat is low in fat and high in protein. There are so many ways to cook it or make it into sashimi. The so-called mercury poison is just another conspiracy to keep us eat these meat. Don't listen to it.

I have NEVER met a single person who does not like the taste of whale/dolphin meat.

I haven't tried dolphin, but I've had whale a few times. I can't say I like it that much. It's not disgusting, but a little too sharp for my tastes.

"The so-called mercury poison is just another conspiracy to keep us eat these meat. Don't listen to it" sorry wrong its scientific fact , conducted by a Japanese pforfessor at a Japanese Univeristy, Hokkaido. seems your the one with self-denial. Whale meat low in fat LMFAO nearly chocked on my coffee.

they have more respect for life than those who buy meat in Styrofoam containers at the supermarket.

No need to do either.

They respect the animals they are about to kill

Your dictionary must have a different definition for respect.

respect verb  have due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of:  avoid harming or interfering with

Where is the respect in frightening animals into shallow water, injuring one or two so that the other members of the pod don't try to escape, leaving them overnight in a state of terror, then driving a metal spike into their necks (supposed to produce an instant and 'humane' death; all it actually does is stop the animal moving, and it continues to suffer pain and terror for several minutes) followed by a wooden cork to stop the blood gushing out because red water doesn't look good on camera? Some animals are still alive and moving (the metal spikes aren't always aimed accurately) when they are hauled up into the slaughterhouse.

There is no respect involved.

There's no shuffling it off to a dark room where you don't have to look at it.

Blue tarps instead of dark rooms.

paying respect to the animals they'll kill

haha that is some twisted logic bro

No need to do either.

I have respect for your feelings on the matter, and I feel that you're correct, there is no need for you to eat meat.

Me personally however, I have zero moral issues with eating meat, and I quite enjoy it.

Your dictionary must have a different definition for respect.

It does as a matter of fact:

esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability

**haha that is some twisted logic bro

So is the idea that buying pre-murdered meat in styrofoam packets is somehow more morally superior to hunting.

Well, it's a well known fact that Japan is s country afraid of change. Toshi is a small fishing community on a lively part of he Japan coast. Yes, it is true that they do have a long history of hunting dolphins and small whales, but their history was for subsistence. Now however, it is for profit and they are trying to take as many as they can just to make money. This is where the tradition stops and commercialism begins. It's interesting to see the mayor's comment about keeping the tradition for future generations. If they do not regulate the catch there will be no dolphins or small whales for them to hunt. The smaller pilot whales are already scarce, but they keep hunting them regardless. This is the problem with the Japanese fisheries. They do not regulate them and where there are regulations, they are ignored. Tuna is a perfect example. There has been international quotas set for tuna fishing for decades, but Japan has been guilty of abusing this quota many times. The sardine (iwashi) is extinct from the Sea of Japan due to over fishing, which has now become overrun with giant jellyfish. I have no real qualms with Japan's localized subsistence hunting of cetaceans. That is their choice to eat mercury laden meat. However, my issues start with hunting in international waters to exploit a resource that was created by many other countries who gave up exploiting cetaceans.

Oh, my other problem is, twits that come out and state that whales are extremely over populated and destroying fish stocks. That is utter malarkey!

esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability

And how does doing what I described above in any way show any kind of 'esteem' for the worth or excellence of the dolphin? What esteem is there in torture? Or in hiding behind blue tarps?

For you, the fundamental concept of killing animals for food is wrong, so it's beyond your capability to understand how one could respect the life taken for food, even while taking it. But it's not a new concept. It's one most tribal cultures have held towards their pray since human gained critical thought.

it's beyond your capability to understand how one could respect the life taken for food, even while taking it

Actually, it isn't. But we are not talking about 'life taken for food'. This is not the intrepid hunter going out for a clean kill to feed his family. I've already described how the animals are subjected to a horrific, inhumane death. All for profit, not food, since even Taiji assemblymen have described the meat as 'toxic waste' and not fit to eat. The profit comes from selling the younger, trainable animals to aquaria and dolphin shows around the world.

A slow, painful death after a night of terror, or a (short) life of slavery and jumping through hoops for dead fish.

I still don't see where respect comes into the equation.

Taiji officials: Dolphin meat 'toxic waste' | The Japan Times

The dolphin torturers of Taiji are not 'tribal'; they're just barbaric.

As for dolphin hunting being 'a part of Japanese tradition'; the current drive hunts carried out in Taiji began in 1969. They're less traditional than the Rolling Stones or space walks.

Strangerland: "Now they are seen to be paying respect to the animals they'll kill, and they're idiots."

yes, absolute idiots. It'd be lovely LE me frying a bunch of ants with a magnifying glass the. "Respecting them" for the entertainment. Cleo's got you backtracking on the rest.

Whale tasted like cat food, can't understand why people would think it tastes good.

But we are not talking about 'life taken for food'.

You mean they aren't eating the dolphins? Then why is everyone going on about the mercury content?

The profit comes from selling the younger, trainable animals to aquaria and dolphin shows around the world.

Why does the food factor only count if it makes a profit, and conversely, why does the selling of the animals to aquariums cancel out the food factor?

The dolphin torturers of Taiji are not 'tribal'; they're just barbaric.

Why do they have to be tribal to be able to show respect? What specifically about not being a tribe disallows and/or voids them from being able to have respect for the animals?

I still don't see where respect comes into the equation.

Right here:

Some 100 people including fishermen gathered in front of a whale-shaped monument at a park in the town and offered incense in a gesture of appreciation.

It'd be lovely LE me frying a bunch of ants with a magnifying glass the. "Respecting them" for the entertainment.

Depends. If you actually paid respect, you'd be showing respect. Your actions may not be justified (and I've never tried justifying the killing of the dolphins), but it doesn't change the fact that you paid respect. And unlike killing ants with a magnifying glass, which serves no purpose, killing the dolphins is for food, even if you don't agree with them being killed for food.

Poor Flipper.

Why dont they go hunting Sharks instead of Dophins - that way, they can both gain some applause from those who've been attacked by Sharks, and they can make a lot of $ by selling the real Shark fin to the Chinese who will definitely pay top $ for it.

P.S. Have you noticed, that if you say anything that isn't nice to Japanese people you very soon get a -'ve rating here ?

Stangerland: "And unlike killing ants with a magnifying glass, which serves no purpose, killing the dolphins is for food, even if you don't agree with them being killed for food"

no, they are idiots. Only an idiot believes they show respect to the creatures after what they've done to them. And they aren't doing it for food, as Cleo rightly called you out on, they are doing it for profit and then literally feeding it to kids, despite the extremely high mercury levels, because of the stockpiles no one wants. If they believe they are respecting he animals, why do they attempt to cover up the herding and final stages of he hunt so others can't see it? If their proud of it and believe it to be respectful, you don't run and hide behind tarped walls and put corks in holes to stem blood flow.

Yes, idiots. As are their supporters.

Only an idiot believes they show respect to the creatures after what they've done to them.

Ok, let's say you're right. Justify that statement. In other, back it up with some supporting fact the moment we're at 'only an idiot would...', ok, what is it in believing that that makes one an idiot?

And they aren't doing it for food

Then why do people keep going on about mercury levels? What specifically does the mercury level matter if they aren't being eaten?

they are doing it for profit and then literally feeding it to kids

So now you're saying that they are eating them. So which is it, are they eating them or not?

If they believe they are respecting he animals, why do they attempt to cover up the herding and final stages of he hunt so others can't see it?

Hunters pay respect to the animals they kill, then shoot them through the face with a gun.

Why do they cover it up? Because some people freak out about it.

Looks like the same arguments for killing, and nothing will change. So then, neither will the resolve of the people who will defend these MAMMALS.

These are our friends in the sea.

As I said, it's not a new concept. Tribes have done it forever. If you want to deny history, it's your right. But don't expect the rest of us to deny it along with you.

Why do you bother to have a Memorial when you continue to kill dolphins an whales? Why do not stop the killing? It isn't right an its cruel to the dolphins and the whales do what is right by these beautiful creatures AND STOP THE KILLERS IN TAIJI JAPAN!!

So which is it, are they eating them or not?

The Taiji hunters respond to calls for them to stop their butchery with But, but, it's our tradition. When it's pointed out to them that it has no basis in tradition, they come up wth But, but, you can't tell us what we can eat. When it's pointed out that the meat is toxic and not fit for consumption, they put it on school dinner menus and go back to it's tradition, see, even little kiddies eat it. Only a brain addled with mercury would consider their arguments in any way valid. Obviously some meat is eaten, hence the addled arguments from the addled brains.

The main reason for the hunt is profit. The meat from a dead dolphin fetches a few man yen at most. A live dolphin can be sold to an aquarium in Japan for a little less than 200 man yen, while a trained dolphin can fetch three times that in Japan, and even more overseas.

The main reason for the hunt is profit.

How does this differ from any other industry?

tradition used by tribes or not, in 2017 a butchery is still a butchery and no memorial ceremony will change that fact.

Personally I see tradition as something passed down between generations can be as recent as a KFC Xmas dinner.

If the people in Taiji want to do this paying of respect let them, no law against it.

Shouldn't even be news, IMO

How does this differ from any other industry?

Make your mind up! Is it tradition, or an industry?

The form submitted did not originate from the expected site

What is this? I posted from the page JT takes me to when I click on the article. How is that not the 'expected site', and how are posters supposed to work around it? Do all posts have to be written, copied, submitted, deleted because they 'did not originate from the expected site', pasted and submitted again? Are you trying to discourage people from posting?

Make your mind up! Is it tradition, or an industry?

Make up my mind between what? Go back and re-read my posts. I haven't made those two claims.

 I haven't made those two claims.

Three claims.

Apr. 30  06:45 pm JST:

killing the dolphins is for food

Apr. 30  10:23 pm JST:

Tribes have done it forever. If you want to deny history

Doing it forever, historically-like ; sounds a lot like tradition?

Today  08:38 am JST:

How does this differ from any other industry?

It can't differ from any other industry unless it's an industry.

The form submitted did not originate from the expected site

The form submitted did not originate from the expected site

They're just trying to dignify their barbarity.

I ate whale meat in Alaska with an Inuit family, and in Tokyo and enjoyed the taste. Ate dolphin stew in Taiwan and delicious. However, never again.

killing the dolphins is for food

Yep, that's the claim I did make.

Doing it forever, historically-like ; sounds a lot like tradition?

That's a tradition. Go back and read the subject of my comment - it wasn't the Japanese.

It can't differ from any other industry unless it's an industry.

It's an industry. I haven't claimed otherwise.

it wasn't the Japanese

If I misunderstood you, I stand corrected. CanI take it you disagree with the Taiji stance of But it's our tradition as an excuse for the butchery?

Still, the claims that the dolphins are being killed for food on the one hand, and that it's an industry on the other, do not justify what goes on, nor does burning the odd stick of incense and bowing. There is little to no profit in dolphin meat, which is highly contaminated and unfit to eat. It's the live animals that provide the big money, and hopefully with JAZA refusing membership to aquaria that continue to buy live dolphins from the Taiji hunts, that money will soon dry up enough to make the hunts untenable.

Then the butchers can pay their last respects and go and find proper jobs.

sigh

The form submitted did not originate from the expected site

The form submitted did not originate from the expected site

>

Can I take it you disagree with the Taiji stance of But it's our tradition as an excuse for the butchery?

I think they've been doing it for more than a generation. I'm not clear at exactly what the definition of 'tradition' is to be able to judge whether it is or not. I've taken my family on vacation every January for the past three years. Is that tradition? Or does it have to be for decades, or multi-generational? It's not clear to me.

the claims that the dolphins are being killed for food on the one hand, and that it's an industry on the other, do not justify what goes on

That's a matter of opinion. I don't like the brutality of the hunt, but I don't have any moral objection to eating dolphins or whale. I don't like zoos in general, so I do have an issue with that, but I'm not as vehemently against it as you are.

nor does burning the odd stick of incense and bowing.

I see it as paying respect, not an attempt to excuse anything.

I think they've been doing it for more than a generation.

The hunt started in 1969.

Is 'tradition' any excuse for barbarity? Footbinding in China , suttee in India, child sacrifice in South America, were all time-honoured traditions we are well rid of.

I don't have any moral objection to eating dolphins

How about a moral objection to the feeding of toxic waste to schoolchildren?

I see it as paying respect

I see it as adding insult to injury.