I would encourage Japanese people to go whale watching. It's extraordinary, it crosses culture, crosses emotion. The exposure increases the passion.

I would encourage a foreigner to eat the whale and realize its deliciousness which is peculiar to the uniqueness of Japanese culture of which no other culture is similar.

Whale watching cruises also leave from Tokyo Bay and many other locations. Been on one but didn't see anything I haven't seen on TV.

Was feelings wise more like a trip to the zoo. For me like Fuji-San to be done once, twice unlikely.

One word. "Booooring!!"

Agree kinda with nigelboy.

Would have been more fun if I could have brought my scuba-gear and taken a dive with one.

Also they ussualy don't get close to the whales, some tours do but they break the rules by doing so.

Big stink down-under as many tour-operators get too close(pays more).

Better still, a tasty platter of whale sashimi with few cold beers - while on the whale watching cruise. Best of both worlds!

One word. "Booooring!!"

Well why did you take the time to read and comment on this article then?

Ha ha ha, Red7! It is despicable to kill whales, but your comment still made me laugh.

I would encourage a foreigner to eat the whale and realize its deliciousness which is peculiar to the uniqueness of Japanese culture of which no other culture is similar.

Ha ha ha ha this is the funniest thing I've heard all weeek. Typical 'We are Japanese' 'This is our culture' 'We are better than you' The funny thing is though, if Japanese only kept to their backyard and didn't venture into someone elses, there probably wouldn't be any problem with Japanese Whaling. But the fact is, they are too chicken shitted to hunt for whales up north near Russia or the US, so they go way way way down south (of course these are their traditional fishing grounds LMFAO) Claiming tradition and culture just proves how ignorant you really are of Japanese culture.

PrideInJapanese: best T-shirt worthy posting of all time. Complete lameness in one shot. Seen "The Cove"????? Dare ya!

Well, it was a good try but never going going to happen! As for prideinJapanese's comment, show me Japans culture of whaling?

Many European countries had a "long and true culture" of whaling, but when the whales became so hard to find, and there numbers so few, the viability of the industry was no more, they gave it up. They are now honourably protectors of the species they and others, once almost destroyed, and very proud of the steps they have taken to ensure the mistakes of the past are never repeated.

japan has no culture of whaling, they are just greedy and ignorant.

In Australia, it is BIG NEWS when the whales wander down our coastlines every year, they grace the evening news. When one washes up on the beaches our environmental teams and locals are there, working together to try to save it. Last night a fisherman caught the first ever footage of a whale being born and we saw it the nightly news, and scientists from all over the world viewed the footage, hoping to learn a bit more about these amazing creatures. In Australia and most other countries in the world, whales and dolphins are held in high esteem, honoured and a treasured everyday part of our lives. The more japan continues to slaughter these most majestic of creatures in the most horrific way, the more we see Japan as the enemy to the things we see as important. japan kills whales and dolphins to protect its tuna fishing industry, 2,000 miles from home in a whale sanctuary. Why not do it own your own dirty, diseased over fished, lifeless backyard. Why do half a job you may as well destroy is completley.

In denial you can make up "culture" excuses, but it will never make it true. GREED and ignorance will distance Japan from the rest of the world, and it's people, who mostly are not even aware, will be wrongly tarred with the blood of it's government.

I think I might give the Japanese government, who understands how easy it is to rape and steal what is precious from others, an insight into how we feel. I might organize a "scientific" expedition to japan with the intention of learning more about Japans cheery trees? Will only need to cut down a thousand or 2 trees a year, I will of course need to sell the fallen wood in Australia to make garden mulch to fund the "science", but i am sure after 20 or 30 years of this 'science", we may have enough data to tell the scientific community that our research over the decades has shown that.... yep, wait for it, japan has now 20 thousand LESS TREES in Japan, and will hope that one day our research might be peer reviewed!!! Maybe then the people of japan will understand how Australians feel!!!!