NihonRyu comments

These two women were likely coached by the anti-Japan establishment (search House of Sharing) to embellish their ordeal and blame it on the Japanese when in fact they were likely sold into the system by their own family members and abused by the Korean owned brothels and brokers who took them to the front line comfort house establishments. Recent book by S. Korean professors paint a very different picture and the blame must be shared by all and not just pointed at the Japanese. It is very clear that there are ulterior motives to continue the comfort women issue and the S. Korean government should really crack down on them as it looks bad that these organisations will continue to keep the atmosphere to perpetually keep the issue alive. (It the far left establishment in S.Korea with ties to N.Korea that doesn't want to see Japan and S. Korea reconcilliate and create a stronger U.S., Japan, S.Korea alliance against N. Korea, China.

@wtfjapan: http://luna.pos.to/whale/jwa_v8_suzu.html Nutritionally speaking Minke Whales caught in unpolluted Antarctic waters is better for you than most other animal protein types. Please look at the research provide by National Institute of Resources of the Science and Technology Agency. Nice try but informed Japanese and foreigners that love whale will continue to eat this delicacy and hopefully more of it will come from the pristine oceans of the Antarctic in a ecological and sustainable way backed by Scientific research on allowable quotas, etc.

Love delicious nutritious Whale meat! Happy they sticking to their guns on this one!

There is a healthy population of Minke whales for viable commercial whaling, scientific research has proven so. If it's not in anyone's territorial waters and in the international open sea with set limits and quotas, I don't see what the fuss is all about! Damn haolis!

@David3: You can thank China, N.Korea, and S.Korea's insistent bullying and perpetual hatred towards Japan for it's war past 70yrs ago to wake Japan's population to the reality of where it is today and that without a strong military to take actions when pushed we will never gain an equal footing for dialogue for true conciliation. Think about the Northern islands still held by Russia illegally or S.Korea taking Takeshima during the hand-off during the U.S. occupation and still illegally occupying it, N.Korea kidnapping our citizens without recourse, China claiming Senkaku as their own, etc. All of which Japan has done the due diligence with the U.N. and ICJ to take recourse but to no avail or cooperation.. Might=Right in this barbaric world we live-in today and all the peace for the past 70yrs and support we (Japan) provided the UN, China, S.Korea has done little to even take a fair shot at true reconciliation to do the right thing. It's high time we build a strong sensible nation that can defend our own women and children and be an equal business and military partner with our allies in the region.

Such a non-issue this dolphin hunting business by the people of Taiji. There are so many more pressing challenges facing humanity and the environment right now to deflect so much emotional attachment to this. People are doing cruel and barbaric things to each other every day, much of the environment in some countries are completely poisoned, etc. which is on the news, why get hung-up on hunting a few hundred dolphins and whales in a sustainable manner. (Hint: It is because Japan is so easily bullied.) If overwhelming Japanese population do not care about the annual Taiji hunts this is our issue and nobody else to be concerned about. I love dolphins and whales and have encountered both many times in the wild in Hawaii, Northwest, and in Japan. Doesn't mean I can't enjoy a little bit of whale sashimi or dolphin stew occasionally. Cows, Pigs, horses, dogs, you name it can all be our sacred animal or pets and food depending on culture, etc. The fact that dolphins and some types of whales like Minke whales are not endangered and plentiful in Japan coastal waters means that a sustainable hunting program should not be blocked by anyone other than Japan's own population.

About time Japan is stepping-up in the right direction to become a responsible nation able to defend itself and its allies.

Justice served finally! Gonna celebrate with some whale sashimi tonight!

Abe rocks!

@sandiegoluv The comfort women issue started in 1977, a Japanese author (and known communist) by the name of Seiji Yoshida made claims in speeches and newspapers that during World War II he had forcibly rounded up young women in Jeju Island and other places in the same manner as African slaves to serve in brothels for the Japanese military. His story was later published as a fictional novel in 1983. In September 1982, before the novel was published, without authentication, the Asahi Shinbun (known left leaning newspaper) reported as a “historical scoop” his claims as fact. In initial stages, the Asahi continued to insist the crux of the problem was that these women had been forcibly recruited, citing testimony from Yoshida and other sources. However, the testimony and data used by the paper as a basis for its reasoning were later undoubtedly disproved.

The Korean government erroneously seized upon this issue, resulting in a serious deterioration of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan. Korea has made demands for separate reparations, and has insisted that Japanese history textbooks should include a discussion of this issue. It also took the issue to the U.N. Human Rights Commission, which issued a report in 1996 continuing the misunderstanding. Of late, several statues have even been erected by Korean American organizations in cities in the United States honoring the comfort women trying to promote and perpetuate the original lie/misconception.

There are growing, unsubstantiated questions about whether the Japanese Imperial Army kidnapped 200,000 sex-slaves (Comfort Women) in World War II. Mostly from Korea.

A $30 million US Government Study specifically searched for evidence on Comfort Women allegations.

After nearly seven years with many dozens of staff pouring through US archives -- and 30 million dollars down the drain -- they found a grand total of nothing.

The final IWG report to Congress was issued in 2007. (Linked below.)

Nobody should be writing about Comfort Women issues without reading this report cover to cover.

Many of the unsubstantiated claims are coming from Korea. Korean allegations have led to unexpected twists.

During WW2, Korea was actually part of Japan -- roughly in the way that Puerto Rico is part of the USA.

Many Koreans were members of the Japanese military. So any allegations that the Japanese military kidnapped 200,000 women implies that Koreans were involved in kidnapping Koreans. This is an uncomfortable reality.

So today, South Korean President Park Geun-hye constantly accuses Japan of kidnapping these shiploads of women.

Imagine how this boomerangs back. President Park is saying that Japan -- and her daddy was an officer in the Japanese Army at the time -- kidnapped uncounted tens of thousands of women from Korea as sex-slaves. Yet there is no evidence that Korean men fought back. (Were Korean men just simply cowards unwilling to defend their women's honour or was this fabricated or the very least fabricated? (Take a thorough look at the U.S. report on comfort women below and search comfort women within the document if you don't have time to read cover to cover.)

http://www.archives.gov/iwg/reports/final-report-2007.pdf

China needs to be taught a lesson in humility for all their bullying. I hope Japan hurries up and revises their constitution and build a strong deterence together with the U.S., Vietnam, and Phillipines to precent China's aggressive land-grabbing and unilateral moves.

The Anti-whaling proponents here are really not rational in the way they bolster their argument are they? Even if there was a special laser that could kill a whale instantly and effortlessly, they would find a way to argue something else as to why sustainable commercial whaling cannot take place.

Ridiculous, well I am off to the supermarket now for whale sashimi for dinner. lol.. Gotta do my part to support team Japan!

@outta here The declared sanctuary in the southern ocean that you speak of where Japanese whaling is conducted is not internationally recognized or binding nor is it in the territorial waters of any nation. Please be reasonable. Since that area has the most abundance of minke whales in the world would it not make sense to harvest there instead of around elsewhere where there are fewer numbers? Are the Japanese hunting whales in any nation's territorial waters? I think not. Its in international waters, please try not to pretend like it's in any nation's back yard. That's like Japan complaining about Korea or China fishing in the international waters of Sea of Japan. lol.. If Australia came to fish in the international waters of Sea of Japan, I am sure Japan would not complain as it is allowed. We are only after whale species that are highly abundant and renewable. Is Australia, NZ going to miss a few hundred or thousand whales out of a population of over a million in the vast open ocean far from their territorial waters in the Southern ocean? I think not... It is simply cultural imperialism.

@nigelboy Thanks for the more indepth research into the issue to invalidate the anti-whaling proponents claim about the unsold whale meet. Every owner of a restaurant that serves whale has also said if it wasn't for the moratorium on commercial whaling they could provide much more whale at a lower cost. What I paid for the choice Fluke meat in Tokyo was quite high perhaps equal or more than wagyu beef. I hate it when cultural imperialists such as anti-whalers. nose around on what we r allowed to eat.

@Thunderbird2

Who dictates what traditions should due out? We Japanese should choose our own destiny whether we contine whaling or not and shouldn't be forced down our throats to stop us based on others cultural perspectives. Btw- we eat horses too and love it! I guess your against that too? Love horseback riding and horses but horse sashimi is excellent just as whale sashimi is tasty as well. If there is enough market and interest in Japan to keep sustainable whaling in place what's the dilemna?

@Zichi

Is there a Japanese article that confirms the unsold whale meat information due to its unpopularty? My local Izakaya owner tells me that whale meat is expensive and rather scarce instead due to the moratorium on commercial whaling. Perhaps my seaside locale and population are accustomed to eating whale more but around my parts we all have eaten whale in he past year and most on a monthly or weekly basis such as I and is available at all the major supermarkets.

@SmithinJapan

No I am just asking for a source to the information from a respectable Japanese news organization such as Yomiuri, Asahi, Mainichi shinbun, etc.

@SmithinJapan

Your link to your source that whale meat is not being sold is from an Australian newspaper, hardly a source that I would call non-biased about the whaling issue. Couldn't find anything on Japanese sites that agee confirms this information.

@SmithinJapan

Can you show me the link to the hordes of whale meat that is rotting in freezers? Also the 90% of Japanese that has never eaten whale? Please furnish proof from a reliable non anti whaling source preferably Japanese. Almost every Japanese and many foreigners in japan that I know have tried it and many like it. Is it as easily available and economical as chicken, pork, beef? No, but neither is horse which is eaten by many Japanese but not regularly as it is more scarce just as whale is. Whale is not seen here as a cheap food that is given to pets.!? Are you kidding? I can see the guts and non-choice cuts of whale being used in pet food perhaps but certainly not main good portions that can be seen provided by any number of izakayas and specialty restaurants across Japan.

@ThomasAnderson Do you think Japan and the whale species would be better off with Japan leaving the IWC? It is a whaling commission isn't it? What's the purpose of a whaling commission that has no purpose to support scientific based sustainable whaling to protect future whale stocks? Ridiculous isn't it? That is probably why Norway and Iceland left the IWC. Lets not forget that it was mostly western cultures practice of non-sustainable whaling for hundreds of years discarding the meat that led to whale population decline in the first place. We Japanese eat and use almost all of the whale's valuable gift to us thus the many shrines dedicated to whales all around traditional Japanese whaling towns.

@Thomas Anderson

Nobody is forcing whale meat on anybody but we Japanese certainly don't like to be forced into not eating whale meat for none other reason than you or other anti-whaling people feel its morally wrong and try to bully your perspectives. Many, most Japanese feel the same way.

@Zichi

If we Japanese no longer have interest in eating whale as you say just leave it alone and don't bother anyone about it and see where it leads. I bet we will continue eating whale for many generations forward. Just as we will continue to eat horse, raw fish, etc. Your argument that we don't have the culture to whale is silly, with modern tools and equipment, mankind including indigenous people's adapt with new technology just as the Native Americans utilized and adapted to the horses brought in by the Spaniards to hunt buffalo and wage war, do you think we Japanese don't have the right to advance our own hunting, fishing, farming practices culture with the advent of new technologies and know how regardless if it was founded on by western cultures? What's wrong with sustainable harvest of the ocean's creatures? Japan is 90% mountainous, the rest are cities, we don't have vast pastoral lands that many western countries have to raise livestock, we must utilize the ocean in proficient and sustainable ways.

At the end of the day, please use logic and sound reasoning not just an emotional based diatribe as to why Japan needs to succumb to anti-whaling groups wish to end all manners of hunting whales, dolphins. There is nothing to be ashamed of being Japanese and proud to harvest and eat whale.

@MasterBape Nihonryu,

"Most Japanese love dolphins and whales for the majestic creatures they are but also enjoy eating them on occasion as they are considered tasty to many of us and if scientifically sustainable should not be interfered by foreign anti-whaling coalition and organizations just because they are against it from their cultural perspective"

And this is the "them versus us" which is part of the problem.

A few quick question for you:

You support whaling, so do you agree with the amount of tax and also large amount of Tohoku funds spent on whaling? Yes, I do. My friends from Tohoku have relatives that depend on whaling and the resumption of it for their livelihoods. how often do you eat whale meat? About once a week and when SeaShepard are acting up us local surfer guys and gals do a whale eating party on purpose to show our support for the whaler's cause and an excuse to eat delicious whale sashimi!

do you believe both Sea Shepherd and whalers use aggressive tactics? Or the whalers are the victims? The whalers are minding their business and operating in a responsible and legal fashion. The whaling is done in international waters on an abundant whale species so yes SeaShepard are usin aggressive tactics and can go to hell as far as I am concerned!

I am a Japanese national and avid surfer and speak on behalf of most of my friends and Japanese people I know that enjoy the Ocean and the marine creatures we see and encounter in the waters. Many of us enjoy eating whale as a special delicacy and some even dolphins although I personally prefer whale over dolphin due to the gaminess of dolphin meat. Most Japanese love dolphins and whales for the majestic creatures they are but also enjoy eating them on occasion as they are considered tasty to many of us and if scientifically sustainable should not be interfered by foreign anti-whaling coalition and organizations just because they are against it from their cultural perspective. I love watching dolphins and whales breach close to me while I surf and have even played with some that were friendly but still, it wouldn't stop me from eating them once in a while, I don't want to see them go extinct either but sustainable whaling of the Minke whale species is something myself and a whole lot of normal active Japanese people would support whole heatedly.

DavidatTokyo: Very well said! Couldn't agree with you more.

Regulated sustainable whaling is always better. I think it is a fair comprimise to "no whaling at all what so ever just because I disdain the thought of killing cuddly whales."

Imagine a scenario where China, Japan, Korea all started indescrimanate unsustainable whaling in international waters..!!! Yeah, that is what I thought... You anti-whaling extremists would really have a handful if the Chinese had a tradition of eating whale. lol..!!! Let's hope the Chinese masses don't develop the taste of eating whale like they have with Maguro sashimi and sushi.. The whales would be in big trouble... lol..

Japan must never, ever give in to an idealogical difference regarding the whaling issue as long as it is sustainable and legal. The whaling ships of Japan are in internationally recognized waters, not in Australia's territorial waters. Partaking in some of nature's abundance and bounty be it whales, fish, etc.. need to be managed collectively but having an idealogical/emotional problem for harvesting a certain species at a detriment to another is something that should not be tolerated especially if it condones violence as a means to accomplish it.

I love whale meat!! Whale meat is tasy and very nutritious, I think we Japanese should do a better job introducing our unique whale eating culture to the entire world. Every non-Japanese friend of mine who have tried it with me not knowing what it was liked it (Chinese, Korean, American, Austrailian, French, British, etc.,) Especially the tasty fluke area, that is the best part!!! I do admit some where non too happy that I tricked them lol..!!! But most after tasting it polish it off anyway. Some of the granola types sure got mad though!!! lol... Meat is meat... Most Japanese support sustainable whaling, we sure wouldn't want to hunt them into extinction, we are actually quite the environmentailist traditionally speaking. If there are a million+ Minke whales out in the Antarctic, I don't see what the fuss is. It's not like we are killing indescrimanately every whale species even the endangered ones. Actually, I read somewhere that the overpopulation of Minke whales maybe causing other more rare species of whales to decline as they compete for prey. If that is the case, I don't see why culling a few thousand out of a million that could be enjoyed on our dinner tables is such a sin especially in the light that it may help save other more endangered whale species. Whaling! Whaling! Whaling! Yeah, love whale meat!!!! lol....

@Zichi: Perhaps the stockpile is for emergency food rations just as there are supposedly stockpiles of coal stored within Tokyo bay in the event of emergencies. I don't know, but whale meat is regularly sold out in my supermarket and is still rather expensive compared to Tuna and other sashimi, same goes for most sushi places that carry whale. Japan carries one of the greatest risk for food dependancy as we import almost everything. Since we cannot turn our mountainous terrain into large grazing lands or farms the sea is one of our greatest benefactors thus our mainly traditional Seafood diet. I would love to replace imported Aust Pork and beef with tasty and healthy whale from the Antarctic. Unfortunately, the cost of whale meat is much higher than imported meat. Perhaps with fullscale resumed (sustainable) commercial whaling, we can begin to enjoy more often and choose whale over imported beef, pork, etc..

@BlueWitch: Many people including 外国人　love whale sashimi which I suppose is highly subjective. I also like shiokara, so what?? Personally, I support sustainable legally sancitioned whaling as I like to eat whale and hope future generations in Japan will continue to be able to as well. Contrary to your opinion, many Japanese also feel the same as me..and certainly despise the actions of SS and Australia and NZ's ethnocentric and emotional opinions on this matter. As Ossan says there is a legal framework and Japan is not doing anything illegal in anyone's territorial waters. Some whale species are overabundant and I don't see any reason why we Japanese who eat whale cannot harvest a sustainable, healthy, not to mention tasty food supply just because others feel it to apprehensible to them.

I hope they have a successful hunt and bring the Maritime SDF ships with them to defend against SS and their terrorists. Would love to see the SS ships try to menace an armed escort ship. One thing I can say about the Russians, they would sink the SS clowns if they tried to harrass their whaling ships. I love my whale sashimi!!! lol

I hope Japan does not bow down to China's arrogance as they did last year and actually protect our national interest and our integrity. I would like to see the true test of our U.S. alliance once things get ugly between Japan and China. Why is that both China and Korea do not want to settle our territorial dispute properly in International Court?! Because they would lose...lol..