Japan’s decision to bring its whaling fleet home from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary last month brought shouts of victory from anti-whaling campaigners. But back home in Japan, there are those who aren’t so happy.
Masayuki Komatsu, former Japanese delegate to the International Whaling Commission, told AM radio today that he thought Japan’s early pull-out was a spineless decision.
“I think it’s very cowardly action. I really regret that they decided to come back saying that it’s a matter of safety of the life,” Komatsu said.
Komatsu was also more than a little disappointed with Australia for launching legal action against Japan’s whaling programme last year.
Like Australia, New Zealand strongly opposed Japan’s “scientific whaling” under which hundreds of whales are killed annually with the meat ending up in Japanese restaurants, according to World Against Whaling.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard was joined by New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key in a quest to eliminate whaling in the southern waters.
“I think Australia’s position is very much disappointing, and perhaps lots of Japanese [are] really not happy with the action taken by Australia,” Komatsu said.
For Japanese restaurateurs like Michio Kono, Japan’s withdrawal from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary signals an end to whaling, but chef Kono insists “research whaling must continue,” ABC News said.
For 40 years, Chef Kono has delighted loyal customers with such delicacies as whale stew, steaks, and sashimi.
“I think the government is full of cowards,” he told ABC News. “Whale meat is delicious and healthy. It’s part of our culture. This decision is pitiful.”
Over the past six years, anti-whaling campaigners from the US-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society have pursued the Japanese fleet for months in the icy waters near Antarctica, seeking to stop the slaughter.
This time, its hindering of the Japanese flotilla not only chased the vessels home, but reduced catches to just 170 minke whales, or one-fifth of its annual quota, ABC News reported.
“I have a crew of 88 very happy people from 23 different nations including Japan and they are absolutely thrilled that the whalers are heading home and the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is now indeed a real sanctuary,” said Captain Paul Watson in a Sea Shepherd statement.
However, there may be another reason for Japan ending the hunting season early—freezers across the nation contain a record stockpile of 6,000 tonnes of unwanted whale meat, according to ABC News.
Greenpeace campaigner says attitudes in Japan seem to be changing, and state-financed whale hunts waste taxpayers’ money, creating excess unwanted whale meat.
“We want people in Japan and abroad to understand that behind the decision this time is the fact that fewer and fewer Japanese people eat whale meat,” Greenpeace campaigner Junichi Sato told AFP.
“Demand for whale meat had rapidly dropped in recent years ... More and more young people have begun to think that whales are not to be eaten, but to be protected as wild animals.”
Masayuki Komatsu, former Japanese delegate to the International Whaling Commission, told AM radio today that he thought Japan’s early pull-out was a spineless decision.
“I think it’s very cowardly action. I really regret that they decided to come back saying that it’s a matter of safety of the life,” Komatsu said.
Komatsu was also more than a little disappointed with Australia for launching legal action against Japan’s whaling programme last year.
Like Australia, New Zealand strongly opposed Japan’s “scientific whaling” under which hundreds of whales are killed annually with the meat ending up in Japanese restaurants, according to World Against Whaling.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard was joined by New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key in a quest to eliminate whaling in the southern waters.
“I think Australia’s position is very much disappointing, and perhaps lots of Japanese [are] really not happy with the action taken by Australia,” Komatsu said.
For Japanese restaurateurs like Michio Kono, Japan’s withdrawal from the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary signals an end to whaling, but chef Kono insists “research whaling must continue,” ABC News said.
For 40 years, Chef Kono has delighted loyal customers with such delicacies as whale stew, steaks, and sashimi.
“I think the government is full of cowards,” he told ABC News. “Whale meat is delicious and healthy. It’s part of our culture. This decision is pitiful.”
Over the past six years, anti-whaling campaigners from the US-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society have pursued the Japanese fleet for months in the icy waters near Antarctica, seeking to stop the slaughter.
This time, its hindering of the Japanese flotilla not only chased the vessels home, but reduced catches to just 170 minke whales, or one-fifth of its annual quota, ABC News reported.
“I have a crew of 88 very happy people from 23 different nations including Japan and they are absolutely thrilled that the whalers are heading home and the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is now indeed a real sanctuary,” said Captain Paul Watson in a Sea Shepherd statement.
However, there may be another reason for Japan ending the hunting season early—freezers across the nation contain a record stockpile of 6,000 tonnes of unwanted whale meat, according to ABC News.
Greenpeace campaigner says attitudes in Japan seem to be changing, and state-financed whale hunts waste taxpayers’ money, creating excess unwanted whale meat.
“We want people in Japan and abroad to understand that behind the decision this time is the fact that fewer and fewer Japanese people eat whale meat,” Greenpeace campaigner Junichi Sato told AFP.
“Demand for whale meat had rapidly dropped in recent years ... More and more young people have begun to think that whales are not to be eaten, but to be protected as wild animals.”
