It is well known that Japan hunts whales for "scientific purposes" (meat). The problem I have is that I live in Japan, I disagree with whaling on principle, but there is nothing I can do. I am trapped by Japanese culture on this one.
There will be people who say that there is plenty I can do. Problem is, in order to protect myself in this land, I have to keep quiet on this topic. The Japanese have never had a culture of immigration into Japan, and still have a "them and us" mentality. It is hidden, buried deep, glossed over by the fact that the Japanese love western stuff, but the mentality is there, ready to surface with the slightest provocation.
The Japanese are happy to buy into western culture, but are deeply unwilling to allow "them" to interfere with Japanese culture. Really, it is my belief that if the world actually went about agreeing with Japan on the whaling thing and where somewhat more pragmatic, you would find the Japanese probably happy to accept far lower quotas than they operate to now! And could possibly negotiate it all the way down to 0 at some point in the future!
As long as you front up to the Japanese, and demand they make changes to their culture, you are doomed to failure. You are more likely to be able to move the moon than demand the Japanese back down. If you go at them with all reasonableness and allow a certain degree of face-saving, then the Japanese are willing to negotiate over anything.
Whaling itself ends up delivering meat to Japanese supermarkets and on to the menu at many restaurants. I feel it is worth me declaring that I have tried whale meat. It was put in front of me, so to save my own face, I tried it. I thought, what the hey. I told them I personally objected to whaling, but did not push it, and tried the meat.
When they asked me how it was, well to tell the truth, I was not that impressed. It was soft. But slightly greasy, and lacked flavour. Distinctly underwhelming.
Ah well. Tried it. Never again. Will have to politely decline from now on in.
Still, I move on.
In the south of Japan, there is a small town called Taiji, which every year has a Dolphin hunt, where they drive dolphins into a bay for slaughter, and some for sale to aquariums. This does bring good money, with some animals going for $154,000!
The rest are sold for meat. They go to local shops, to schools, and to zoos to feed the lions.
Why do they do it? Well, it is a tradition dating back through the mists of time. However, the motivation is simple. Pest control. The fishermen of Taiji see dolphins as pests who eat "their" fish! So, off they go to kill as many dolphins as they can.
They do so by dropping pipes into the water and bang them to create a wall of sound. Apparently it is so bad, it completely terrifies the dolphins and drives them into a small cove, where most of them are butchered.
There is an organisation, "SaveJapanDolphins.org" who are campaigning to stop this wholesale slaughter. The ambition is very honourable, and I am sure that most Japanese will agree. Dophins are fantastic animals, and not really what the Japanese crave for dinner!
Also, there are health risks. Japan is a beautiful nation. However, it is far from perfect. It is not unknown for a manufacturer to quietly "misplace" icky stuff into a nearby river. The penalties can be severe, but the problem is, the LDP government was DEFINITELY pro-business! And not so keen on punishing companies when they cried out for help because of competition. A lot of this icky stuff contains mercury, and leads to dolphin meat being hazardous to health.
This has, in another area in Japan, led to the naming of the Minamata disease, where people in the north of Japan suffered from mercury poisoning. It took forever to get the government to acknowledge it, and sort it out!
Anyhoo. Back to the Dolphins.
The local populace do have dolphin meat in the supermarket, but do they drive the demand? Not really. Like I said, whale meat really is not that impressive. They keep it on the menu, well, because it has always been there. And the Japanese love their "tradition!"
Its kept alive by the fishermen who make money from selling the meat, and HUGE profits from selling choice dolphins to the zoo industry! All this with the approval of the government. Problem here is that fish is VERY important to the Japanese. Makes up a large part of the diet, a huge part of the culture, and the fishermen enjoy one heck of a powerful lobby!
A regular comment made to various campaign groups from the fishermen is that the public dont need to know. This sounds arrogant, and it is. However, it has to be tempered with a realisation that this is how the Japanese work. It is a VERY private nation. If someone is doing their job, then dont go sticking your nose in. All the more worse when its a foreigner asking! It is automatically classified as "interference!"
The big problem area has been information. The media has not been interested in talking about this, and the government has been active in supporting it. However, now we have the DPJ in power here in Japan, it is possible that campaign groups find them more conducive to the approaches of afore-mentioned groups.
The big thing for the campaign groups is to be careful. It is something I have learnt. The Japanese have been most welcoming to me. Once they discover I am not going to breathe fire, and eat their babies. Whilst I am trying to learn the language, I realise that to a great extent, I will forever be an outsider looking in (Them and Us!).
The Japanese see themselves as belonging to a nation with a long and stable history (we'll ignore the shogunates, the bloody civil wars, the modernization that saw the downfall of the Samurai, and of course, a minor issue in the 1930's to 40's!). The Japanese are open to comments from outside that they ask for, because it means they want to learn. However, the Japanese never offer ideas as that makes you stand out from the group. Likewise, outside groups offering ideas and criticism is mostly unwelcomed/ignored because, well, we are outsiders poking our noses in to Japanese life!
What a lot of outside groups need to do is not just come over to protest. That is deeply unlikely to work. It takes something of monumental proportions to move the Japanese to march in the streets. Dolphins wont do that. Therefore, a bunch of foreigners coming in to protest will, at best, be treated as an "and finally" moment on local news. Or more likely, just ignored.
It is not worthwhile shouting at the Japanese and trying to demonise them by encouraging boycotts. Problem is, the Japanese dont see Dolphin meat in the supermarkets all the time (I never have!). It really is a periphery thing for a lot of them. It is not an issue. It is something that has always happened. It does not trigger any bells. However, if you ask, they will agree that dolphin hunting is something that is best consigned to history.
To do this, you need to stop shouting, and start talking. Education is the key in Japan. Demanding an immediate stop is like trying to put the brakes on an oil tanker. However, with enough nudging, the SS Japan can be moved slowly to change!
It can be done.
I will, in my own quiet way, try to do my part!
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