Japan's unhealthy obsession with whales
Thanks for that "grey squirrels for lunch" link, Barry. It reminded me of the "Japan and whales" story I heard on BBC World the other day.
This is just pure madness. First the Japanese government pisses everyone off by hunting those whales for "scientific research" - what exactly are they studying so hard? Then at the same time this meat is going to the restaurants. If this is not insane enough, apparently there is too much meat for the restaurants. But instead of cutting down on supply, the government is taking steps to increase the demand, while at the same time increasing supply even further.
.. and all this in the name of nationalism and tradititions, which do not really exist?
WTF?!?
Schoolchildren in the western coastal district of Wakayama are now being offered an unusual addition to their lunch menus. Whale.
[...]
The Wakayama education board is supplying whale meat to around 280 schools, to try to promote awareness of the region's whaling traditions.
[...]
For all of Japan's success in winning support from other countries for its campaign to ease the restrictions on whaling - especially smaller countries which receive Japanese aid - the Japanese people are losing interest.
[...]
The official line is that whaling is an integral part of Japanese culture, a practice dating back hundreds of years.
That isn't quite true. A few coastal communities, like Wakayama, have been hunting whales for centuries, traditionally with hand-held harpoons.
But the rest of Japan only became familiar with eating whale during the 20th Century, as modern ships with harpoon-guns became available.
This is just pure madness. First the Japanese government pisses everyone off by hunting those whales for "scientific research" - what exactly are they studying so hard? Then at the same time this meat is going to the restaurants. If this is not insane enough, apparently there is too much meat for the restaurants. But instead of cutting down on supply, the government is taking steps to increase the demand, while at the same time increasing supply even further.
.. and all this in the name of nationalism and tradititions, which do not really exist?
WTF?!?
posted by amitav at 3/29/2006 11:32:00 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Well, it obviously has something to do with the resurgent Japanese nationalism. Ever since the second world war, Japanese have been obsessesed with manga and the like, because from a highly militarised society which considered itself superior to everyone else, it was suddenly greatly humbled. This whale killing is just another attempt to feel powerful. I have a feeling that I will know more about this once I finish reading Moby Dick.
In the last few years there have been more and more pressure for Japanese military to play a greater role in the regional affairs. I suppose killing whales is part of this idea. Perhaps the thinking goes as follows: today we kill whales, tomorrow we get back Kuril islands. As BBC article shows, Japanese offcials are most offended by the idea that someone else is telling them what not to do, and they don't like that.
you've not finished it yet?!!? dis-gusting... you wouldn't find me reading a great work of literature like moby dick and not finishing it...
... ok i still haven't read it all either :(
re: real reason?
i think with this kind of thing it is very likely that policymakers in Japan have a vested interest in the whaling industry there's alotta meat on one whale... and i'm guessing whale meat ain't cheap...
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L
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Sister, what exactly are you accusing those poor whales of? "Some of them had it coming" - indeed.
I tend to look at the rights of mammals as above those of plankton, definitely above those phytoplankton, and perhaps even over the single celled zooplankton. I am not sure why this is. I guess this means that I am prejudiced:)
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