Lost in Whale Dispute

Japanese people in their age of mid-forties or older may have a sort of nostalgia in dark brown meat of whale. When beef was called diamond of meat, whale was one of the typical protein providers for the Japanese. As diversity of foods increased, they no longer had a reason to kill a number of whales. Eating whale is getting to be an old cultural heritage in this nation living on the sea.

International Court of Justice judged that whaling by the Japanese in Antarctic Sea could not be regarded as for scientific purpose and ordered suspension. While the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling admitted whaling for research, Australia appealed that Japanese whaling had been for commercial purpose. The decision of the court denounced Japan as not seeking alternative method to killing. Japan will be ousted from Antarctic Sea, if it does not find any alternative way of whaling.

Diplomatic section of Japanese government has been optimistic on the trial. While International Whaling Commission gives Japan quota up to 1035 whales a year, Japan only captured 100 to 200 as a result of obstruction of organizations for whale protection. The government officials were confident that their argument for necessity of researching how whales were increased was persuasive. However, the court decided that the quota had been too much.

Basically, the point was not violation of whale treaty, but real purpose of whaling. Everybody who knows a little about preference of whale meat of the Japanese can realize how whaling would be profitable in Japan. In the restaurants and super markets, whale meat is consumed with quite high price. Moreover, while Japan’s research plan submitted to IWC was researching three kinds of whales, it overwhelmingly captured only one kind. Research whaling in Antarctic Sea has actually been nothing but business.

News organizations reported disappointments of the Japanese people. Some cities along Pacific coast are traditionally known as whaling bases. They worried about elimination of their business. Some TV reported voices of customers of whale meat restaurants. “Eating whale is traditional culture of Japan. It should not be denied by foreign nations,” is a common argument of whale meat fans.

But, with fewer opportunities of having whale on dishes, it is hard to say that eating whale is Japanese culture. No one in Japan needs to have whale everyday. Most Japanese will not be very frustrated with one whale dish in a few years. Appropriate supply for reduced demand for whale is fundamental. If they want more, they should build whale ranches in the sea. Why not?