Japan resumes commercial hunt of whales

Japanese whalers brought ashore their first catches yesterday as they resumed commercial hunting after a three-decade hiatus, brushing aside criticism from activists who say the practice is cruel and outdated. Five vessels set sail under grey morning skies from northern Japan's Kushiro with their horns blaring and grey tarps thrown over their harpoons. By Monday afternoon they were back with their catch: two grey minke whales.

The hunts come after Japan decided to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission, a move slammed by activists and anti-whaling countries but welcomed by Japanese whaling communities. "Today is the best day," said Yoshifumi Kai, head of the Japan Small-Type Whaling Association, as the ocean giants were hauled ashore. "It was worth waiting for 31 years," he said with a smile. One of the whales,

more than eight metres (27 feet) long, was hoisted from a ship onto a truck and driven to a warehouse. Inside, whalers hosed it down with water and then lined up to pour ceremonial cups of the Japanese liquor sake over the animal — a ritual to purify and celebrate the catch.

Vessels left from other ports elsewhere in Japan on Monday, including in Shimonoseki in the west of the country, and whalers and government officials hailed the resumption of the hunts. “I’m a bit nervous but happy that we can start whaling,” 23-year-old Hideki Abe, a whaler from the Miyagi region in northern Japan, told AFP before leaving from Kushiro.  “I don’t think young people know how to cook and eat whale meat any more. I want more people to try to taste it at least once.”

 

 

Japan resumes commercial hunt of whales

Japanese whalers brought ashore their first catches yesterday as they resumed commercial hunting after a three-decade hiatus, brushing aside criticism from activists who say the practice is cruel and outdated. Five vessels set sail under grey morning skies from northern Japans Kushiro with their horns blaring and grey tarps thrown over their harpoons. By Monday afternoon they were back with their catch: two grey minke whales. The hunts come after Japan decided to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission, a move slammed by activists and anti-whaling countries but welcomed by Japanese whaling communities. Today is the best day, said Yoshifumi Kai, head of the Japan Small-Type Whaling Association, as the ocean giants were hauled ashore. It was worth waiting for 31 years, he said with a smile. One of the whales, more than eight metres (27 feet) long, was hoisted from a ship onto a truck and driven to a warehouse. Inside, whalers hosed it down with water and then lined up to pour ceremonial cups of the Japanese liquor sake over the animal a ritual to purify and celebrate the catch. Vessels left from other ports elsewhere in Japan on Monday, including in Shimonoseki in the west of the country, and whalers and government officials hailed the resumption of the hunts. Im a bit nervous but happy that we can start whaling, 23-year-old Hideki Abe, a whaler from the Miyagi region in northern Japan, told AFP before leaving from Kushiro. I dont think young people know how to cook and eat whale meat any more. I want more people to try to taste it at least once.