The history of whaling in Japan.

In prehistoric times, Japan began whaling activities. Compared with Western whaling methods, Japan developed its own unique whaling technology; during the Edo period, a fishermen organization called the "Whale Group" appeared in Japan. , began to embark on the road of large-scale collective whaling; in the Meiji era, Japan introduced Western-style whaling technology, making ocean-going whaling possible, and became one of the major modern whaling countries together with Norway, the United Kingdom and other countries. Whaling activities It continues to this day.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the use of whales in Japan could be described as "making full use of their talents": meat was used as food, whale oil was used as fuel for oil lamps, and whale bones and beards were used as food. Raw materials for handicrafts, hair can be used to make ropes, blood can be used as a medicine, bones can be crushed and used as fertilizer, and a pest repellent method using whale oil as raw material has even been discovered.

Whaling during this period was under the direct jurisdiction of each Japanese vassal. The fishermen will get paid from the "whale group", and the surrounding fishermen will get paid for participating in the whale dismemberment operation, which has also become an important means of livelihood for the fishermen in winter.

The whaling targets during the Edo period were mainly black right whales and sperm whales. The first half to mid-19th century was the peak period of whaling in Japan. After that, due to the decrease in the number of whales returning to the sea, The whaling industry gradually declined. The main body of whaling, the "Whale Team", requires a large number of personnel, and it is gradually difficult to maintain and update the organization, which also accelerates the decline of Japan's whaling industry.

In the late Edo period, with the introduction of Western technology, Japan's whaling method entered the era of gun-based whaling.

American Perry's "Black Ship Attack" opened the door to a complacent Japan. The American whaling law, which only cultivated the navy, once attracted attention in Japan. Fukuoka Domain and Choshu Domain , Sendai Domain and other places have tried this fishing method, but ultimately failed due to lack of knowledge and equipment.

Later, Japan used a combination of the traditional "net-taking method" and the American whaling method, which lasted until the end of the Meiji period.

These fishing methods cannot achieve medium- and long-distance fishing. Long-term offshore fishing has led to a shortage of whale resources. It is urgent to introduce new techniques to achieve medium- and long-distance fishing. At this time, Norwegian-style whaling methods were introduced to Japan. With the backing of technology, in the Meiji 1930s, whaling companies were established one after another in Japanese whaling bases, and whaling activities began to occur in areas that had never had a history of whaling, such as the Northeastern region of Japan and Hokkaido.

As Western countries took the lead in mastering ocean-going whaling technology, the Meiji government was worried that whaling ships from the United States, Britain, Russia and other countries would appear more frequently and actively in Japan's offshore waters. In 1897 (Meiji 30) The Distant Ocean Fisheries Reward Law was promulgated, accelerating the modernization of Japanese whaling.

Statistics show that there were as many as 12 whaling companies and 28 whaling ships active in Japan in 1908. The Meiji government recognized the need to keep the number of whales in Japan's offshore waters within a certain range to avoid excessive competition. In 1902, it promulgated the "Whale Fishing Prohibition Rules" to limit the number of whaling ships in Japan to no more than 30.

After entering the Showa era, mother ship-type long-distance whaling technology began to be put into practice. At that time, Nippon Whaling Co., Ltd. (now Nippon Suisan Co., Ltd.) and Dayang Whaling Co., Ltd. (now Maruha Corporation) Whaling of white fin whales began in Antarctica, primarily to produce whale oil for export in order to obtain foreign currency.

During World War II, more whaling ships were requisitioned for military use, and mother ship whaling was temporarily suspended. But in 1946, Japan began to rebuild its ships, killing whales for meat and exporting whale oil. The whaling fleet expanded rapidly, up to seven large fleets, and became the world's largest whaling country in the late 1950s.

The Japanese government’s attitude towards whaling

On the Japanese official website of the Japanese Consulate General in Sydney, the Japanese government published a special article explaining its position. The main points are summarized as follows:

1. There are more than 80 species of whales hunted. They are not endangered species, but species that are growing too much.

2. Japan strongly supports the protection of endangered whales like the white fin whale.

3. However, we should hunt within a limited range those whales that are rich in resources and recognized by the international community as not having a negative impact on the total number of whales. We should adhere to the attitude of sustainable use and will not repeat the past indiscriminate hunting. The history of killing.

In addition, the Japanese government has also clarified the legitimacy of Japan’s whaling to the outside world from the perspectives of the relationship between food culture and whales, the whale element in Japanese literature and art, festivals and folk literature and whales, beliefs and whales, etc. ".

The reason why Japan stubbornly insists on killing whales

Japan cares about its international image and attaches importance to international public relations and public diplomacy. However, Japan stubbornly insists on certain matters and turns a deaf ear to outsiders. He did not care that his stubborn persistence on these matters would cause damage to the country's image. What are the stubborn reasons behind Japan’s stubborn persistence?

The first stubborn reason is due to loopholes in international law. The "Comprehensive Ban on Whaling" convention only points to "commercial whaling", and the International Court of Justice's ruling only found that the scale of Japan's current actions does not meet the "scientific whaling", so Japan quickly revised its whaling plan. In terms of quantity, Modifications were made.

In fact, once Japan engages in offshore whaling, no one can supervise how many whales are killed. Before international standards for "scientific whaling" are introduced, or before "scientific whaling" is limited to capturing whales rather than "killing whales" that endangers lives, Japan will continue to rely on this "legal" excuse to continue to hunt whales.

The second stubborn reason is also an essential reason, that is, political reasons. Japan considers itself an island country, and its habit of eating whales is related to its national security. If this habit and tradition are cut off, not only will this traditional industry become extinct, but Japan's food security will be completely dependent on land food from other countries. During the food crisis era, whale meat once became Japan's main source of animal protein. Even in today's highly globalized and interdependent era, Japan still has a high sense of crisis and is trying every means to maintain this tradition and industry.

The third reason for stubbornness is domestic propaganda. Japan has always interpreted the opposition as an international offensive to suppress Japan. Opinion polls also show that Japanese people's opposition to whaling does not outweigh those in favor of whaling.

Why does Japan have trouble with whales? Also take stock of Japan’s whaling history - Japan Channel - People’s Daily Online

/n/2015/1202/c35467-27880625-3.html< /p>