Whaling: One of the Big Issues in the World

Whaling Whaling is the hunting of whales and it is one of the big issues in the world. Japan is one of the pro-whaling countries and a majority of the Western countries are objecting to Japan. However, this essay would like to insist that whaling is a part of the Japanese rural traditional culture, so it is important for some Japanese people. Therefore, the essay support the idea that whale hunting should not be prohibited. This essay aims to tell people who do not know about Japanese whaling well that the true Japanese attitude toward whaling is very different from what they imagine, and to clear up an opponent’s misunderstanding of it. What are the motivations for whaling in Japan? What are the social implications of whaling in Japan? I will answer to these questions. First of all, the biggest reason why a lot of countries oppose whaling is that whales are endangered species. However, the truth is Japan is hunting adequate numbers concerning the numbers of whales to prevent them from becoming extinct. In the world, it is said, “there are 84 species of whales” and “out of all of the 84 species, only a limited number traditionally have been hunted, such as blue whales, fin whales, minke whales, humpback whales, sperm whales and gray whales” (Japan Whaling Association). According to Gardiner, “When whales were over-hunted, species such as blue whales and right whales were reduced to very low population levels, but these species now have been fully protected for decades ”(21). Then, Japan is not hunting these species and strongly believes that they should continue to be protected. On the other hand, there are species which are abundant enough that marine management is needed, “ such as the Antarctic and northwestern Pacific minke whales and northwestern Pacific Bryde 's whales” (Japan Whaling Association). Gardiner also said that “there are three times as many minke whales as there were 30 years ago, and humpbacks are increasing by 17 percent a year” (21).

Cited: Blok, Anders. "Contesting Global Norms: Politics Of Identity In Japanese Pro-Whaling Countermobilization." Global Environmental Politics 8.2 (2008): 39-66. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Oct. 2013. Gardiner, Debbi. "Whaling And Japan." J@Pan Inc 44 (2003): 18. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Oct. 2013. Japan Whaling Association. Web. 6 Oct. 2013. Peace, Adrian. "The Whaling War: Conflicting Cultural Perspectives (Respond To This Article At." Anthropology Today 26.3 (2010): 5-9. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Oct. 2013.