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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pours President Obama some hot

sake at one of Tokyo's finest sushi bars. No word on what

else was on the menu.

 

 

Whaling Advocate Wants Obama Served Whale Meat (Sankei Shimbun, Japan)

 

"While Former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai boldly suggested, 'I want to see whale meat on the table at the state dinner for President Obama' ... Ultimately, the government decided that it wasn't wise to attract the attention of anti-whaling countries right before Mr. Obama's visit, and that a 'fresh start' could be made afterwards."

 

By Yoshinori Higo and Takaki Rikitake

 

Translated By Chihiro Kamiya

 

April 24, 2014

 

Japan - Sankei Shimbun - Original Article (Japanese)

Protesters outside of the U.S. Embassy in Manila demonstrate against an expanded American military presence in the Philippines, before being 'dispersed' by water cannons, Apr. 7.

 

CCTV CHINA: A look at Jaoanese resistence to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, and some of the other purposes of President Obama's Asia visit, April 23, 00:04:42RealVideo

The government has postponed research whaling in the Northwest Pacific, which was originally scheduled to commence on April 22. In light of the International Court of Justice ruling that Japanese research whaling in the Antarctic Ocean violates the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, the government forecasts that if the current system is used in coastal waters, Japan would again likely lose a suit brought by anti-whaling countries. On the other hand, there is also a need to consider domestic public opinion, which wants to see a continuation of whaling. During the period of postponement, the government's back is against the wall. It is being forced to formulate new plans, backed by scientific evidence, that will be able to counter suits files by the anti-whaling countries.

 

[Editor's Note: While Japan has agreed to halt Antarctic whale hunting for 2014-2015, it appears poised to resume the practice after that, perhaps by reducing the size of its "catch." Since 2007, Japan has sought to hunt up to 1,035 whales, a number the ICJ found to be excessive and scientifically unjustified.]

 

Though the effect of the ICJ decision doesn’t extend to scientific whaling in the Northwest Pacific, the ruling refers to the fact that whenever Tokyo issues new permits for research whaling, it needs to take into account the ruling's reasoning and conclusions. Since it is the view of the Foreign Ministry that continuing the current program of research whaling in the Northwest Pacific would infringe on the court's decision, coastal whaling has been postponed.

Posted By Worldmeets.US

 

However, at the [ruling] Liberal Democratic Party's general meeting on Apr. 17, whaling advocacy groups, dissatisfied with the government's decision, expressed a bumper crop of complaints. Former Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada raised his voice to executives of the [Japanese] Fisheries Agency, saying “If you have no motivation [to help], say you have no motivation."

 

Former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai, bearing in mind that the U.S. is an anti-whaling country, boldly suggested, “I want to see whale meat on the table at the state dinner for President Obama, who is now visiting Japan.”

 

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SEE ALSO ON THIS:  
Sankei Shimbun, Japan: 'Japan Should Continue Whaling'
Blogos, Japan: 'Research' Whaling: It's Time for Us Japanese to Move On
Nishinippon Shimbun, Japan: Whale Hunting Protects Marine Life - and Japanese Culture
The Age, Australia: Sea Shepherd 'Vindicated' after International Court Upholds Japan Whaling Ban
Mainichi Shimbun: U.N. Court's Ruling Worries Japan's Whalers  

 

As a reason for postponing Northwest Pacific whaling, the Fisheries Agency cited a lack of security for responding to anti-whaling groups bent on sabotage, although there has never been such hindrances to coastal whaling before, so this line of reasoning failed to convince.

 

In fact, the delay is largely due to the fact that to respond to the ICJ ruling, whaling plans will have to be completely redrawn, since the current whale quotas "fail to meet the criteria for scientific research."

 

Ultimately, the government decided that it wasn't wise to attract the attention of anti-whaling countries right before Mr. Obama's visit, and that a "fresh start" could be made later.

 

CLICK HERE FOR JAPANESE VERSION

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Posted By Worldmeets.US Apr. 23, 2014 5:59pm