Japan Seeks Whaling Resumption

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Japan Seeks Whaling Resumption

Fri Apr 26, 2:13 PM ET

By JOJI SAKURAI, Associated Press Writer

 

ABOARD THE TOSHIMARU NO. 25 (AP) - In the engine room

of this Japanese whaling boat, among greasy pistons,

lime-green pipes and the stench of oil and brine, a

group in hardhats huddles around its skipper.

 

This isn't a meeting of mechanics. It's a school field

trip.

 

As scientists debated minke whale population trends

Friday at the International Whaling Conference in the

southwestern town of Shimonoseki, local officials gave

teen-agers a tour of this research whaling ship.

 

" It was incredible, " said 14-year-old Mayumi Kume.

" The high places on the deck were kind of scary, but

it was fun. "

 

The IWC conference wrapped up its scientific

subcommittee Friday. The full scientific debate begins

Saturday with the arrival of dozens more delegates

from IWC-member nations. The subcommittee meeting was

closed to the media, and delegations declined to

comment on the discussions.

 

During the scientific meetings that last until May 10,

Japan is hoping to rally other nations to overturn the

IWC's moratorium on commercial whaling. In a report,

the IWC says the southern hemisphere's minke whale

population had fallen from 761,000 to some 270,000, a

claim that Japan disputes.

 

Much of Japan's argument for pushing the IWC to lift

its ban on commercial whaling is that the nation

should be allowed to preserve a culinary culture that

dates back centuries. Officials have been lobbying

Japanese children aggressively to win them to their

side.

 

Earlier this month, the government organized a whale

meat giveaway in Tokyo's trendiest youth district,

handing out canned whale stew, deep-fried whale

tempura and chunks of whale steak.

 

" We believe it's important to teach young people about

our food traditions including eating whales, " said

Osamu Fukuyama of Japan's Fisheries Agency.

 

In Shimonoseki, training vessels belonging to

fisheries high schools often visit the shipyard where

the Toshimaru No. 25 is docked. It was on such a trip

that the boat's 28-year-old engine mechanic found his

vocation.

 

" When I saw the whaling boat, I knew I'd become a

whaler, " Yoshimasa Koga said.

 

Shimonoseki has spared no expense to advertise its

hopes for a return to commercial whaling.

 

Outside the IWC convention center, the city has set up

a whale sculpture made of leaves. The local aquarium

has rented an 80-foot blue whale skeleton from Norway.

A local restaurant featured an " IWC memorial menu " of

whale steak, whale sashimi, and whale stew.

 

" If only they'd allow commercial whaling our town

would rise up again, " said company worker Hisakazu

Yoshida.

 

But despite Japanese lobbying, and backing from other

whaling nations such as Norway, the commercial whaling

ban is unlikely to be lifted since a three-quarters

majority is needed to adopt such a resolution.

 

Shimonoseki residents say the debate goes beyond

science.

 

At Gyosan fish shop, Reiko Okamoto proudly displayed

rows of whale tongue, bacon, fillets and tripe.

 

" This whaling ban is a big headache for us, " said

Okamoto. " We had whale meat all the time as kids, and

all of a sudden as adults it's become so expensive! "

 

 

 

 

 

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