Japan's Whaling

Is Japanese whaling based on national culture and tradition? A young sociologist, Hiroyuki Watanabe, challenges this question by examining the history of whaling in modern Japan and a wide range of arguments over decades within the country. The book provides a detailed account of anti-whaling disturbances organized by fishermen in the early twentieth century, presents successful attempts to designate whales as protected species in pre-war years, and shows regional differences in...
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Is Japanese whaling based on national culture and tradition? A young sociologist, Hiroyuki Watanabe, challenges this question by examining the history of whaling in modern Japan and a wide range of arguments over decades within the country. The book provides a detailed account of anti-whaling disturbances organized by fishermen in the early twentieth century, presents successful attempts to designate whales as protected species in pre-war years, and shows regional differences in whale-meat eating practices. It is a sober and critical analysis of the cultural defense of Japans whaling industry.