Minke Whale harpooned by Japanese whaling vessel Yushin Maru 2. Photo: Reuters
WHO’S HAVING THE KUJIRA SASHIMA
Kujira of course meaning ‘Whale’, an exquisite serving of thinly sliced raw whale, centerpiece of the Kujira Sashimi dish, creating the perfect balance of colour, taste and texture so characteristic of Japanese Cuisine. That main ingredient is the subject of heated controversy. This month the International Whaling Commission considers suspending the 1986 ban on commercial whaling. Whaling nations Iceland, Norway and Japan want us all now to accept whaling, while anti-whaling activists (Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd) are silenced and prosecuted in Japan. Not to mention that weirdly the killing of whales has continued unabated since the 1986 IWC moratorium on whaling. Can’t avoid killing a whole whale to get a nice slice, can we, yet we all agree whales are awe-inspiring, sensitive, social animals, apparently with a brain the size of my mom (all of her), further suggesting they’re real intelligent too. Many people object to killing whales as a matter of principle, and by extension to all whaling by Norway, Iceland and Japan.
Japan has so far maintained the right to take whales, based on their ancient tradition, as a vital/necessary food staple, and from 1986 as research into whale life (so called Lethal Research) legally permitting Japan to kill a number of whales for scientific purposes. Now a 2008 investigation by Greenpeace seriously calls the legality of Japanese whaling into question. According to insiders, the fleet has flouted its own research directives, practicing 100% efficient commercial mass hunting. Diseased whales with tumors went unreported to the IWC, their meat approved for human consumption. Cheap meats were being dumped overboard. Prime cuts embezzled for highly profitable distribution in secret networks involving ship crew and captain, Fishery Agency and Whaler Officials, protected by the Tokyo District Prosecutor who to date fails to prosecute corrupt whalers. The ramifications of the scandal coming to light are significant. Japan’s right to take whales is wholly based on the ‘Research’ exception on the prohibition on whaling (1986), the infamous loophole allowing for Lethal Research. This topic intends to show that Japan has increasingly abandoned whale research, making whaling more akin to poaching, the illegal hunt on protected wildlife.
THE EVIDENCE AND INVESTIGATORS
Greenpeace Campaign Director Junichi Sato displays embezzled whale meats at a May 2008 Tokyo press conference. Photo: AFP
In January 2008 Greenpeace Director Junichi Sato and Advisor Toru Suzuki, following leads provided by insiders from the Japanese whaling industry, uncovered evidence of the illegal sale of whale meats, confiscated one box of choice cuts smuggled off a whaler, and provided this evidence of a crime to the Tokyo District Prosecutor, effectively charging the whalers with massive embezzlement. The Greenpeace investigation attempted to expose a scandal, including possible crimes, in the public interest.
Strangely, a Tokyo prosecutor started an investigation into whaling irregularities initially, which then quickly was shut down, leaving Sato and Suzuki accused of theft as well as trespassing (into the depot storing the embezzled whale meat), the charge against the two carrying up to ten years in prison. Following their arrest, they were held for 26 days, subjected to police interrogation while tied to a chair, and finally released on bail pending trial.
The impression I get is that a shadowy group of players, high up in Japanese government and whaling companies doesn’t want hunting and whale meat investigated. It appears they have enough clout to shut up the Tokyo Prosecutor, and aim to brand Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki mere thieves/burglars, throw them in prison, throw Greenpeace out of Japan if possible, make all this embarrassment go away! The dual official and whaling company (Kyodo Senpaku) position is spurious: authorities have chosen to completely disregard the evidence of embezzlement of whale meat, instead accusing Sato and his fellow investigator of simple theft. Kyodo Senpaku, in continually changing and contradictory versions of events, says they are really gifting these boxes of whale meat to crew members, 9.5 kilos of prime cuts (taxpayer owned?!!), based on ‘captain’s privilege’. Well, something smells here…
HONORABLE WHALERS
In Januari 2008 a Japanese Whaler decided to pick up the telephone, and made a mind-boggling call to Greenpeace Director Junichi Sato, detailing his increasing worries about the way Japan’s whaling industry runs hunts (so called Lethal Research) and then sells the exquisite meats. This middle aged whistle blower was anything but the whale hugger type ‘eco-activist’: a sea hardened veteran of Japanese whaling ships, he took pride in his years of involvement in whaling, regardless whether these were commercial or ‘research’ hunts, and up to this point had fully accepted the express need of Japan to kill whales for scientific purposes. He was not motivated by concern over animal welfare, but from a sense of duty to expose a shocking rip off of Japanese taxpayers.
So what did he witness to become so disillusioned with his trade? He saw increasing inconsistencies in research whaling:
1) Some of the whale catch showed tumors and lesions, which were duly sampled/documented, yet not reported to the International Whaling Commission, and the processed meat from such diseased/tumorous whales was OK’d as clean and edible!
2) Due to increased catch requirements (since 2005), the fleet began taking more whales than they could process, and dumped 7 tonnes of whale meat daily, mostly the cheap cuts. The witness believed this practice wasteful, serving no discernable scientific purpose, only profit.
3) Once out at sea, the hunt was conducted in contravention to Japan’s own research rules, called JARPA and JARPA II, supposedly directing whalers to sample whales randomly from the whole region. But in reality the fleet simply spots and kills, taking as many whales possible within the required number/quota. This has little use for research of the whale population, but instead seems to aim at maximizing profit.
4) Unsurprisingly (but outrageous still the same), the outcome of Lethal Research is not lots of wonderful and brilliant research papers on the spread and health of whales, published by Japanese Marine Biologists. It is choice meats. And here’s what really ticked off the whaler talking to Greenpeace: some crewmembers routinely took prime cuts, usually from the throat, to be salt-preserved in their cabins. This meat never makes it to the frozen stock, meant to reimburse the taxpayers funding the whaling industry. Instead, this extra meat is often boxed up for selected government officials, and also being labeled as ‘personal belongings’ and collected ashore by a single courier company, then sent to at least 30 destinations (2008). The embezzlement of prime whale meats, according to the witness, is done with full knowledge of onboard ICR officials, and the Japan’s Fishery Agency. Simply, it is theft, but at closer inspection it gets bigger than that: the apparent collusion of government agencies with Kyodo Senpaku (company running the crews & ships), together running cover for a massive distribution of the most highly priced meats, could expose Japanese Whaling as plagued by a criminal conspiracy, and if official authorities continue to cover up these crimes, implicating Japan’s government itself.
Humpback whale calf playing in mom’s wake: however magnificent these animals are, this scandal was exposed not over love of animals, but from a whaler’s duty to the Japanese taxpayer. Photo: NOAA.
WHALES NEED HEROES
The Greenpeace investigation was played by the rules. Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki researched a whistleblower’s claims, secured corroborating evidence of crimes, and put it all in the hands of the Tokyo District Prosecutor. These methods are in accordance with investigative journalism, and may be used in the public interest, as established in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Yet Japan is prosecuting Sato and Suzuki as mere thieves.
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, an Australian based anti-whaling organization, is taking a far more radical approach, running interference against the Japanese whaling fleet in the middle of hunts, escalating into mutual rammings, water hosing by Japanese vessels, objects thrown on decks of whalers, and even an attempt by activist Pete Bethune to make a citizen’s arrest of whaler Nishon Maru 2’s captain in international waters! In this case, not too surprisingly, Sea Shepherd’s actions were labeled piracy, and charges have been brought against their organization and crewmembers accordingly.
This brings it all together for you, reader, be the judge. We have a bunch of big and beautiful sea mammals (some smaller cetaceans like dolphins may be included in the whale family too), protected wildlife since 1986, getting hunted, suffering lingering deaths under Lethal Research provisions, yet ending up in tiny elegant bowls of Kujira Sashimi anyhow.
Japan itself has made the legality of whaling hinge on the IWC’s loophole, allowing for research killing of whales after 1986. Simply, IF Japan is practicing Lethal Research, it is legal. On the other hand, if the whistleblowers’ reports to Greenpeace are true, Japan’s whaling fleet has over time secretly abandoned its research, turning to commercial hunts, processing the whales for meat, including the embezzlement of prime cuts for illegal distribution and sale. This is a crime allegedly involving ship’s crew, captains, whaling company Kyodo Senpaku, onboard Fishery Agency officials, and by failure to prosecute reported corruption/defrauding taxpayers, even the Tokyo District Prosecutor and the government. The allegations, if proven accurate, would make Japanese whaling a form of poaching, the supply side for an shadowy meat trade. Furthermore, anyone, ordinary citizen/seaman/captain, who observes such attempts to kill protected sea wildlife, has the duty and the right to step in, protect animals, report the crime and if possible arrest those involved in an illegal hunt. Maybe Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd activists are no thieves and pirates, but instead rightful Whale Heroes, risking life and freedom to respond to a defenseless animal’s cry for help.
Can’t avoid killing a whole whale to get a nice slice, can we: Kujira/Whale Sashimi, striking the perfect balance between colour, taste and texture so characteristic of Japanese Cuisine.
minnie
Sea Shepherd’s Ady Gil (speedboat in front, now sunk) battling it out with the Japanese whaling fleet, to save whales’ lives.
SOURCES:
BBC News: Whaling moratorium under review
Greenpeace UK support site for Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, the ‘Tokyo Two’, with link to petition and Whaling on Trial
WARNING: in the middle of writing of this topic, the international Greenpeace sites were attacked by a virus (Bloodhound), so beware, only click on links if you have top of the line security software!
Topic first posted at ufocasebook.com
