Japanese fishermen brought home their first whale after a 31-year-long hiatus due to the ban on commercial whaling.
The first whaling mission which left the northern coast of Japan from Kushiro after the lifting of the ban consisted of five vessels. Blowing their horns with excitement and having their grey nets ready to catch the mighty beings, the armada managed to get their hands on the first whale by Monday afternoon.
Whaling was resumed in the country after Japan abandoned the International Whaling Commission.
Though the anti-whaling activists disapproved the withdrawal of Japan from the commission, the act was warmly welcomed and praised by whaling communities back home.
Shocking images, that have now gone viral on the internet, reveal fishermen unloading a bloodied Minke whale from the vessel in Kushiro.
Watching the whalers bring ashore a staggering 8.3 meters (27 feet) long fish, the head of Japan Small-Type Whaling Association, Yoshifumi Kai, said: ‘Today is the best day.’
While addressing a gathering of dozens of politicians, whalers and local officials, Yoshifumi Kai said: ‘We were able to catch a good whale.
‘It’s going to be delicious. My heart is overflowing with happiness, and I’m deeply moved.’
He added: ‘This is a small industry, but I am proud of hunting whales. People have hunted whales for more than 400 years in my home town.’
On Monday morning, a number of whaling vessels left other coasts of the island nation, including Shimonoseki port in west Japan.
Shedding light on the whaling policy, the Japanese Fisheries Agency announced Monday morning that they have limited the total number of whales that can be caught during the whole season. A grand total of 227 whales is allowed to be hunted this year, including 150 Bryde’s, 52 Minke, and 25 Sei whales.
Hideki Abe, a 23-year-old whaler from the Miyagi area of northern Japan, said: ‘I’m a bit nervous but happy that we can start whaling.
‘I don’t think young people know how to cook and eat whale meat any more. I want more people try to taste it at least once.’ But this is not that simple!
Whaling has always been a sensitive diplomatic issue for Japan. According to Tokyo, it is a part of their Japanese traditions and a totally internal matter that should have no international influence.
But being a member of International Whaling Commission, Japan was obligated to refrain from hunting large whales but had the permission to catch smaller whales near its own coastline.
However, Japanese fishermen continued to hunt for large whales in the deep seas under the false shelter of ‘scientific research.’
Anti-Whaling activists argued that these hunts had zero scientific value, and it soon became an open secret that the meat from these ‘scientific research’ hunts was ending up on the open market for human consumption.
Humane Society International was one of the first rights groups to show disapproval of the Japanese resumption of commercial whaling.
HSI’s head of campaigns, Nicola Beynon, said: ‘This is a sad day for whale protection globally,’ before adding how Japan has begun a ‘new and shocking era of pirate whaling.’
After withdrawal from the IWC, Tokyo will openly hunt for whales out of Japanese waters but will refrain from hunting in the controversial Antarctic region.
Whale meat was the major source of protein for Japan in the post-World War II era when the country was in a desperately poor state.
Addressing to the departure ceremony of whalers at Kushiro, Shigeto Hase, the head of Japan’s Fisheries Agency said: ‘The resumption of commercial whaling has been an ardent wish for whalers across the country.’
He also noted that the resumption of commercial whaling will ensure that their ‘culture and way of life will be passed on to the next generation.’