Pacific Spirit Marine Institute
Japanese Whaling. Insights Into Why Japan Seems Compelled To Continue Whaling.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Extolling the virtues of roadkill? Boiled whale ventral grooves with a lot of grated ginger?
The esoteric opportunity to ‘think about whales’ linking man with the whales and the oceans? Essay contests winning the President Prize of the Ishinomaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry written by a second grader?
All this and more can be found at the Japan whaling Association website.
I came across this website while doing research on the Australian Governments use of the Airbus A319’s first whaling surveillance mission.
With all the tensions growing and turmoil surrounding Japan’s dogged pursuit of it’s “scientific” whaling program I had to wonder why they continue to sail in such politically charged and unpopular waters. After all, what could possibly be learned from 900 dead minke that wasn’t learned from the first 35?
In the name of ’science’ isn’t even a clever cover-up. Not many are buying that thinly sliced excuse, but they may just be buying some thinly sliced whale meat. Waxing nostalgic for her school lunches, Chizue Yamagiwa, cooking expert, most fondly remembers “whale cutlet,” “fried whale meat,” and “whale soup.”
Yamagiwa says, “Thinking simply, there is nothing wrong in adding whales to our food options, which include poultry, pork and beef.” She goes on that as it is beginning to become quite chilly she will cook kujira-jiru, whale pot, in the evening. She describes it as a beautiful, colorful dish with the red and white of whale bacon and the green of the radish sprouts. She says, “I am sure it will invite me to more cups of sake this evening.”
Is whaling really a cultural issue or is it a propaganda issue? To borrow words from Ms. Yamagiwa, “Thinking simply” I’m thinking it may just be a commercial code kind of issue.
One thing is certain from my vantage point. I’d have to have more than “more cups of sake” to garner the ability to sit down to a steaming bowl of whale bacon soup.
Don’t miss this window into the thinking of the Japanese Whaling Association.
Photo Thanks msnbc.com
Whale burger
Labels: Airbus A319, Australia, Japan, Whales, Whaling
© 2009, Pacific Spirit Marine Institute.
Japanese Whaling. Insights Into Why Japan Seems Compelled To Continue Whaling.
