EDITORIAL: Anti-whaling activists

Should Japan pick up the gauntlet thrown down by anti-whaling activists? It might feel good, but to do so would mean falling for a provocation.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which operates from Australia, is really an annoying bunch of people.

The Japan Coast Guard has arrested a member of the anti-whaling group, which has been trying to disrupt Japan's whaling activities for research purposes.

Peter Bethune, a New Zealander, was arrested on suspicion of "vessel invasion" after he boarded without permission a Japanese ship conducting a whale hunt in the Antarctic Ocean.

Japan has every right to take legal action against such a violation. But it would be detrimental to the nation's interests if the action is used to turn this activist into a hero and drum up anti-whaling sentiment aimed at Japan in many countries.

The whaling debate should focus on how to use and protect marine resources based on scientific theories and evidence. It could get sidetracked if issues concerning cultures and values emerge as major flash points.

While most people in Australia, the United States and Europe are on a meat-centered diet, they generally regard whales as animals that should be protected and saved.

Many anti-whaling activists, including members of Sea Shepherd, argue that killing whales is cruel because they are intelligent creatures.

But Japanese don't eat much whale in the first place. Except for people in areas which have a regional culinary culture deeply linked to whales, the average consumption of whale meat is less than one-hundredth of their consumption of beef, pork or chicken, according to surveys.

The vast majority of Japanese eat whale, if they ever do, only once a year or once every several years, at most.

There is a widespread perception overseas that Japanese regularly eat whale, and this is a factor behind international criticism about Japan's whaling. This is an unfortunate misunderstanding.

Frequent media coverage of activities of anti-whaling groups like Sea Shepherd has probably made the whale-eating tradition in Japan look far more widespread and influential than it really is.

On the other hand, there are people in Japan who argue that whale eating is a symbol of Japanese culinary culture and try to dredge up nationalist fervor over the issue.

Any issue becomes difficult to solve if it is allowed to get caught in a clash of cultures. Japan needs to do more to try to understand the Western viewpoint that regards whaling as an environmental protection issue.

What's happening is that people who eat other animal meats are criticizing whale eating as cruel, while Japanese, who actually seldom eat whale, are claiming that whale eating is part of Japanese culinary culture. That's an odd spectacle.

The issue has been blown out of proportion because of the emotional effects of cultural friction.

Instead of reacting emotionally to Sea Shepherd's antics, Japan should make a cool-headed effort to find a solution to this dispute.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has indicated he will take the issue to the International Court of Justice unless Japan stops its whale hunts for scientific research by November.

As general elections draw near in Australia, anti-whaling sentiment is mounting among the public to such a degree that politicians find it hard to ignore.

What is most important for Japan's handling of this issue is to make tenacious efforts for an international agreement at the International Whaling Commission.

If it sticks to its culinary culture argument in responding to international criticism about its whaling, Japan will never be able to find a way to settle this dispute.

Solving a problem is often different from finding a way to satisfy one's feelings.

--The Asahi Shimbun, March 14