Why must we treat whales as special creatures? Human existence is based on the sacrifices of other creatures including animals such as cows and vegetable plants. We should be thankful for the sacrifices of these creatures.
If Japanese are arrogant to catch whales, aren't Americans and Australians who slaughter cows arrogant? Calling each other names is not productive. Why do we have to make a distinction between farmed animals and fish, and wild animals and fish? If we are not allowed to eat wild fish, we can't eat larger fish like tuna, which is difficult to farm.
Some countries probably want to protect whales because they can make money by attracting sightseers to whale-watching events offshore. Japan should get out of the International Whaling Commission, which is composed mostly of nonwhaling countries anyway, so that it can go on with whaling.