Those in Japan who encourage whaling say they cannot understand the feeling of foreigners concerning whales. But I remember the "Tama-chan" event from when I lived in Japan in 2002 -- when a little seal was seen swimming the rivers of Tokyo. It became international news and proved that Japanese people also could have a special feeling for animals.
What would have been the reaction of common Japanese people at that time if a Chilean boat had approached Japan with the intent of killing Tama-chan? Now, imagine what happens in the mind of Chileans when Japanese come from afar to hunt whales in the Southern Ocean, close to our country.
Most Japanese do not eat whale meat, so it is not necessary to kill 1,000 whales to study them. Why does Japan persist with an attitude that hurts its image?