National Apr 3, 2021
A total of five boats are expected to catch 120 minke whales in waters off the Sanriku Coast and Hokkaido by late October, according to the Fisheries Agency.
National Sep 1, 2020
Dolphin 'drive hunting' season begins in Wakayama whaling town
The controversial hunting technique, in which fishermen herd dolphins and small whales into a cove where they can be killed or captured, was depicted in the 2009 documentary film "The Cove."
National Apr 21, 2020
Japan back in whaling business, but quotas and cost make meat a hard sell
Following its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission (IWC), Japan resumed commercial whaling for the first time in 31 years in July 2019. Whale meat supply, however, has fallen by more than 30 percent from levels prior to the withdrawal. The government has curbed the ...
National Sep 2, 2019
Japan nears catch quota for minke whales as hunt resumes off Hokkaido
Japanese whaling ships on Monday resumed hunting minke whales in coastal areas off Hokkaido, and are likely to reach their catch quota later this month. Since restarting commercial whaling in July for the first time in 31 years, the government has set a catch quota ...
National Sep 1, 2019
Fleet of boats return empty on first day of Taiji's dolphin hunting season
The hunting season for dolphins using a controversial "drive-hunting" method began Sunday in the whaling town of Taiji in Wakayama Prefecture, this time without the usual protests from animal-rights groups. While local police officers were on high alert for anti-whaling campaigns, 12 boats left the ...
National Jul 4, 2019
First whale meat auction held since restart of Japan's commercial hunt
Whale meat auctions were held Thursday in different areas of Japan, the first since the country ended its 31-year commercial whaling hiatus earlier this week, with some cuts selling for over ¥10,000 per kilogram. A whaling fleet left Kushiro in Hokkaido on Monday to hunt ...
National Jul 2, 2019
Australia 'disappointed' by Japan's return to commercial whaling
The Australian government voiced its concern Tuesday at Japan's return to commercial whaling following its departure from the International Whaling Commission at the end of June. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Environment Minister Sussan Ley said in a joint statement that Canberra urges Japan ...
National Jul 1, 2019
Japan resumes commercial whaling after three decades; at least two taken on first day
Japanese whaling fleets set sail Monday to hunt whales commercially for the first time in 31 years, a day after Tokyo formally left the International Whaling Commission. As an IWC member, Japan halted commercial whaling in 1988. But it continued hunting whales for what it ...
Reference | EXPLAINER Jun 30, 2019
by Sakura Murakami
Following its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission, Japan will resume commercial whaling within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
National Jun 7, 2019
Japan to restart commercial whaling on July 1 after three-decade hiatus
A fleet of vessels will depart from Kushiro, Hokkaido, on July 1 as Japan resumes commercial whaling following a three-decade hiatus after the government announced its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission in December, a local fishery source said Friday. A fleet of five vessels ...
National Apr 4, 2019
Whaling fleet leaves for north Japan waters in last ostensibly scientific mission before IWC exit
Four whaling vessels left a port in Miyagi Prefecture on Thursday to take part in the last of what the government calls a scientific research program before the country's exit from the International Whaling Commission at the end of June. The ships, which left the ...
National Mar 29, 2019
Whaling vessel leaves Taiji port for last 'scientific' mission before Japan withdraws from IWC
A whaling vessel left the port of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, on Friday for the last mission of what the government calls a scientific research program before the country withdraws from the International Whaling Commission and starts commercial whaling from July. The No. 7 Katsu Maru ...