Chiba loquat grower loves his work, but frets over the future of the biwa business
Kenzo Takeba picks a loquat out of his basket, unwraps it from its paper cover and expertly begins to peel off the delicate orange skin with his fingers. He bites into the soft flesh, scoops out the chunky brown seeds with a flick of his ...
Unconscionable globally, 'indispensable' locally, Japanese whalers call industry 'a way of life'
Neatly lining up sliced whale meat to make jerky in the wintry sea breeze, Tetsuya Masaki says whaling is just part of daily life in his tiny community of Minamiboso. Japan sparked outrage in December when it decided to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission ...
Dive into the culture of Minamiboso
It is just after sunset and hundreds of people have gathered around the docking bays of Minamiboso on the southern edge of Chiba Prefecture. As men bang away on taiko drums, dozens of women emerge from a hilltop shrine. Dressed head-to-toe in white outfits ...
Whaling town preserves tradition
The whaling season opened with a public carve-up and barbecue in the coastal town of Minamiboso, Chiba Prefecture, where workers last Thursday sliced a whale before a crowd of elementary school students and residents. Onlookers later received pieces of fried whale meat. The annual event ...
