If Japan truly believes its whale harvest is a tradition, then I have no problem with Japanese whalers following what the traditional owners of the land in Australia do: Do not use modern equipment, row out in traditional whale boats (what do they look like?), and hunt whales in the traditional manner.

I am also curious to know just how old the Japanese whaling tradition is? Is it 100, 200, 300 or more years? And which group/area in Japan originated this whaling tradition? I am sure that no one could challenge their rights to their heritage, but why force everyone else in Japan to eat whale meat?

Why hasn't whale watching become a tourist attraction in Japan as in other places of the world? Is it because the Japanese have hunted the local whales to extinction? Or is whaling itself too gory to watch?

lindsay caffin