Japan’s Whale Hunt: A Controversial Quest That Stopped the Minke
On May 31 2018, news surged that Japan’s four‑month Antarctic expedition had turned into a whale‑free zone, killing 333 minke whales. 122 of them were pregnant, a fact that drew both fury and disbelief from around the globe.
What Exactly Happened?
- Japan claims the hunt is a scientific experiment, not a commercial bling‑banger.
- In total: 333 minke whales were taken down; 122 were pregnant and dozens more were young.
- The fishery agency insists the hunts are on a random basis – nothing “planned,” it says.
- Publicists call it a “necessary measure” for research; critics sound the alarm about cruelty.
Why Is It Still Going On?
Japan signed up for the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1986, which put a global moratorium on whale hunting. They, however, keep a sneaky loophole: scientific research permits. International courts have repeatedly told them this loophole is wrong‑headed, yet Japan’s Fisheries Agency still rolls out the heavy machinery.
In 2014, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) flat‑out ordered Tokyo to drop the hunt. The Japanese responded by pausing in 2015 but, in 2016, dashed back into the Antarctic with another ~300 whales. As the ministry talks about upgrading their lead‑zipping whaling ship, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe keeps promising a future that’s even less slippery.
Conservationists vs. Scientists
Humane Society International slammed the numbers as “shocking” and “unnecessary.” Senior Program Manager Alexia Wellbelove called it “a grim reminder of how whaling goes beyond cruelty.” While the Japanese say the catch level is “necessary for research”, the IWC scientific committee intelligently states “not above the level that would hurt the stock.” It’s a wrap‑up debate that feels like a culinary showdown—less about meals, more about ethics.
What’s the Bottom Line?
- Whale meat was a staple after WWII but has fallen out of favor.
- Japanese consumers now rarely eat whale meat—the appetite has cooled.
- The official narrative promises that digging out from the earring season delay is the plan.
So while the world watches, Japan continues to juggle hunting, research, and the ambition to bring “commercial whaling” back on the table—if that plate is meant for everyone.
