Looks like the annual Japanese whale catch fell short of fears expectations thanks to those pesky militants from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, who, BTW, pulled this off w/o the use of assault weapons, go figure. Even though whale meat consumption is down precipitously in Japan, tradition dictates that the hunt continue. Not to mention that the government is trying to get its younger citizens to enjoy the savory pleasures of whale mammal flesh:
Japan kills whales using a loophole in a 1986 whaling moratorium that allows “lethal research”, despite vehement protests led by Australia.
In practice, most of the meat from such whaling ends up on Japanese dinner tables. Australia and other anti-whaling nations regularly accuse Tokyo of using research as a pretext for commercial hunting.
Whale meat holds sentimental value for some Japanese baby-boomers and older people who ate it after the devastation of World War II.
Most Japanese have seldom eaten whale since the moratorium, but Japan has been trying to give young people a taste for whale, which has also been marketed in curry and burgers.
Now, ‘bulo can understand, if not endorse, the motives of those who find sentimental value in the eating of whale meat. The Beast Who Slumbers cannot understand the Japanese government seeking to impose this barbaric ritual on future generations. Especially when humpbacked tofu is so readily available.