IWC (International Whaling Commission) was organized in 1948 for the purpose of conserving whale resources. However, under the trend of natural animal preserving movement, US and some other members dominated the IWC with strong assertion of anti-whaling and decided to adopt 10 years of moratorium of commercial whaling in 1982.

The resolution has a reservation that the moratorium should be reconsidered by 1992 based on the scientific result of research whaling. However, even though scientific data obtained by the research whaling proved that number of whales was much more than previously estimated, rather much increased, the anti-whaling members were stubborn to maintain their insistence of anti-whaling.

Against the purpose of the IWC, they began to assert that “whaling itself should be banned”. No scientific discussion could be permitted at the IWC meeting. Japan finally made a decision to withdraw from the IWC. From July 2018, Japan resumed commercial whaling.

The anti-whaling advocators say that the whale is high intelligent or it is sad to kill whales. Their thought is not based on scientific evidence, rather based on their arbitrary or self-centered conviction. The truth is that they think only they are high class minded, as against savage minded Japanese. This is self-centered typical racism.

Japan has a long tradition of whaling cultured back to Jomon period of nearly 10,000 years. Japan has developed a unique whaling culture. We utilized all part of whales in various purposes. This is extremely ecological use of whales.

The Japanese always treated whales with respect and spared no effort to show reverence. Japanese have been grateful for the blessings of whales and deeply love and respect them. Evidence of this is that there are memorial mounds and graves of whales in temples near whaling stations where whaling thrived. What is even more surprising is that many temples nationwide give a posthumous name to each of the whales caught and hold memorial services for them.

This book written by Koizumi Takeo, professor emeritus of Tokyo University of Agriculture introduces Japanese whale culture extensively. I believe many people in western countries will appreciate its high quality content of this book. Moreover he urges that whales will play an important role for the preservation of the globe environment in future.