There are two reasons why Japanese still tolerate whaling.
First, it’s still regarded as fishing --- fishing in a bigger boat for a bigger catch. People simply have no idea about the high intelligence nor rich emotions the cetacean possesses. It’s really too bad because there comes no compassion where there’s no understanding towards other creatures.
Just recently I met a very ordinary middle-aged Japanese man who had participated a whaling watching tour in New Zealand, which he told me had significantly changed his view against those magnificent mammals. He now at least listens to the voice of anti-whalers, ponders why the Japanese government continues to allow the hunt despite all the protests.
So now, hoping he'll make a complete turn to an anti-whaler himself, I’m going to tell him clearly and vividly about the method of the killing. Chasing, aiming and harpooning and all.
The Japanese people have to be told how the slaughter is done. The video footage has to be shown at every opportunity possible. It also has to be presented to the government officials over and over again. It’s probably the best and crucial time now after the capture of two protesters and its big media coverage, so let's begin to put international pressure on and make them realize why the protest and outcry is ever so increasingly loud and persistent. It's just too cruel to watch.