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| In passing, Koizumi has also warned against the low level of food self-sufficiency in Japan, including fisheries, as a dangerous sign for the future of nation. According to Koizumi, Japan's food self-sufficiency rate now stands as low as around 40% as agaist 327% in Australia, 138% in France, 127% in the United States and 100% for Germany. He stressed that, if this situation is left unattended, it will certainly lead to decline of Japan as a nation. He called on the central and regional government leaders to take steps to correct this anomolous situation setting it as an urgent policy goal. |
Ms. Shiraishi reported about her experience of attending the Berlin meeting as an NGO representative, especially her interchanges with German youth on the questions of whales and whaling.
"Steady and continuous dialogue with the people of different cultures will eventually improve their understanding on the Japanese position on whaling," she said.
WFF is a nationwide grass-root organization having a membership of about 1,000, including educators, journalists and those who are interested in fisheries and fish diet culture. |
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JAPANESE AND KOREANS CELEBRATE
COMMON WHALING TRADITIONS
--9th Whale Festival in Ulsan--
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The 9th Whale Festival was held in Ulsan, southern Korea, for three days from May 30, with a delegation of more than 120 people participating from Japan. Ulsan is noted for its ancient whaling as well as whale-related historical remains, including rock engravings of whales in Bankudae which date back 3,000 years.
The Japanese delegation included Mr. Kiyoshi Ejima, Mayor of Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, chiefs of two townships in the prefecture, Mr. Kunio Yonezawa, President of the Citizen’s League for Preservation of Whaling, as well as the representatives of the Japan Whaling Association, whale product processors and distributors
and whale food restaurants.
School children from Arikawa, Japan, in
whaling drum performance |
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Replay of ancient Korean whaling
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At a welcome reception, Mr. Yonezawa said he was pleased to see the festivals become more active and lively year by year, and said Japan will fully support and cooperate with the city in realizing its plan to host the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission in 2005. The city is now staging a full-scale campaign to enhance the public awareness in the whaling issue.
The festival was featured by various performances such as folk dances reminiscent of ancient whaling, drum presentation, and display and sale of a diversity of whale cuisines and products as well as indigenous
Korean foods. |
THE JWA NEWS
was first published by the Japan Whaling Association in July 2002.
Editor: Makoto Ito;
Editorial Assistance: Yoshinari & Associates Inc. |
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