The book attempts to account for whales as marine species and resources as scientifically as possible (Chapter 1: Whale Ecology) while downplaying a recent fad that tends to personify whales in an exaggerated manner. The attempt succeeds in clarifying the fact that some species of whales have been depleted and faced the difficulty of recovering from the brink of extinction, while other species have managed to recover to abundance. The book brings to the knowledge of the readers about what has taken place in whale reproduction as whales and humans compete for the marine resources and share the earth to live (Chapter 2: Protection of Whales: Whale Management). A number of information regarding the whale reproduction have been made available by Japan’s whale research under the scientific permit conducted in the Antarctic since 1986/87 and in the western North Pacific since 1994. The book aptly describes the scientific significance of the findings made by these research programs with reference to its evaluation by the IWC Scientific Committee.

  The book attempts to shed light on modern history regarding the international competition for whale resources (Chapter 5: Whales and the Global Whaling in the History of the World; and Chapter 6: Whales and Whaling in Future). Unlike conventional publications that dwell upon the development of modern whaling while ignoring the problems of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the book puts special focus on what has plagued the IWC for decades. The book demonstrates well that it is almost impossible for international organizations designed to control natural resources to stay neutral in the international conflict, despite that organizations are established by diplomatic agreements among nations. The book effectively points out that the IWC has had a shift of paradigm since its inception and “hijacked” by the majority without regard to the original intent.

  What is especially impressive in the book are two chapters delineating the whaling culture of the Japanese (Chapter 3: Whales as Food; and Chapter 4: The Relationship Between Whales and the Japanese). Admittedly, culture is defined as a system of tool kits in solving problems that has enabled an ethnic group to survive and reproduce. The book details over the Japanese long-term cultural tradition of whaling that dates back to the Jomon Period (5,000 years ago).

  The tradition has been maintained until the contemporary times: how the Japanese caught whales through hundreds of years, made use of all parts and worshipped the giant gift in their daily life and art. The chapters can convince readers that Japanese whaling has never been a single economic activity seeking only mercenary profit to get the world commodity such as the whale oil. Rather, it has been a cultural activity of an ethnic group to procure foods. This ethnic aspect has not been easy for other countries to appreciate. The authors have made it clear that the anti-whaling argument that dismisses need of whaling because whale oil is no longer necessary cannot prevail over this cultural cause. As shown in the chapters, whaling has been embedded into Japanese culture to procure foods for the country, not solely to procure whale oil for the global commodity market. Although the term “whale foods” (Chapter 3) may offend some people, readers would recognize that whaling as a cultural activity of an ethnic group is not the same of that as a single economic activity of an industry competing in the global commodity market.

  Overall, the book succeeds in presenting what the Japanese have contended for many years regarding the international conflict between the pro-whaling cost and the anti-whaling cost, leaving some important lessons for readers. The first lesson is that the US economy has shifted from whale oil to petroleum oil over the centuries. Although many may have forgotten, the US depended on a whale oil economy in the 18th century. As the economic value of whale oil declined, the US shifted to petroleum-based economy. Keen readers would notice that the USA has in the long run switched their strategic commodity from ‘whale oil’ to ‘petroleum oil’ so as to prevail over the global commodity market. Therefore, even ordinary readers would be tempted to question if it is fair for those who have conveniently switched their strategic commodity from ‘whale oil’ to ‘oil of the Middle East’ to blame those who have stayed on the traditional way of using the marine resource mainly for food.

  The second lesson this book gives is about the naïvete on the part of the critique of “pro-whaling cost”. Those critiques tend to be emotionally loaded so as to exaggerate pro-whaling cost, while belittling anti-whaling cost. The views expressed in the book regarding the cost created by the anti-whaling policy are substantiated by a number of scientific evidences. For the fairness of the public opinion, information is necessary regarding both of the costs: the pro-whaling cost and the anti-whaling cost. The book can inform the public of the overall costs that whales, human, and even the earth must bear when the anti-whaling activities continue.

Book Review by Janice S. Henke
 
This very attractive small volume in English is authoritatively written by two Japanese experts on the history of the whaling issue in the International Whaling Commission.

This volume is a Japanese perspective on the biology and behavior of whales, on the history of whale use by many cultures through thousands of years, and on the catastrophic era of industrial whaling for oil that fueled the industrial revolution.

An especially interesting discussion about the historical depth of whaling in Japan and Korea includes references to prehistoric rock art, the religious and political significance of whaling in early Japan, and the historic culinary importance of whale meat and blubber in Japanese daily life. The depth of this tradition is illustrated through reproductions of early Japanese art, and through reference to the many subtle nuances of whale-related words in the Japanese language. Color illustrations of Japanese whale cuisine complete this demonstration of the significance of whale use in this culture.

The importance of whaling to modern Japanese is illustrated through the many instances of significant links between whaling traditions and modern beliefs about the benefits of whale meat as food for the entire Japanese population. Komatsu and Misaki point out the scientific justifications for the national scientific whaling research programs in the Antarctic and in the North Pacific around Japan. These are within IWC guidelines, and are legal in every respect. The research is viewed as essential by Japan, due to the great increase in minke, sei, Brydes and sperm whales and the ecological impact of their feeding habits on a wide variety of marine fish resources. The authors conclude that appropriate ecosystem management must include research on and sustainable use of whales, because to ignore the impacts of these giant marine predators would be irresponsible.

A further point repeatedly made is that Japanese use of whales for food has resulted in total resource utilization with no waste, in contrast to the harvest of whales for oil by other nations, whose processing techniques resulted in the vast amount of meat, bones and organs being thrown overboard.