Grandfathers still work at dolphin driving and whaling for food [1]
Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 11:12. Updated on Monday, August 17, 2020 - 18:11.
Story and photos by Linny Folau
Fishing culture is nowhere as important as it is in Japan where the practices are passed down for generations, sustaining livelihoods through trade and maintaining a community's identity. And the hunting of dolphins is very much part of those practices.
The hamlet of Taiji, apart from being well known as one of the country's four traditional whaling towns, is the only village in Japan where fishermen hunt dolphins for food. The practice has in recent times come under continuous scrutiny from international activists.
Dolphin hunting
Hunting dolphins is not a new practice in Japan and has become an integral part of the fishing culture in Taiji for over 30 years, much as whaling was for hundreds of years, said Akira Takeuchi. He is the captain of a Taiji-based fishing boat, one of 13 licensed to hunt dolphins.
At sixty years old, Mr Takeuchi was proud to admit that he has preserved for future generations what his ancestors began two centuries ago. When we visited him early one morning on the Taiji docks, he was gearing up with his crew of over 10 to go dolphin hunting.
Lively dolphins
Only the day before, when we arrived at Taiji, we visited Taiji's Whale Museum, the biggest in Japan, and there I enjoyed a live dolphin show with a group of excited spectators who cheered as the lively and clever dolphins jumped and performed various dives.
Early the next morning we visited the Port of Taiji where we talked to local dolphin hunters to ask about the driving of dolphins - a very sensitive issue for the hunters - and as a foreigner I anticipated reluctance on their part but was surprised that they were quite open about the issue.
Standing in the dawn's chilly air at the fishing port listening to Mr Takeuchi's account of their fishing history, I quickly learned how very much part of Taiji tradition this operation was to these fishermen. But standing there I could also hear a dolphin's high pitched shriek and a whacking sound coming from a big white delivery truck parked at the port and I gathered this was from one of their catches, although I did not see them.
Sensitive issue
Mr Takeuchi was frank, but at the same time he was fully aware of the scrutiny that surrounded their operation. International activists have turned up in Taiji and harassed some of the fishermen. The latest to do so were there the day before we met with Mr Takeuchi.
"What these anti [whaling and dolphin hunting] activists do not understand is that if we protect only species such as whales and dolphins we are doing more harm to the local fishing industry because they tend to eat the small fish. Therefore we have to maintain a balance," he said.
As a fisherman for over half his lifetime, almost all of it in whaling, Takeuchi said his ancestors were among the pioneer whalers in the town. These practices had continued for generations before an International Whaling Commission moratorium on commercial whaling in 1987 stopped them from whaling.
Well before that the driving of dolphins was long practiced and the fishermen also have established their own Fishing Association called Taiji Dolphin Association.
International pressure
He said although they have experienced much international pressure over the hunting of dolphins, it was only six to seven years ago that they started experiencing opposition from international activist groups.
"Fishing for our livelihoods is part of our tradition," Takeuchi said emphasizing that as long as the Japanese government does not stop them they will continue with their fisheries. Japan's Fisheries Research Agency gives Taiji an annual quota of 400 tonnes for its dolphin driving business, he said. The dolphin meat is then sold at the local supermarket.
Old fishermen
On a different note another challenge for local fisherman is trying to find young people to continue the tradition. The captain said he had only girls, but he has grandsons, whom he hopes will continue the fishing culture passed down by their predecessors.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the port 70-year-old fisherman Tadao Higashi was busily watching the offloading of small fish from one of Taiji local fishing boats. Amazingly at his age Higashi is still has the stamina to be up at dawn to do what he does best.
He said the catches are just small fish for daily consumption, the most popular one being salmon and contrary to his silver locks and petit frame, Tadao said had no intention of retiring any time soon.
"I have children but most of them have migrated to cities such as Osaka and they have no attraction towards becoming a fisherman," he said.
This has recently been the trend in these rural parts where youth have migrated to the big cities, trading in their fishing nets for office work.
The writer was a 2008 Sasakawa Pacific Islands Journalism Fellow. This story was written while she was in Japan on her Fellowship.