Japan allows commercial whaling
Japan is one of only three countries, along with Norway and Iceland, that allow commercial whaling. Previously, minke, Bryde's, and sei whales were on Tokyo's target list. After months of debate, fin whales, the world's second-largest marine mammals after blue whales and considered endangered, have been added.
Whaling has been practiced in Japan for centuries, with the government citing a tradition to be preserved. Despite the implementation of a global moratorium by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1986, which banned commercial whaling internationally, Japan continued to kill whales - officially for research purposes only. However, a portion of the meat from the killed animals was then used for consumption, something Japan never denied.
After failing to push for the resumption of commercial whaling, Japan withdrew from the IWC in 2019 and resumed commercial whaling in its territorial waters. Last year, 294 whales were killed.
Other countries, such as Japan, have their own unique cultural traditions related to whaling. The consumption of whale meat is a contentious issue, drawing criticism from various organizations and nations that prioritize the conservation of these marine species.
