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Star of anti-dolphin killing film The Cove held by Japanese immigration Star of anti-dolphin killing film The Cove held by Japanese immigration
(7 months later)
The star of Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, about the killing of dolphins in a village in Japan, has been detained by immigration authorities at Tokyo’s Narita international airport.The star of Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, about the killing of dolphins in a village in Japan, has been detained by immigration authorities at Tokyo’s Narita international airport.
Ric O’Barry – an American known for training the dolphins used in the TV series Flipper – said immigration officials told him he could not enter Japan on a tourist visa because he was not a tourist, according to his lawyer, Takashi Takano.Ric O’Barry – an American known for training the dolphins used in the TV series Flipper – said immigration officials told him he could not enter Japan on a tourist visa because he was not a tourist, according to his lawyer, Takashi Takano.
Takano said officials accused O’Barry of having close ties with the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, which O’Barry denies. Immigration officials said it was their policy not to comment on individual cases.Takano said officials accused O’Barry of having close ties with the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, which O’Barry denies. Immigration officials said it was their policy not to comment on individual cases.
Takano said he was appealing against the detention, and that the Japanese government would decide on whether to allow O’Barry into the country or deport him. It was not clear when a decision would be made.Takano said he was appealing against the detention, and that the Japanese government would decide on whether to allow O’Barry into the country or deport him. It was not clear when a decision would be made.
Related: Japanese aquariums vote to stop buying Taiji dolphins
The Cove, which won the 2009 Academy Award for best documentary, shows the slaughter of dolphins herded into a cove in the fishing village of Taiji and bludgeoned to death.The Cove, which won the 2009 Academy Award for best documentary, shows the slaughter of dolphins herded into a cove in the fishing village of Taiji and bludgeoned to death.
“The Japanese government is cracking down on those who oppose their war on dolphins,” O’Barry said in a statement sent to the Associated Press through his son, Lincoln O’Barry.“The Japanese government is cracking down on those who oppose their war on dolphins,” O’Barry said in a statement sent to the Associated Press through his son, Lincoln O’Barry.
Officials in Taiji, a small fishing village in central Japan, and fishermen have defended the hunt as a tradition, saying that eating dolphin meat is no different to eating beef or chicken.Officials in Taiji, a small fishing village in central Japan, and fishermen have defended the hunt as a tradition, saying that eating dolphin meat is no different to eating beef or chicken.
Most Japanese have never eaten dolphin meat. Many say they are horrified by the dolphin killing and there is a campaign against the Taiji hunt. Animal welfare activists say the hunt is driven mostly by the lucrative sale of dolphins to aquariums, with the income from the sale of meat simply an added extra.Most Japanese have never eaten dolphin meat. Many say they are horrified by the dolphin killing and there is a campaign against the Taiji hunt. Animal welfare activists say the hunt is driven mostly by the lucrative sale of dolphins to aquariums, with the income from the sale of meat simply an added extra.
O’Barry has been stopped and questioned by Japanese immigration before. He has also been taken into custody by local police on the suspicion of not having proper travel documents before being released. But this is the first time he has been detained in this way. He has the support of high-profile celebrities, including Sting, the US ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, and the former Guns N’ Roses drummer, Matt Sorum.O’Barry has been stopped and questioned by Japanese immigration before. He has also been taken into custody by local police on the suspicion of not having proper travel documents before being released. But this is the first time he has been detained in this way. He has the support of high-profile celebrities, including Sting, the US ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, and the former Guns N’ Roses drummer, Matt Sorum.