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| Japan Defends Dolphin Hunt After Kennedy Criticism | Japan Defends Dolphin Hunt After Kennedy Criticism |
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| HONG KONG — The Japanese government Tuesday defended the practice of dolphin hunting off its coastline, taking issue with the new American ambassador, Caroline Kennedy, who pointedly criticized its “inhumaneness” in a recent Twitter post. | HONG KONG — The Japanese government Tuesday defended the practice of dolphin hunting off its coastline, taking issue with the new American ambassador, Caroline Kennedy, who pointedly criticized its “inhumaneness” in a recent Twitter post. |
| Ms. Kennedy objected to a form of fishing called “drive hunt” killing, in which dolphins are herded together by boats into an area they cannot escape, resulting in the capture of scores, if not hundreds, of dolphins. Critics have called the practice inhumane for the sheer number of dolphins killed and the threat it poses to the animal’s populations. | Ms. Kennedy objected to a form of fishing called “drive hunt” killing, in which dolphins are herded together by boats into an area they cannot escape, resulting in the capture of scores, if not hundreds, of dolphins. Critics have called the practice inhumane for the sheer number of dolphins killed and the threat it poses to the animal’s populations. |
| “Deeply concerned by inhumaneness of drive hunt dolphin killing. USG opposes drive hunt fisheries,” Ms. Kennedy said in her post on Saturday, referring to the United States government’s position on the issue. | “Deeply concerned by inhumaneness of drive hunt dolphin killing. USG opposes drive hunt fisheries,” Ms. Kennedy said in her post on Saturday, referring to the United States government’s position on the issue. |
| On Tuesday, responding to the criticism, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, defended the practice. | On Tuesday, responding to the criticism, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, defended the practice. |
| “Dolphin fishing is a form of traditional fishing in our country,” he said, responding to a question about Ms. Kennedy’s criticism. “We will explain Japan’s position to the American side.” | “Dolphin fishing is a form of traditional fishing in our country,” he said, responding to a question about Ms. Kennedy’s criticism. “We will explain Japan’s position to the American side.” |
| Ms. Kennedy’s decision to wade into the issue came as something of a surprise and could carry extra weight, given her prominence. She took up the post in November, becoming the first woman to serve as ambassador to Japan, and her appointment was seen as particularly significant, given her close ties to President Obama. He benefited from her high-profile endorsement during the 2008 campaign, which gave his candidacy an important early blessing from a leading member of the Kennedy clan. | |
| Ms. Kennedy’s remarks came just a month after the United States Embassy in Tokyo expressed its “disappointment” with the decision of the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, to visit the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors the nation’s war dead, including war criminals who were executed after Japan’s defeat. The visit angered China and South Korea, which suffered greatly under Japanese aggression during the first half of the 20th century. | Ms. Kennedy’s remarks came just a month after the United States Embassy in Tokyo expressed its “disappointment” with the decision of the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, to visit the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors the nation’s war dead, including war criminals who were executed after Japan’s defeat. The visit angered China and South Korea, which suffered greatly under Japanese aggression during the first half of the 20th century. |
| After the shrine visit, Japan’s foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, called Ms. Kennedy during her vacation to explain Mr. Abe’s reasoning for making the visit. | After the shrine visit, Japan’s foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, called Ms. Kennedy during her vacation to explain Mr. Abe’s reasoning for making the visit. |
| The practice of drive hunt killing of dolphins has come under increasing criticism, particularly since the 2009 release of the documentary “The Cove,” which won the 2010 Academy Award for best documentary. The movie included graphic scenes of the annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, Japan, which is underway now and has ignited the latest flurry of criticism of the practice. | The practice of drive hunt killing of dolphins has come under increasing criticism, particularly since the 2009 release of the documentary “The Cove,” which won the 2010 Academy Award for best documentary. The movie included graphic scenes of the annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, Japan, which is underway now and has ignited the latest flurry of criticism of the practice. |
| While commercial whaling has been banned worldwide for three decades, a similar prohibition does not apply to smaller sea mammals like dolphins, partly because of opposition from Japan. | While commercial whaling has been banned worldwide for three decades, a similar prohibition does not apply to smaller sea mammals like dolphins, partly because of opposition from Japan. |