Whale Watching Worldwide

Local Case Study: Japan
Internationally, Japan is better known for whaling than whale watching. Many people in non‐whaling
countries are surprised to learn that Japan has the largest cetacean watching industry in Asia (by total
expenditure), particularly given the controversy over its ”scientific whaling” programme. In fact, Japan’s
whale watching industry generates many times more revenue than its whale meat industry, which is also
heavily subsidised by the government.
Japanese attitudes to whales, whaling and whale watching are often misunderstood by foreigners. Japan
has conservationists who are just as committed to conserving cetaceans as their counterparts overseas.
Other Japanese are determined to protect what they see as their cultural, economic and culinary heritage, in
continuing to hunt and eat whales. The vast majority of the population sits in the middle – broadly
supportive of conservation, consider themselves ‘nature’ lovers and not opposed to the idea of eating whale
meat. Many Japanese see no contradiction in going whale watching one day and another day eating whale.
Whale watching operations in Japan sometimes reflect this breadth of opinion. Many operators emphasise
conservation and strive to inform their patrons about cetaceans’ lives and the threats they face. They
provide information about whales and other ecological issues. This is particularly the case in Eastern
Hokkaido, Okinawa and Ogasawara, areas known for their clean environment and ecotourism.
In other areas, such as Shikoku, parts of Honshu and parts of Hokkaido, fishermen make some extra money
by taking tourists to see whales, but there is little emphasis on conservation and little effort to develop into
a sustainable tourism industry. Parts of these communities are said to be unfriendly towards whale
watching, due to perceptions that it may harm efforts to reinstate whaling in the future. This is a shame for
whale watching locally, as these areas have great potential, with some of the best large cetacean sightings in
the country.
Like public opinion, the vast majority of cetacean watching in Japan is between these two extremes. By far
the largest number of cetacean watchers in Japan watch dolphins in the western bays of Kyushu. Operators
here do not seem to emphasise conservation issues or education, but they are keen to promote dolphin
watching and dolphins as a lucrative symbol of the area’s tourism. Dolphin watchers are often day‐trippers
and families, who have fun watching the playful dolphins, without considering the issues that trouble the
pro‐ and anti‐whaling factions. Dolphin watching here is fun and lucrative.
This last point about cetacean watching being lucrative is important. I recently met a Japanese butcher and
discussed Japanese meat markets. He lamented that whale tongue, his favourite cut, is so difficult to come
by. He had recently been whale watching in Victoria, Australia but could not understand why Australians
would object to his selling whale, when they are quite happy to eat kangaroo. While he has no intention of
stopping eating and selling whale, he was interested to hear about the economic value of whale watching in
Australia, Japan and other places. As a small businessman, he quickly understood the implications of even
limited whaling on the profits of businesses set up to watch the rare and spectacular mammals.
Convincing Japanese that whaling is morally wrong will be very difficult. Convincing them that their whale
watching industry needs support and protection might be a lot easier.
Rod Campbell – Rod lived in Japan for two years and completed his undergraduate environmental economics
studies at Kyoto University. This is his personal reflection on whaling and whale watching in Japan.
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