DISQUS

Erin · 1 year ago

Things that usually have an o stuck in front of them sound weird when you take the o away. For example, I always say おぞうに so ぞうに seems weird to me, hehe. Also, you'd better listen to your Grandpa and chew super well if you eat mochi, ok?

Viet · 1 year ago

From my understanding, the Japanese are still "researching" other whales, but humpbacks are excluded for now.

Yes, listen to your Grandpa!

koichi · 1 year ago

I've eaten gray whale meat/blubber. it's pretty tasty, but not worth killing whales to get.

Luke · 1 year ago

Yeah whaling is bad, but I had an arguement with my Fiancee about it. (She is Japanese).

Her viewpoint is that the west demonises Japan for the brutality of Whaling. But Australians eat their national emblem (kangaroo) and its seen to be trendy here. We also eat other creatures all over the world.

What do other people think? I really feel the western media are all too one sided sometimes. But on the other hand after being in Japan 7 times I see the Japanese media as doing the same.

So what is the answer? Eat sunflowers?

Viet · 1 year ago

The state (US) governments allow Native Americans to hunt an allotment of whales for cultural reasons. I have no problems with that, except for the fact they can use high power weaponry to kill the whales, which is something I don't agree with. Anyway, the point is this is happening in the US, but it seems the focus are on the Japanese whenever this hits the news or some social linking website like Digg. Which is fair considering the magnitude the Japanese are gathering the specimens. But at the same time shouldn't we "clean" up our act before we go attacking others?

Whale consumption in Japan seems to be a cultural thing, which personally I have no problems with. It seems people are pissed off because they are using the guise of "research" to harvest these mammals and think they could get away with it. In addition, they are breaking whale hunting laws by using a loophole. Using such a blatant lie is an insult.

In conclusion, to me it isn't so much the whaling that makes me think Japan in a negative way, but the obvious lies they try to pass off to the international community just to fulfill their gluttony.

koichi · 1 year ago

I think if they limited their whale consumption, it would be ok. I don't think it's good that they are going out and eating whales when they are dwindling in numbers. At least they aren't hunting blue whales.

As for the native americans, that's when I got to eat whale! The first Makah whale that was caught! Now they aren't allowed to do it again, tricky government.

Captain Spanish · 1 year ago

When I read the subtitle "Japanese Inmates Think Their Jumpsuits Aren’t Stylish" I got a picture of a hardened criminal getting into his sell and saying "Guarsds you don't expect me to wear this! These trousers totally clash with these shoes!". I look forward to the next Japan Week Preview. :)

Alec · 1 year ago

Who said whales are only eaten by the upper-classes? Whale's not that expensive and it used to be dished out in school dinners because it was cheaper than other meats. I can get whale at my local supermarket for about the same price as tuna and a lot of other seafoods.

Also, most of the whales killed by the Japanese are minke whales which are pretty damned common. If tuna is the chicken of the sea, mink whales are like the ... pigs? Hmm. I'll have to think of a better analogy.

Don't mean to come across as a bitter old man, but a lot of people are so anti-whaling without even knowing the facts. Personally, I think the whaling of humpbacks and endangered species is wrong, but I see nothing wrong with the sustainable hunting of common whales whether it's for food or science.

Erin · 1 year ago

Viet:

I agree with you about the Native American whale hunt thing. If they're going to be killing whales for cultural reasons, they really should do it using traditional methods.

fredy · 1 year ago

Viet: Haha. I laughed when I read that! I was like "I didn't know guns were traditional Native American weapons." I mean... you could go with another loophole and be like "the white man brought us these weapons long ago".

I don't have a problem with whaling, unless it is on species that are dwindling and in danger. I'm also mad that they lied about it by claiming it to be research.

Whatever happened to dolphins? I used to hear a lot about dolphin controversy. I read somewhere that Heroes' Hayden Pannettiere is wanted in Japan for stoping an annual dolphin hunt. Interesting. haha.

The video was a lot clearer after reading the article. I think one of the biggest difficulties in making these type of blogs is choosing what is important to talk about and how to write about each thing. There's just so much info and things going on that it would be hard to choose. Good luck!

mmnessa · 1 year ago

I think...I prefer what you guys always do. Just cover one article at a time.
For some reason, it seems as though there's too much to look at. Maybe it's just me.

About what fredy said; the video is on LiveLeak (I thought it was pretty sad):

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=843_1193927344

Jesse · 1 year ago

To further speculate on Lukes post about the lop-sided media. You are 100% correct on both accounts of East and West media. American media is horrible, and for as much as I watch the news I haven't really heard anything about the whaling issue on U.S. news channels. The answer isn't to eat sun flowers but to shed light on your and Viet's comment, All in moderation. I don't really care if the Native Americans or Japanese hunt whales. I think that the U.S, forgets that Japan is an island nation that relies on fishing more than the States do. Of course it looks like an autrosity to the US. The same can be looked at from the Indian (nation of India) point of view with the slaughtering and comsumption of cows. Look at the thousands of cows that are killed each year in the US alone. While I'm not defending Japan's gov't/fishing practices (or the US) you have to look at the fact that Japan has to find a way of feeding it's people. They don't have the same luxury as the US in terms of land for agriculture. The only reason why people get pissy is b/c whales especially certain types are just starting to rebound from extinction. That and the term "research". It is along the same controversy as shark fin soup. Whether anyone agrees with me or not it doesn't matter as it is just my opinion.

stupidfresh · 1 year ago

as long as I'm allowed to eat my pet dogs and cats, the Japanese should be allowed to eat whales and horses...

Tyler · 1 year ago

what is so bad about eating mochi? doesn't seem dangerous to me.

Viet · 1 year ago

Mochi kills old people who can't chew properly.

Marvin · 1 year ago

Wikipedia "Because it is so sticky, it is difficult to dislodge via the Heimlich maneuver. In the Japanese comedy film Tampopo, a vacuum cleaner is used to suck it out (some lifesaving experts say that a vacuum cleaner is actually efficient for stuck mochi)".



Yay Vacuum Cleaners

New Oreck with Cyclone power

now comes in Titanium!

Brian · 1 year ago

hm.....getting in a car crash never seemed so fun. ha.

Alex · 1 year ago

Huh... Kills you with love... Tough love? At least when you get in a car accident as well you can enjoy your bloody torture with some good boobage in your face. Would be strange if women enjoyed it too.

Viet · 1 year ago

This is so bad, ahahaha

http://harpooned.org/

Here is a video of the trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR4KN6EfX6M

taroroot · 1 year ago

are you actually gonna continue this series?

koichi · 1 year ago

there's a decent possibility, we'll see.