Antiwhaling Groups in Japan: Their Historical Lack of Development and Relationship With National Identity

Abstract

This article reviews the history of antiwhaling groups in Japan from a politicocultural perspective, examining how the connection between whaling and national identity has significantly constrained their development. It is interesting to note that this connection, or “framing,” in terms of social movement theory, was not an invention of the prowhaling camp. It was rather induced and facilitated by Western activists’ protests, which have been unwelcome in Japanese political culture, making the antiwhaling cause come across as “foreign.” In fact, Japanese antiwhaling groups have attempted to counter-frame this by distinguishing themselves from Western activists, emphasizing moderate strategies, limiting their opposition to large-scale modern whaling, and allowing small-scale coastal whaling with a view to detaching the issue from national claims. However, they have not been successful due to prominent foreign protests. This study also suggests the key role of national identity in the success or failure of environmental activism.