Monday
Book: Japan’s animal spirits
BONES OF CONTENTION: Animals and Religion inContemporary Japan, by Barbara R.
Ambros. University of Hawaii Press, 2012, 255 pp., $29 (paperback)
Bumping into a Japanese acquaintance on the street recently, I inquired where he was going on
his day off dressed in a formal business suit. A worker at a major pharmaceutical company, he
explained that he was participating in a ceremony honoring the spirits of all the animals that had
suffered during experiments in their laboratories. A Buddhist priest would be conducting the
rites.
In Barbara R. Ambros’ “Bones of Contention,” the writer includes a similar example of a
restaurant at the foot of a pet cemetery, which holds an annual memorial service for fish, birds
and mammals, in a spirit of gratitude for sentient creatures that are “martyrs for the sake of the
nation’s progress and prosperity.”
Obliged to kill hundreds of thousands of chickens after avian flu struck in 2004, the Japan Poultry
and Egg Farmer Association, we learn, held a large memorial service at the Tokyo Grand Hotel,
the altar bedizened with white lilies and a pyramid of boxed eggs. Such initially startling events
come, through the powerful transformer of Ambros’research, to gradually make perfect sense,
to even be perceived as morally well-grounded actions.
The author illustrates just how embedded animals have become in Japanese life, reflected in the
increasing desire of owners to be interred with their pets. And Buddhist temples, always on the
lookout for new sources of revenue, have welcomed the demand for memorialrites for pets.
The writer’s own entrée into this deathly landscape was more experiential than academic.
Ambros first came across mortuary rituals when her parakeet came down with sudden seizures,
the attacks requiring incubation in a Tokyo clinic and eventually euthanasia. It was there the vet
told her about the possibility of being interred and memorialized in a pet cemetery at a Nichiren temple.
Following the bifurcating paths that hands-on research often presents, the writer gained access
to pet funerals, usually the exclusive preserve of family members, surveyed websites dedicated
to pet loss, joined in online consolation chat rooms relating to propitiatory rites and funerals for
pets, tracked stories in the print media and the content of pet literature, even examining court
documents relating to legal cases connected to pet cemeteries.
Ambros touches on the intriguing subject of metamorphosis, which in Japanese folklore and
mythology often takes the more specific form of zoomorphism, the shape shifting of animals
into humans. Such beliefs may not be confined entirely to the past. One recalls in Alan Booth’s
travelogue, “The Roads to Sata,” the author being warned not to take a forest road at twilight, as
foxes, transformed into alluring women, would likely bewitch him. The book was written in the
1980s.
Ambros questions the propensity of Japanese scholars to lean on oversimplistic dichotomies in
suggesting that they possess a closer relationship with animals than other races, one reflective
of a greater holistic sense of the natural world. The writer easily explodes the notion that the
Japanese live in harmonious coexistence with nature, noting that “Wildlife has been treated both
as a resource to be exploited and as pests and predators to be exterminated and feared.” This
would seem perfectly natural for a people who once hunted deer and boar with dogs, and who
now rank among the world’s more enthusiastic consumers of meat.
Ambros references the idea that attitudes to animals and their care vary regionally in Japan.
There may be something to this. Outsiders who have settled in Okinawa, for example, have
complained to me about the wretched mistreatment of animals there, comparing it to
conditions in China.
Interestingly, such attitudes do not preclude sentimentality about animals. On a recent trip to
Okinawa, I came across two dog statues facing each other across the water between Aka and
Zamami islands. Such was the passion of one dog, he swan each day to a beach on Zamami for a
rendezvous, a distance of some 3 km. This tale of loyalty and affection was even made into a
film. Like many an ambivalently sentimental people, the Japanese, it seems, cannot resist a good animal story.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2013/02/10/books/japans-animal-spirits/#.UWr99LXvt8F
Sunday
Sea turtle that lost her front legs has been given artificial flippers
KOBE — A sea turtle that lost her front legs to a shark attack was bidding to match “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius on Tuesday, as she donned the latest in artificial flipper technology in Japan. Yu, an approximately 25-year-old female loggerhead turtle, was test-driving her 27th pair of artificial front legs around her home aquarium near Kobe, where she proves a draw for the crowds. The rubber limbs are attached to a vest slipped over her head, said the aquarium’s curator, Naoki Kamezaki. “We have worked hard to design the vest in a way that prevents the turtle from taking it off unwittingly,” he told AFP. “It can flutter the limbs as the vest is soft.” The creature, which weighs 96 kilograms and has a shell 82 centimeters long, was pulled out of a fisherman’s net and sent to the Suma Aqualife Park in mid-2008. One third of the right limb and half of the left limb were gone, in what Kamezaki believes must have been a shark attack. The aquarium started developing artificial limbs for the animal in late 2008 as it could swim only at about 60 percent of its normal speed. Earlier versions were squeezed into the stumps but were apparently painful to Yu. “Similar attempts have been made to attach artificial limbs to turtles around the world. But we have not heard if they went well,” said Kamezaki, an expert on sea turtles, whose surname coincidentally means “turtle cape” in Japanese. “Ours may be the only case in which a turtle with artificial limbs is still swimming without a problem.” In 2004, a dolphin at an aquarium in Okinawa became the first in the world to be fitted with a rubber tail fin. It lost its own tail due to illness. South African sprint king Pistorius, whose legs were amputated below his knees, won plaudits for his performance at last year’s London Olympics where he competed alongside able-bodied athletes.
Wednesday
Elephant tramples keeper to death at Shizuoka safari park
An elephant trampled its keeper to death at a zoo in Shizuoka Prefecture on Tuesday as he tried to stop the gigantic animal from attacking its new-born calf, police and reports said.
Inthavong Khamphone, who was from Laos, had watched the elephants overnight with other keepers at Fuji Safari Park after the mother gave birth on Sunday, police said.
“Khamphone entered the cage with another keeper because the mother started attacking the baby,” a local police officer said. “The mother then started attacking Khamphone.”
The 30-year-old was an elephant specialist who had been working with the creatures for around 15 years. He had come to Japan from Laos with the mother elephant in July last year, said Jiji Press and the Sankei daily citing the zoo.
Reports said the keeper had died after the two-ton elephant stood on his chest at the park, which is near Mount Fuji.
Inthavong Khamphone, who was from Laos, had watched the elephants overnight with other keepers at Fuji Safari Park after the mother gave birth on Sunday, police said.
“Khamphone entered the cage with another keeper because the mother started attacking the baby,” a local police officer said. “The mother then started attacking Khamphone.”
The 30-year-old was an elephant specialist who had been working with the creatures for around 15 years. He had come to Japan from Laos with the mother elephant in July last year, said Jiji Press and the Sankei daily citing the zoo.
Reports said the keeper had died after the two-ton elephant stood on his chest at the park, which is near Mount Fuji.
Friday
Raccoons take big bite out of crops
ASAHIKAWA, Hokkaido (Kyodo) Raccoons caused ¥164 million in damage to agricultural produce in 16 prefectures in fiscal 2006, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said Monday.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/print/nn20080219a5.html
A raccoon is trapped in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, in September. ASAHIKAWA CITY PHOTO/KYODO
Hyogo Prefecture reported the most damage, saying ¥43.42 million worth of grapes and other produce was ruined. Hokkaido followed with damage reaching ¥27.82 million, centering on corn and melons.
Saitama suffered damage of ¥19.6 million, Osaka ¥18.7 million, Wakayama ¥16.6 million and Kanagawa ¥10.6 million, the ministry said.
Raccoons were blamed for damage when evidence such as tracks suggested their involvement, the ministry said. In fiscal 2004, raccoon damage was observed in only Hokkaido and five other regions.
Japan imported North American raccoons as pets in the 1970s when they became popular on an animated TV show. Many ended up being discarded or they ran away.
At the peak, Japan was importing more than 1,500 raccoons a year. The government has since banned importing them or keeping them as pets.
A nationwide study by the Environment Ministry has confirmed that raccoons live in at least 36 prefectures.
Wednesday
Saturday
Japanese Cat Lovers Snarl at New Law
TOKYO (Reuters) - Times are looking tough for Tokyo's cat cafes, where feline aficionados can drop in for tea and some time with a cat.
At most such establishments, it's the post-work rush that brings in the most cash, with tired and harried professionals dropping by on their way homes to pet and play with the animals as a way of relieving stress.
But now the purrs of delight may be getting quieter.
A revision to Japan's Animal Protection Law, due to come into force on June 1, will slap a curfew on the public display of cats and dogs, forcing cat cafes to shut up shop at 8 p.m.
"There's this new revision which says we should be open from eight in the morning until eight at night. After 8 p.m. we have to put the cats in the back, away from the customers, and close," said Hiromi Kawase, the owner of one Tokyo cat cafe.
"Everybody knows cats are really happy in the evening, with their big, cute eyes. So I just can't understand why the people at the top are ignoring this. It's really strange."
Cat cafes have long been popular, catering to the many cat lovers who can't keep the animals at home because of strict housing regulations that forbid pets in many apartments.
Visitors to Kawase's cafe pay about 1,000 yen ($12) an hour to play with any of her 24 cats, who dart around the room chasing toys or sleep in baskets set on tables. Drinks are priced from around 300 yen each.
The government says the real targets of the tighter animal protection law are late-night pet shops, which often sell dogs and cats around the clock. The animals are kept in small cages under bright lights that are never sitched off.
Kawase's establishment is far from a 24-hour operation. Her doors close at 10 p.m., but she says many of her customers only arrive around eight, after work, and stay through to the close.
"If I can't see the cats, well, I won't come. Of course I come here because they have cats," said Tatsuo Karuishi, 41.
Karuishi visits the cafe at least twice a week, usually checking in at around eight, as does fellow feline fancier Ayumi Sekigushi.
"It's a great place, it calms the stresses of working life," said Sekigushi, 23. "If this law goes, through that enjoyment is going to disappear. It's a real shame."
While Kawase says the lost business hours will take a toll on profits, it's what that might mean for her cats that worries her the most.
"If our business hours go down and we lose two hours of profits, of course it's going to affect us, but it'll also affect the cats," she said.
"You know, in getting them all the things they need, like the correct amount of food and proper nutrition."
At most such establishments, it's the post-work rush that brings in the most cash, with tired and harried professionals dropping by on their way homes to pet and play with the animals as a way of relieving stress.
But now the purrs of delight may be getting quieter.
A revision to Japan's Animal Protection Law, due to come into force on June 1, will slap a curfew on the public display of cats and dogs, forcing cat cafes to shut up shop at 8 p.m.
"There's this new revision which says we should be open from eight in the morning until eight at night. After 8 p.m. we have to put the cats in the back, away from the customers, and close," said Hiromi Kawase, the owner of one Tokyo cat cafe.
"Everybody knows cats are really happy in the evening, with their big, cute eyes. So I just can't understand why the people at the top are ignoring this. It's really strange."
Cat cafes have long been popular, catering to the many cat lovers who can't keep the animals at home because of strict housing regulations that forbid pets in many apartments.
Visitors to Kawase's cafe pay about 1,000 yen ($12) an hour to play with any of her 24 cats, who dart around the room chasing toys or sleep in baskets set on tables. Drinks are priced from around 300 yen each.
The government says the real targets of the tighter animal protection law are late-night pet shops, which often sell dogs and cats around the clock. The animals are kept in small cages under bright lights that are never sitched off.
Kawase's establishment is far from a 24-hour operation. Her doors close at 10 p.m., but she says many of her customers only arrive around eight, after work, and stay through to the close.
"If I can't see the cats, well, I won't come. Of course I come here because they have cats," said Tatsuo Karuishi, 41.
Karuishi visits the cafe at least twice a week, usually checking in at around eight, as does fellow feline fancier Ayumi Sekigushi.
"It's a great place, it calms the stresses of working life," said Sekigushi, 23. "If this law goes, through that enjoyment is going to disappear. It's a real shame."
While Kawase says the lost business hours will take a toll on profits, it's what that might mean for her cats that worries her the most.
"If our business hours go down and we lose two hours of profits, of course it's going to affect us, but it'll also affect the cats," she said.
"You know, in getting them all the things they need, like the correct amount of food and proper nutrition."
Sunday
5 youths ordered to apologize to monkeys, clean pen for throwing fireworks
Five youths have apologized to the director of Kyoto Zoo after admitting to breaking into the premises early one morning in January and throwing fireworks at the zoo’s monkeys.
As part of their punishment, the five were ordered to apologize to the monkeys and clean their enclosure, according to a Fuji TV report.
Police say the group, all 18 years of age, consisted of high school students, construction workers and beauticians. According to police, the group had been drinking alcohol before they illegally entered the zoo on Jan 3 and threw lit fireworks into the monkey enclosure, Fuji reported.
CCTV camera footage showed them entering the zoo by scaling a wall at around 6:20 a.m. They then proceeded to terrorize the 26 monkeys for around 15 minutes. Zoo keepers reported that one animal sustained a burn to its face.
After police made the video footage public, the youths turned themselves in, Fuji reported. Police said they will likely press charges for breach of property damage and animal cruelty laws.
At the time of the incident, the director of Kyoto Zoo, Toshikuni Nihonmatsu, said the zoo discourages visitors from throwing anything into the enclosure, even food, due to the danger that the animals will lose trust in people, Fuji reported. “What was done to the monkeys was incredibly cruel,” he said.
The accused were taken to Kyoto Zoo on Feb 10, where they bowed and apologized to zoo staff, including Nihonmatsu. They were then told to bow and apologize to the monkeys, Fuji reported. They also cleaned the monkeys’ enclosure for around an hour as punishment.
Nihonmatsu told the group that he wanted them to understand how the monkeys must have felt and reflect on what they had done. He added that he wanted them to go on and be productive members of society, Fuji TV reported.
As part of their punishment, the five were ordered to apologize to the monkeys and clean their enclosure, according to a Fuji TV report.
Police say the group, all 18 years of age, consisted of high school students, construction workers and beauticians. According to police, the group had been drinking alcohol before they illegally entered the zoo on Jan 3 and threw lit fireworks into the monkey enclosure, Fuji reported.
CCTV camera footage showed them entering the zoo by scaling a wall at around 6:20 a.m. They then proceeded to terrorize the 26 monkeys for around 15 minutes. Zoo keepers reported that one animal sustained a burn to its face.
After police made the video footage public, the youths turned themselves in, Fuji reported. Police said they will likely press charges for breach of property damage and animal cruelty laws.
At the time of the incident, the director of Kyoto Zoo, Toshikuni Nihonmatsu, said the zoo discourages visitors from throwing anything into the enclosure, even food, due to the danger that the animals will lose trust in people, Fuji reported. “What was done to the monkeys was incredibly cruel,” he said.
The accused were taken to Kyoto Zoo on Feb 10, where they bowed and apologized to zoo staff, including Nihonmatsu. They were then told to bow and apologize to the monkeys, Fuji reported. They also cleaned the monkeys’ enclosure for around an hour as punishment.
Nihonmatsu told the group that he wanted them to understand how the monkeys must have felt and reflect on what they had done. He added that he wanted them to go on and be productive members of society, Fuji TV reported.
Saturday
Sunday
Dog Death Row
Dog death row... 250,000 cats and dogs gassed each year in Japan - News On Japan
by mirror.co.uk on Oct 22, 2011 10:42 PM
A puppy scratches at a window in a pitiful attempt to escape the horror which is about to unfold. Minutes later the pedigree Japanese Akita is among a large group of dogs led into a "dream box", execution chamber which will be pumped full of carbon dioxide. As the deadly gas slowly fills the box it takes 10 minutes for the barking inside to die down into heart-breaking whimpers. And as the dogs writhe in agony, it takes another 20 minutes before their twitching bodies are finally still. The animals have just become the latest batch of the 200,000 cats and dogs which will be gassed to death in Japan this year. The euphemistically named dream boxes where they spend their final moments are fully mechanised gas chambers housed in health centres called hokenjos. There are 108 in Japan and they each kill an average of 550 animals a day. (mirror.co.uk)
Thursday
1000匹が23区に 東京でタヌキが暮らせる理由 大手町のオフィス街にも登場
- 2011/8/16 7:00
- ニュースソース
- 日本経済新聞 電子版
タヌキといえば、里山に暮らすイメージが強いが、東京23区内にも1000匹ほどが生息しているという。大手町のオフィスビルに夜間、自動ドアを開けて入ってくるなどの珍事も起きている。ライバルのキツネはもはや都心から撤退しているようだが、タヌキがしたたかに都会暮らしを続けられる理由はなんだろうか――。
東京の上野動物園。クマ舎の脇の小さな獣舎で、メスのタヌキが１匹だけ飼育されている。名前は「しのっぴ」。数年前、近くの不忍池あたりで捕獲された。飼育担当の野島大貴さんは「正確な年齢は分からないが、まだ若くて動きが活発ですよ」と話す。顔つきは、よくある置物のような丸顔ではない。鼻が少々ツンとしていて面長な感じだ。夜行性なので昼間は寝ていることが多いが、食事のほかにたまにおやつとして昆虫を与えると、昼間でも興奮して走り回っている。そのスピードはネコほどではないが意外に早い。「この子はあまり人間を恐れない。人間たちの様子をじっと観察しているようなところがありますね」と野島さんは言う。
この「しのっぴ」のほかにも、東京には、ひそかに人間を観察して生きているタヌキたちがいるようだ。2010年11月には夜間、大手町のＪＸビルに体長50センチほどのタヌキが１匹、地下の自動ドアから入ってきた。けがをしている様子もなかったので、捕獲後、警視庁丸の内署が都内の緑地に放している。09年には、竹橋のオフィスビルの地下駐車場に迷い込んだ子タヌキが保護され、衰弱していたのでミルクなどを与えられた。
野生のタヌキが都会に出没するのはなぜだろうか。「タヌキたちのびっくり東京生活」などの著書がある動物ジャーナリストの宮本拓海さんは「都心には案外、タヌキが暮らせる緑地が残っているんですよ」と解説する。タヌキは、昆虫やムカデ、ミミズといった地表の小動物や、カキ、ムクノキ、ギンナンといった果実を食べるが、行動範囲は結構狭く、半径数百メートルほどに収まることが多い。東京には夜に閉鎖される緑地公園などがそこそこあるが、そうしたところがあれば暮らしていける。さらに東京には天敵の野良犬がほとんどいないのが好都合なのだという。
タヌキは春に巣穴で子どもを産み、夫婦で仲良く子育てする。子どもたちは晩秋に独立していく。里山ではほかの動物が掘った穴を巣穴として利用しているが、東京では、線路脇などの側溝や寺社の床下などを使っているという。昼間は巣穴で寝ており、夕方以降、人のいなくなった緑地公園や寺社などで活動し始める。警戒心が強いので、人の近くに来ることは少ない。万一遭遇しても、太ったネコと勘違いして、見過ごされることが多いという。
宮本さんは1998年に世田谷区でタヌキを目撃してから、その生態に興味を持ち、調査を続けてきた。2006年ごろからは専用サイトの「東京タヌキ探検隊！」（http://tokyotanuki.jp/）などで広く目撃情報を募っている。これまでに収集した1600件を超える目撃情報をもとに、東京にはタヌキがおよそ1000匹いるという試算を出している。主な生息範囲と思われるのは次の８グループだ。
（１）荒川南岸グループ＝荒川河川敷から南は東武東上線を越えたあたりまで
（２）西武線グループ＝西武新宿線・池袋線の沿線
（３）京王線グループ＝京王線と井の頭線の沿線
（４）多摩川グループ＝多摩川とその支流一帯
（５）目白文京グループ＝山手通り以東で文京区全域、台東区、北区の一部も含む
（６）御所グループ＝皇居、赤坂御用地、新宿御苑、明治神宮とその周辺
（７）水元グループ＝葛飾区の水元公園周辺
（８）白金グループ＝白金にある国立科学博物館付属自然教育園の周辺
この生息範囲を見ると、緑地の多い地域のほかに、鉄道の沿線が含まれているのが興味深い。「タヌキにとって線路は暮らしやすい場所なんです」と宮本さんは言う。高架された路線は別として、地上の線路脇にはたいてい側溝があり、雑草が生えていて昆虫もいる。深夜、電車が来なくなってからはタヌキの天国。西武線や京王線などは線路沿いに伝っていけば、車の多い大通りも突破できる。
タヌキがこうして生き延びているのに、キツネがいなくなったのはなぜだろうか。明治初期には銀座あたりでもキツネが見かけられたという。彼らはタヌキより頭脳派のイメージがあり、都会のサバイバル競争に向いていそうだが、残念なことに、タヌキより少しだけ肉食系だったことが災いしたようだ。タヌキが果実や昆虫などを食べるのに対して、キツネはネズミなどの小動物を好む。その食生活を支えるためには、より広大な緑地が必要だった。英国の都市などでは今でもキツネを見かけるところもあるが、東京の緑地では、タヌキは養えても、キツネまでは養えなかったようだ。
宮本さんは「タヌキもたらふく食べているわけではなく、東京でこれから急激に増えるようなことはない」と話す。そうしてひっそりと暮らすタヌキたちと万一、幸運にも出くわすことがあったら、どう接したらいいだろうか。いちばん避けたいのは、大騒ぎして追いかけ回すこと。野生動物とは一定の距離を保ち、見守るのが望ましい。「近づかない、騒がない、食べ物を与えない」。宮本さんは、この３原則を提案している。
（生活情報部 平田浩司）
Friday
Friday
Wednesday
Peach the Chihuahua: Japan's newest police dog
TOKYO (Reuters Life!) – Meet Japan's newest police dog -- all 3 kg (6.6 lb) of her. In what is a first for Japan and perhaps the world, a long-haired Chihuahua named "Momo" -- "Peach" -- passed exams to become a police dog in the western Japanese prefecture of Nara. The brown-and-white, perky Momo was one of 32 successful candidates out of 70 dogs, passing a search and rescue test by finding a person in five minutes after merely sniffing their cap. "Any breed of dog can be entered to become a police dog in the search and rescue division," said a Nara police spokesman. But he admitted that news a Chihuahua had been entered may still come as a surprise to many. "It's quite unusual," he said. Television footage showed the 7-year-old Momo bounding across grass or sitting proudly, long hair blowing in the breeze. Momo will be used for rescue operations in case of disasters such as earthquakes, in the hope that she may be able to squeeze her tiny frame into places too narrow for more usual rescue dogs, which tend to be German Shepherds. The public response to the news of Momo's selection took police by surprise, the spokesman said, adding: "The phone's been ringing all afternoon." (Reporting by Elaine Lies; editing by Paul Casciato) http://Japan-Animals.blogspot.com
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Thursday
Japan's mighty whale mountain | The Japan Times Online
Will killing whales make a comeback? Japan wants to hunt them. Mexico wants to save them. But for the world's largest mammals, the biggest problem is the ... about.(Briefings): An article from: OnEarth
Japan's mighty whale mountain The Japan Times Online
Japan's mighty whale mountain The Japan Times Online
Japan convicts Greenpeace's 'Tokyo Two' for whaling investigation
Tokyo – A Greenpeace effort to expose what it sees as widespread corruption in Japan's government-subsidized whaling industry ended on Monday with two of its activists convicted of theft and trespassing.
Greenpeace activists Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki -- dubbed the "Tokyo Two" by their organization -- received suspended sentences for taking a package from a delivery company in April 2008 that was filled with prime whale meat and addressed to the home of a crewmember on one of Japan's research whaling vessels.
The pair, acting on a tip from a former whaler that crews were privately taking and selling whale meat that rightfully belongs to the government, delivered the package along with an explanation of their investigation to the Tokyo Prosecutors`Office the following month. But rather than resulting in government action on the alleged practice, the two were soon arrested and charged.
This is the second recent case in which prosecutors have taken action against opponents of Japan's whaling industry. In July New Zealander Peter Bethune was handed a two-year suspended sentence for illegally boarding a Japanse whaling vessel in the Southern Ocean as part of an effort to disrupt whaling by Sea Shepherds activists.
The verdict was “a partial vindication, because the two activists are not going to prison,â€
A brief investigation into embezzlement in Japan’s “scientific whaling” industry was dropped in June 2008 and the pair arrested following dramatic raids involving dozens of policemen and in front of the media, who had been tipped-off by the police.
The trial began in February this year, despite protests from the defense team that there was no case to answer as the investigation had been in the public interest and there had been no intention to profit from taking the meat.
With the conviction rate in Japanese criminal trials still running at over 99 percent, despite the introduction last year of a jury-like lay judge system, the chances for the activists were never good.
The court acknowledged that there had been “dubious practicesâ€
“The activists’ actions were clearly not criminal in nature, and they acted solely in the public interest to expose theft of Japanese taxpayers’ money,” said Naidoo, who called on the government to open an inquiry into corruption in its subsidized whaling industry.
"While the court acknowledged that there were questionable practices in the whaling industry, it did not recognize the right to expose these, as is guaranteed under international law,” said defendant Sato. “The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, on which our defense was based, supercedes domestic criminal law, but the judgment did not properly take this into account."
The prosecution had sought terms of 18 months for the accused. Instead they received 12-month suspended sentences. But according to Sato the verdict sends a message that “if you do something like this, you can be imprisoned.”
Greenpeace says it will appeal the verdict.
Critics skewer Lady Gaga's meat dress
NEW YORK (AFP) – Animal rights activists stuck a fork in Lady Gaga's meat dress Tuesday but supporters rallied around the bizarre singer, saying her outfit was absolutely sizzling.
The professional provocateur upstaged the MTV music video awards late Sunday not just by walking away with eight prizes, but taking that walk in enormous shoes and a nifty dress made entirely of raw steak.
Now Lady Gaga, whose "Bad Romance" hit swept the awards, stands accused of bad taste.
"Lady Gaga has a hard time being 'over the top,'" said People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "Someone should whisper in her ear that there are more people upset by butchery than impressed by it."
"Meat is the decomposing flesh of an abused animal who didn't want to die, and after time spent under the TV lights, it would smell like the rotting flesh that it is and likely be crawling in maggots."
The singer is known for her theatrical sartorial taste so it was no surprise when she shuffled awkwardly across the MTV stage in Los Angeles in what appeared to television viewers to be simply an uncomfortable and oversized pair of boots bound in string.
The only reference Lady Gaga made to what she was wearing was a mysterious comment while collecting her Video of the Year gong about handing her "meat purse" to '80s icon Cher.
The purse, it turned out, really was a big chunk of meat -- cheap cuts and trimmings, not sirloin, according to butchers. And so was her hat.
Lady Gaga explained later that the fleshy look -- which she repeats with a meat swimming suit on the October cover of Vogue Hommes in Japan -- "has many interpretations."
The most common theory is that her steak-powered statement referenced her support for gays in the US military and opposition to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals in the ranks.
"Well, it is certainly no disrespect to anyone that is vegan or vegetarian," she told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who is a vegan.
"If we don't stand up for what we believe in and if we don't fight for our rights, pretty soon we're going to have as much rights as the meat on our own bones. And I am not a piece of meat."
Whatever it meant, the stunt ensured Lady Gaga's continued notoriety -- and a long menu of meaty jokes.
"She's Lady Tartare in this moo-moo!" screamed the New York Daily News. "Gaga in all her 'gory'" punned the rival New York Post.
And far from everyone felt disgusted.
Designer Franc Fernandez proudly posted pictures of the project on his website, http://francfernandez.blogspot.com, and fans congratulated him on his workmanship.
"You are a cut above the rest," one wrote on the blog.
Cher, who certainly got close enough to know whether there were really maggots, also applauded the skirt steak.
"The way it was cut and fitted to her body was AMAZING! Meat purse was genius! As Art piece it was astonishing! No moral Judgment!" tweeted the singer.
Rich Hanley, professor of communications at Quinnipiac University, said Lady Gaga showed perfect media savvy in how she unveiled her stunt -- showing up in the attention-grabbing outfit, but not talking about it.
"If she'd said 'look at me, I'm wearing meat,' it would have destroyed any build up in the eco system of the web," Hanley said. "You just let Facebook and Twitter do the heavy lifting for you."
"It shows how high the bar is -- or how low the bar is -- in this media environment," he said.
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