Or do “they” all look alike?

The 23,000 number is an annual figure for dolphins, not a “few days”, not all of which are “brutally massacred”. (Some sold live to aquatic parks.) Having done some reading in Japanese on this subject, I know the reason they are killed in certain ways is because the meat winds up tasting better that way, according to Nagasaki fishermen, who understood that it didn’t look attractive, and who come from a part of the world where they’ve been eating the meat a long time.

The 23,000 number for dolphins may be accurate, but then again, the only numbers I’ve seen are those by people who think it is in their interest to exaggerate the figures. If you have a link for these figures from someone not affiliated with a do-gooder group, I’d be interested in seeing it.

Here’s one more question: Do you ever hear of the Japanese complaining to Westerners about the brutality of cow slaughterhouses or the way chickens are raised?

If the issue of brutality to animals killed for food turns you on, why not start at home first by doing something yourself–legally, unlike Sea Shepherd–instead of leaving it up to others by saying “it should be stopped”.

But isn’t kappa-maki also called “california maki”; and hasn’t a lot of fusion cooking actually coming back in from abroad?

Not exactly. California roll is a reverse roll, with the rice on the outside and nori in the inside, and included are avocado, cucumber, and imitation crab. BTW, this roll has caused shortage and price hike in surimi (pollock fish paste).

But that is likely all that you will be able to once the rest of Asia comes into the same economic sphere.

Think about it … fish harvested from as far away as the South Pole to the Mediterranean … some species does by 95% +, borderline extinction. You cant pull a piece out of the ecosystem without it affecting the rest of the balance just because you like the taste of it. Or think you can make a buck selling it.

Of what I have seen, the modern standard Japanese diet has become almost as limited in scope as the Western. And no wonder that is called SAD (standard American diet). On one hand, Japan has lost many of it traditional foods and varieties; on the other, it can seem to be too mentally rigid, or limited, about how things are used. “That’s not the Japanese way to do it”.

We are way off topic. But isn’t kappa-maki also called “california maki”; and hasn’t a lot of fusion cooking actually coming back in from abroad?

Disappointingly, despite all the “vegan pirate” sobriquets, The Sea Shepherd guys do not even seem to be vegetarians. Who had to laugh when they asked for tempura? The Yushin Maru No.2 must have been the only place to order decent oriental cooking within a few 1,000 miles.

Two members of Sea Shepherd boarded the Japanese ship on the 15th January 2008. Their menu … (what they have eaten).

15 January dinner: two slices of bread, corn potage, vegetable salad, green tea, strawberry jam, marmalade.

16 January breakfast: 2 bread slices, plain omelette, bacon (they didn’t eat the bacon), strawberry jam, marmalade, green tea.

16 January lunch: chicken rice, tofu with soy sauce, milk, gren tea, hot cakes (dessert).

16 January 3:20 pm tea brunch: sweet-jellied azuki bean paste (with green tea powder), green tea.

16 January dinner: white rice, tempura (prawns, squid, sweetfish, sweet potato, beans on the pod), green tea, (they did not eat both prawns nor squid).

And it is not just whale … some fish species are already down by 98% and sushi fashion is still to go prime time in China.

Rising economies mean rising demands. Japan should set an example of sustainability, at all levels including dietary, to the rest of Asia.

Whalers refuse help from Sea Shepherd to search for lost sailor

A Japanese whaling crew member goes missing in freezing Antarctic waters but the whalers refuse assistance the assistance of the Sea Shepherd ship and its helicopter.

‘‘We will not accept any help nor cooperation from the Sea Shepherd, who has been harassing our research vessels.’’ Kyodo Senpaku President Kazuo Yamamura continued by saying, ‘‘There is a distinctly uncaring nature about Sea Shepherd people in that they are prepared to disrupt the search for a missing seaman for their own ends.’’

In a statement posted on the Sea Shepherd website, Paul Watson, said that the crew had no intention of harassing the fleet during their search. He offered the services of the Steve Irwin, two boat crews and a helicopter, in the search for now dead man.

Never the less, despite the refusal, the two boat crews and a helicopter had been dispatched to search the immediate area for the missing crew member.

Now, who do you believe? Pride is one thing. Coming after a man fall into the Antarctic is another. Poor guy. Another blow for the harpooners.