Human nature is unpredictable and strange. It is also remarkable how an entire geographic demographic like a nation shares a number of cultural traditions in common, a living demonstration of how groups, large and small, adapt themselves to life, values and other aspects of herd instinctual adaptation to build a heritage. The Japanese, for example, fancy themselves as one with nature, honouring all things natural and expressing joy and contentment at being part of Nature.

Japanese flock in huge numbers to their national zoo in Tokyo, to view the giant Panda at those times when viewing is available. Their covenant with nature can be seen in what and how they worship at Buddhist shrines. Their veneration for the wholesomeness of nature in its purest forms is expressed in how they view ancient trees. And how they masterfully and respectfully create Zen Buddhist gardens, simple and peaceful. As horticulturalists the Japanese are world masters.

Signage in forested mountains warn alpinists to be aware of the presence of native macaque monkeys, and to take care not to bother them. The agile, muscular grace and beauty of giant carp swimming in countless pools in gardens surrounding temples, where ancient, treasured bonsai are set out in neat rows speak to the worship of nature.

Yet this society is also practical enough, as a nation of three isolated islands surrounded by the Earth's eastern seas to also value the bounty that surrounds them, voraciously harvesting aquatic creatures to dine upon, even those species that can be harmful to human health and inclusive of those great creatures we admire as the largest living species on the planet. And whose present and future existence is imperilled by over-hunting/fishing/netting/spearing/consumption. Japan is not alone in threatening the existence of other species through human desire; China too stands out as a major offender, whose palate and pharmacopoeia threatens to mercilessly enlarge the endangered species list.

Japan stands accused of deliberately misappropriating funding meant for the rebuilding and rescue of portions of its population from the dire effects of the massive earthquake it suffered in 2011, along with the tsunami that created a nuclear meltdown disaster. Some of the $187-billion set aside for massive tsunami-rescue projects were shown by a government audit to have funded an unconnected array of works, including an increase in security for the country's whale hunt.

The Japanese fishing fleet's hunt for sharks and endangered whale species, which Japanese authorities claim is undertaken for the furtherance of 'scientific research', has come to violent confrontations with the environmentalist Sea Shepherd Society. Set to confront the Japanese whale-hunting fleet once again as they prepare to undertake that controversial hunt.
The Nisshin Maru
Photo: Sea Shepherd