中国維持治安費用増加６.１％

Last month the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

中国全人代:治安維持費６．１％増　不満、力で抑え込み

毎日新聞　2014年03月05日　22時08分

　中国の習近平（しゅう・きんぺい）指導部は５日開幕した全国人民代表大会（全人代＝国会）で、２０１４年度に国内の治安維持に使われる中央政府の「公共安全」予算案として前年度実績比６．１％増の２０５０億元（約３兆４０００億円）を計上した。貧富の格差や抑圧的な少数民族政策への不満を力で抑え込む方針を鮮明にした。

　中国では土地の強制収用や官僚腐敗、公害問題に怒った民衆による抗議活動が年々増加。ウイグル族やチベット族など少数民族による暴力事件や焼身自殺も相次いでおり、社会の不安定化が深刻さを増している。（共同）

(試譯文)

At the National People's Congress (N P C = the Parliament) opened on the 5^th (March), Xi Jinping’s Guidance Department of China calculated that for the 2014 fiscal year, the central government's "public safety" draft budget for the maintenance of domestic public order would add up to 205 billion yuan (about 3,400 billion yen), being an increase of 6.1% compared with the actual record of last fiscal year. It made clear a plan to use power to suppress the dissatisfaction towards the gap between the wealthy and poor, and towards the repressive policy over the minority ethnic groups.

  

In China, protest activities by the public who were angry with the compulsory expropriation of land, the bureaucrat decomposition, and the pollution problems were increasing every year. Also there were lots of violence incidents, and cases of suicide by fire by ethnic minorities, such as the Uighur people and the Tibet people. Increasingly social instability is becoming serious.

     A 6.1% increase is a huge amount of money.

========================================================================

CNN.co.jp on 13^th April 2014 carried the following article. For record purpose I copy it to my blog for reference and to trace the development of the China’ Dream.

「中国の夢」、幻想か現実か

2014.04.13 Sun posted at 18:15 JST

北京（ＣＮＮ） 米国人の誰もが「アメリカン・ドリーム」を夢見るように、中国人にも夢がある。習近平（シーチンピン）国家主席は、指導者の座について以来、このような「中国の夢」について熱弁してきた。庶民の夢について、中国でこれほど強力かつ雄弁に語られるのは、かつてないことだ。

習主席が初めて「中国の夢」に言及したのは２０１２年、中国共産党総書記に就任して直後のことだ。北京の国家博物館で「復興の道」展を見学した習氏は談話を発表、中華民族の偉大な復興を実現することこそ中国の夢だと述べた。

さらに国家主席に選出後の１３年３月１７日、主席としての初めての演説で、「中国の夢」を前面に押し出した。「中国の夢は民族全体の夢であり、一人ひとりの中国人の夢でもある。中国の夢とはつまり人民の夢だ。人民と共に実現し、人民に幸せをもたらすものだ」と語ったのである。

宣伝キャンペーン

この演説以来、「中国の夢」という言葉は一気に人口に膾炙（かいしゃ）した。政府がこのスローガンを強力に宣伝したことも大きい。学会やテレビ番組など、至る所で「中国の夢」が中心テーマとして取り上げられるようになったのである。

改革

汚職対策という面に限っていえば、習主席自身、このスローガンを有言実行したといえる。かつてないほど厳しく汚職を取り締まり、就任からわずか１年あまりのうちに、２０人の政府高官を調査し処罰した。さらに「８項目の規定」「６項目の禁令」を採択、公務の簡素化を図るとともに、公費よるぜいたくを禁じた。

ただ、賄賂や官位売買、地上げ、権力乱用といった不正は、いまだ中国社会最大の課題となっている。依然として不正がはびこる中では、夢の実現どころか、人々の政府への不信の念が募る一方だ。

信頼を取り戻す

中国が経済的にも軍事的にも大きく力をつけ、庶民の暮らし向きも豊かになってきたのとは裏腹に、人々は政府や国の未来への信頼を失いつつあるかにみえる。怒りと絶望にさいなまれる中国人も増えているようだ。

習主席が「中国の夢」について明言し不正対策を講じているのは、党と政府への人々の信頼を取り戻すため、指導層として第一歩を踏み出したということだろう。これまでのところ、習主席の施策は熱狂的な支持を受けている。おそらく鄧小平以来、国民に最も人気がある指導者なのではないだろうか。

しかし、人々の夢が１人の指導者に依存しているようでは、法の支配とはいえないだろう。それでは、指導者が退任したり誤った決断を下したりした際、一緒に中国の夢までついえてしまう。

国民の大々的な支持を集めている今だからこそ、習主席は制度改革に着手し、あらゆる中国人が夢を抱き実現できるよう、国民主体の制度を整備しなければならない。改革が目標とするのは政治経済の発展だけでない。米国人が「アメリカン・ドリーム」に誇りを抱くように、中国人も「中国の夢」に真の自負を持つことができる、そんな未来を目指しているのである。

(本記事は北京外国語大学英語学院教授であり、政治学が専門のシエ・タオ氏によるものです。記事における意見や見解はすべて謝韜氏個人ものです。)

Translation

"Chinese Dream", fantasy or reality

2014.04.13 Sun posted at 18:15 JST

Beijing (CNN)   Just as every American had an "American Dream", every Chinese  also had a dream. Xi Jinping the State Chairman, since taking up the leadership, had been spiel about such "Chinese Dream". In China it had never been so powerfully and eloquently in talking about the common people's dream.

Xi first mentioned “the dream of China” in 2012, shortly after he became the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. After visiting the “Recovery Road” exhibition at Beijing's National Museum, Mr. Xi made a talk and stated that it was China's dream to realize the great recovery of Chinese people.

In addition, on March 17, 2013, after being elected as the Chairman of the State, in his first speech as the Chairman, he pushed "the dream of China" to the front. "The dream of China was the dream of the whole nation, and the dream of each individual Chinese. The dream of China was, in other words, the dream of the people. It was said that the dream would be realized with the people and would bring happiness to the people."

Promotional campaign

Since this speech, the word "China's dream" had at once became a popular phrase among the population.  The government’s forceful promotion of this slogan was huge. "China's Dream" was taken up as a central theme everywhere, such as in academic societies and television programs.

Reform

As far as anti-corruption measures were concerned, it could be said that the Chairman himself was true to the words of this slogan. Cracking down corruption as never before, he investigated and punished 20 high-ranking government officials in less than a year. Furthermore, the government adopted the "Rule on eight items " and the "Ban on six items" to simplify public affairs and prohibit luxurious charging on public spending.

However, injustices such as bribery, official position trading, land raising, abuse of power were still the biggest issues in Chinese society. In the midst of injustice, even the dream was realized, the people went the other way in not trusting the government.

Regain trust

 China had put in great effort on economic and military power; while the well-being of the general population was getting better, people seemed to be losing confidence in the future of the government and the country. It seems that more Chinese were angry and desperate.

The leader of China had stated that “China's dream” and was taking measures against corruption, he has taken the first step as a leader for the purpose of regaining the people's trust in the Party and the government. So far, the policies of the Chairman had received enthusiastic support. Perhaps, since Deng Xiaoping, he was the most popular leader among the people.

However, if people's dreams depend on one leader, it might not be the rule of law. So, when a leader resigned or made a wrong decision, together the China's dream would dwindle away.

Now that a massive support from the people had been received, the Chairman should start reforming the system and develop a people-centered system so that all Chinese could have their dreams come true. The goal of reform was not only the development of political economy. Just as Americans took pride in the American Dream, Chinese people were looking for a future where they could have true pride in the China dream.

中国最新駆逐艦加入南海艦隊服役

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

中国最新鋭ミサイル駆逐艦が就役、南海艦隊へ

　【広州＝吉田健一】中国国営新華社通信などによると、同国海軍の最新鋭ミサイル駆逐艦０５２Ｄ型の一番艦「昆明」（全長約１５７メートル、満載排水量約７０００トン）が２１日、就役した。

　南シナ海を管轄する南海艦隊に配備される見通し。

　２２日付の中国系香港紙・文匯報は、０５２Ｄ型は他の駆逐艦と比べレーダー性能が大幅に強化され、対空、対艦戦闘能力ともに向上したと指摘した。海軍は数年以内に同型艦約１０隻を配備するとみられている。

　上海で２１日行われた昆明の就役式典には、呉勝利・海軍司令官が出席した。

（2014年3月22日18時06分  読売新聞）

(試譯文)

According to the national China Xinhua News Agency etc., the country’s state-of-the-art missile-guided destroyer 052D type No. 1 battle ship "Kunming" of the navy (about 157 meters in full length, full load displacement about 7000 tons) was commissioned on the 21^st (March).

It was expected to be deployed in the South Sea Fleet which had the jurisdiction over the South China Sea.

A China affiliated Hong Kong newspaper the Wen Wei Po dated the 22nd showed that the ship’s radar performance was greatly strengthened compared with other destroyers, and the anti-air and combat efficiency were improved for a warship of the 052D type. It was expected that the navy would be equipped with about ten same-type battle ships within several years.

Wu Shengli the naval commander had attended the commission ceremony of “Kunming” held in Shanghai on the 21st.

(18:06 on March 22, 2014    Yomiuri Shimbun)

Clearly China is continuing to strengthen its navy in order to help handling the territorial disputes with Vietnam and the Philippines over the South China Sea. 

三陸鉄路全線開通

A few days ago the FNN News on-line reported the following:

三陸鉄道・南リアス線が全線で運転再開　地元沿線は復活に沸く

04/05 19:58

東日本大震災で大きな被害を受けた岩手県の三陸鉄道・南リアス線が、5日、全線で運転を再開し、地元の沿線は復活に沸いた。
三陸鉄道・南リアス線は、2013年4月、大船渡市内の盛と吉浜の間が、運転を再開していた。
5日は、残る釜石までの区間が再開し、全線で復旧した。
乗客は「楽しいですね。よかったと思います」、「いろいろ、みんなバラバラになったけども、みんな寄り添うようになってうれしい」などと話した。
赤十字広報特使で女優の藤原紀香さんや、三陸鉄道におよそ400億円の支援をしたクウェートの駐日大使も駆けつけ、全線再開を祝った。
震災以降、不通区間となっていた平田や唐丹でも、およそ3年ぶりに力強く走る列車の姿が見られた。
記念列車が釜石駅に到着すると、三陸鉄道の望月正彦社長が、「産業振興や地域の活性化に貢献したい」と、全線再開を宣言した。
6日は、北リアス線の不通区間も運転を再開する予定で、北と南の全線で列車が走ることになる。 (岩手めんこいテレビ)

(試譯文)

Sanriku Railroad South Riasu Line in Iwate Prefecture which had suffered serious damage due to the Great East Japan Earthquake resumed operation on the whole line on the 5th, and the local area along the railway line were excited by the revival.

The Sanriku Railroad South Riasu Line, between Sakari and Yoshihama of the metropolitan city Ofunato had resumed operation in April, 2013. The remaining section to Kamaishi was resumed on the 5^th, thus the whole line was restored.

Some passenger said "it is pleasing, I think it was good", "although in many ways it had fallen apart, I am glad that it comes back together" etc.

An actress, Ms. Norika Fujiwara of the Red Cross public-relations special envoy, together with Kuwait’s ambassador to Japan who had offered about 40 billion yen in support for the Sanriku Railroad, also arrived at the scene to celebrate the re-opening of the whole line.

Hirata and Toni were the interrupted section after the earthquake disaster, for the first time in about three years, the glimpse of a train that ran with energy could be caught.

When the commemorative train arrived at the Kamaishi Station, Sanriku Tetsudo President Masahiko Mochizuki declared the resumption of the whole line and "would like to contribute to the industrial development and activation of the area".

On the 6th the interrupted section in North Rias Line would resume operation, and a train could run on the whole line north and south.

It is worth noting that Kuwait has given 40 billion yen in support for the re-opening of the Sanriku Railroad. A friend in need is a friend indeed: a sure friend is made known when one is in difficulty. Hopefully I shall try this line some time in the future.

死囚被監禁48年後獲釋放再審

Last month the NHK News on-line reported the following:

袴田さん釈放 再審決定は捜査機関批判

3月27日 19時09分

昭和４１年に静岡県で一家４人が殺害されたいわゆる「袴田事件」で死刑が確定し、２７日再審＝裁判のやり直しが認められた袴田巌さんが、逮捕から４８年たって東京拘置所から釈放されました。

再審を認めた決定は、捜査機関が証拠をねつ造し、死刑の恐怖のもとに身柄を拘束した疑いがあると強く批判しました。

袴田巌さんは、昭和４１年、今の静岡市清水区でみそ製造会社の専務の一家４人が殺害された事件で強盗殺人などの罪で死刑が確定し、無実を訴えて再審＝裁判のやり直しを求めた結果、２７日静岡地方裁判所で認められました。
裁判所は決定で元被告が事件を起こした時に着ていたとかつての死刑判決で認定された衣類について、捜査機関がねつ造した疑いがあると指摘しました。
再審請求の審理のなかで行ったＤＮＡ鑑定などをもとに、事件から１年以上たってみそタンクの中から見つかった衣類は、犯人のものでも袴田さんのものでもない可能性が強まったという判断でした。
さらに裁判所は、「元被告は死刑の恐怖のもとで極めて長い間、身柄を拘束された。これ以上勾留を続けることは耐えられないほど正義に反する」と指摘して死刑の執行と勾留を停止し、釈放を認める異例の決定をしました。
検察は再審を認めた決定を取り消すよう不服を申し立てる方針ですが、勾留を続ける法的な根拠がなくなったとして釈放の準備を進めていました。
これによって、裁判で無実を訴え続けながら死刑が確定した袴田さんは、昭和４１年に逮捕されて以来、４８年たって東京拘置所から釈放されました。
死刑囚の再審を認める決定は、９年前、平成１７年の、いわゆる「名張毒ぶどう酒事件」以来、６件目で、裁判所が再審開始の決定を出した段階で死刑囚の勾留を停止し、釈放を認めたのは今回が初めてです。
これまでに死刑囚の再審が認められた５件のうち、名張事件はのちに決定が取り消されましたが、ほかの４件はその後、いずれも再審が開始され、無罪となっています。

(試譯文)

In what was called the "Hakamada Incident" in which four family members were murdered in the Shizuoka Prefecture in Showa 41 and Mr. Iwao Hakamada was given the death penalty for that, on the 27th a retrial: to redo the trial was admitted and he was released from the Tokyo prison after being detained for 48 years since his arrest.

In the decision to accept a retrial, the criminal investigation agency was strongly criticized for being suspected to have fabricated evidence and that to detain that person was due to the fear of executing the death penalty.

Mr. Iwao Hakamada appealed for innocence and asked for a retrial; to redo the trial was accepted in the Shizuoka District Court on the 27^th. The decision on a death penalty for crimes, such as the murder and robbery, was related an incident happened in Showa 41 in which four family members of an executive director of a bean paste manufacturing company were murdered in the present Shimizu-district of Shizuoka-city.

The court suspected that the criminal investigation agency had fabricated the clothing that were recognized as having been worn by the defendant when the incident occurred, and based on these clothing the death sentence was decided.

Based on DNA identification etc. which were performed in an appeal hearing for a retrial, the clothing found in the bean paste tank one year or more after the incident occurred was strongly judged to have a possibility that they were not possessed by the criminal, or Mr. Hakamada either.

Furthermore, the court pointed that "the original defendant had been detained for a long time under an extreme fear of a death penalty, to continue the detention anymore cannot be tolerated and is incompatible with the justice". The execution of the death penalty and detention were stopped, and an exceptional decision was made to allow his release.

Although the policy for the prosecutors was to revoke the decision of admitting a retrial, preparation of the release was pushed ahead noting that the legal basis to continue with the detention had been lost.

While continuing to sue for innocence in a trial, Mr. Hakamada, on whom the death penalty was decided, was released from the Tokyo prison where he had been detained for 48 years since his arrest in Showa 41.

Since nine years ago, starting from the so called the "Nabari poison wine incident" happened in Heisei 17, this was the 6th case that a decision was made to accept a death-row inmate's retrial, and this was the first time that the court stopped a death-row detention and permitted the release of the inmate during the stage of taking out the decision to reopen the proceedings.

Up to now, regarding the five cases in which a death-row inmate's retrial was accepted, for the Nabari incident, the decision was later canceled. Apart from that for all other four cases, a retrial was started and found not guilty.

I am shock by the observation of the court that the criminal investigation agency in Japan might have fabricated the evidence when prosecuting Mr. Iwao Hakamada.

宝塚歌劇団記念創立100周年

Yesterday the FNN News on-line reported the following:

宝塚歌劇団、創立100周年の記念式典　卒業生ら2,000人が集合

04/05 18:53

創立100周年を迎えた宝塚歌劇団が、記念式典を行い、卒業生など2,000人が大集合した。
2014年で創立100周年を迎えた宝塚歌劇団では、5日、記念式典が行われ、伝統の袴に身を包んだ、現役のトップスター5人の歌で幕を開けた。
宝塚歌劇団では、これまでに4,426人のタカラジェンヌが誕生していて、会場には、卒業生などおよそ2,000人が集まり、華やかな雰囲気に包まれた。
式典では、ピアニストの辻井伸行さんの演奏が披露されたほか、宇宙飛行士の若田光一さんからも、お祝いのメッセージが届けられた。
また、団員たち460人による「すみれの花咲く頃」の合唱や、100期生によるラインダンスも披露され、100周年を盛大に祝った。 (関西テレビ)

(試譯文)

The Takarazuka Revue Company held a commemorative ceremony to celebrate its 100th anniversary and 2,000 people, including graduates etc. formed a large gathering.

The Takarazuka Revue Company celebrated the 100th anniversary in 2014. In the commemorative ceremony on the 5^th, the curtain was opened with the singing by five top-name stars of active service, they were dressing the traditional hakama.

In Takarazuka Revue Company where 4,426 Takarajen'nu were born until now, about 2,000 people, such as graduates, gathered in a hall, and all immersed in an atmosphere of beauty.

At the ceremony, a performance by Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii the pianist was announced, and also a message of congratulations was received from Mr. Koichi Wakata the astronaut.

Moreover, it was announced that a 460-member chorus would sing "When the violet flowers blossom" and also the 100th term students would perform the line dance. The centennial was celebrated on a grand scale.

(Kansai Television)

One hundred year is a long time for an entertainment company. It gives a chance to those girls who dream of performing on the stage. 

中国搶先宣布:貿易額「世界第一」

Last month the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

中国:貿易額　未確定「世界一」　全人代前に成果強調か

毎日新聞　2014年03月01日　21時12分（最終更新　03月01日　21時19分）

　【北京・井出晋平】中国商務省は１日、世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）の未確定の統計で、２０１３年に中国がモノの貿易で世界一になったと発表した。ただ、ＷＴＯは１３年の貿易統計を公式には発表していない。５日から始まる全国人民代表大会（全人代＝国会）を前に、経済成長の成果をアピールしたとみられる。

　商務省によると、中国は１３年の貿易総額（輸出と輸入の合計）が４兆１６００億ドル（約４２４兆円）。米国のデータには言及していないが、中国中央テレビによると米国の総額は約３兆９０００億ドル。商務省の姚堅（よう・けん）報道官は１日、「我が国は世界一のモノの貿易大国となった」とのコメントを発表した。

　ＷＴＯが世界貿易の年間ランキングを発表するのは毎年４月ごろ。中国は、１２年のＷＴＯの統計で米国をわずかに下回り２位だった。

　１３年は世界一が確実視されているが、「未確定の統計」と断りつつも発表前にフライングした形。「経済発展の成果を宣伝しようとの習近平政権の狙いがあるのでは」（北京の外交筋）との見方も出ている。

(試譯文)

   On the 1st (March) the China Department of Commerce announced that, based on the preliminary statistics of the World Trade Organization (WTO), China had become the world's No.1 in goods trading in 2013. However, the WTO had not announced the foreign trade statistics for 2013 officially. It was seen as an attempt to advertise the economic growth result before the start of the National People's Congress (National People's Congress = Parliament) to be held on the 5th.

   According to the Department of Commerce, the overall value of China’s external trade for 2013 (the sum total of export and import) was 4,160 billion dollars (about 424 trillion yen). According to the China Central Television, the U.S. total amount was about 3,900 billion dollars, although the American data had not been mentioned. On the 1^st Yao Jian the Press Secretary of the Department of Commerce announced his comments that "we have become the No.1 commodity trading country in the world".

   It was around April every year that the WTO announced the annual ranking of global trade. Standing at the 2nd place, China was slightly less than the U.S. in WTO’s statistics in 2012

   Even it was predicted as the world's No.1 for 2013, this announcement was in the form of jumping the gun, and otherwise it was some "unconfirmed statistics". Some views had come out (diplomatic sources of Beijing) that "may be it is the aim of the Xi Jinping Administration to advertise the result of their economic development".

The title of being the No.1 commodity trading country in the world is impressive.

国際法庭命令日本終止在南極洋捕鯨

Yesterday the FNN News on-line reported the following:

南極海で行っている調査捕鯨に中止命令　日本の食文化が危機に

04/01 01:06

日本が南極海で行っている調査捕鯨について、国際司法裁判所は31日、科学的ではないなどとして、調査捕鯨の中止を命じた。日本の食文化が危機を迎えている。
日本伝統の食文化・クジラ。
東京・千代田区にあるクジラ料理店・くじらのお宿「一乃谷」で出されているクジラ肉は、調査捕鯨船から買いつけたものだという。
その日本の調査捕鯨に31日、オランダ・ハーグの国際司法裁判所が判決を下した。
日本の調査捕鯨を中止せよという、大変厳しい判決が下され、裁判所の中は騒然としていた。
今回の訴訟は、日本が南極海で行っている調査捕鯨は、「科学を装った商業捕鯨」だとして、オーストラリアが即時中止を求めていたもの。
国際司法裁判所は、年間850頭前後の捕獲数について、「合理的ではない」などと指摘。
さらに、「殺す以外の方法を検討していない」と指摘し、日本の調査捕鯨は科学的ではなく、国際捕鯨取締条約に違反するとして、南極海での調査捕鯨の中止を命じた。
裁判は1審制で控訴はできず、日本の敗訴が確定した。
日本政府代表の鶴岡広二前外務審議官は「残念であります。また、深く失望をしております。国際法秩序、および法の支配を重視する国家として、判決には従います」と述べた。
水産庁は「調査捕鯨中止の対象はあくまでも南極海。今後については、内容を精査してから、慎重に検討する」としている。
そして、調査捕鯨船からクジラ肉を買いつけている、クジラ料理店・くじらのお宿「一乃谷」の谷 光男店長は「北西太平洋でも(調査捕鯨で)捕っているので、そっちのほうでね、少しずつ、少しずつ使っていきたいなと思いますね。南極海だけが中止になっただけですから、絶対に食文化はなくしてはいけないので」と話した。
沿岸で伝統的な小型クジラの漁を行っている、和歌山・太地町。
元南氷洋捕鯨船乗組員の筋師止郎さんは「まず、びっくりしました。まさか負けるとは思っていませんでしたので、わたしたちの捕鯨というのは、あくまでも正規の捕鯨ですので、もちろん、調査捕鯨ではありませんので。粛々と捕鯨を続けていくということで」と述べた。
今回の判決は、果たして日本のクジラ文化に、どのような影響を及ぼすのか。

(試譯文)

About Japan’s research whaling performed in the Antarctic Ocean, on the 31st (March) the International Court of Justice ordered its stoppage because it was not scientific etc. The Japanese gastronomic culture met a crisis.

The Japanese traditional gastronomic culture was the whale.

It was said that the restaurant "Ichinotani" in Chiyoda-district of Tokyo was a whale restaurant currently selling the whale meat that was bought in from the research whaling ships.

The International Court of Justice at Hague of the Netherlands on the 31st passed judgment on the research whaling of Japan.

A very severe judgment was passed down that requested Japan to stop its research whaling, causing a commotion inside the court.

Regarding this lawsuit, Australia was asking for an immediate stop noting that Japan’s research whaling performed in the Antarctic Ocean was "commercial whaling under the pretense of science".

The International Court of Justice indicated that to capture about 850 numbers of animals every year was "not rational" etc.

Furthermore, it indicated that "methods other then killing had not been explored", and ordered the research whaling in the Antarctic Ocean be stopped because Japan's research whaling was not scientific and was breaking the International Whale Fishing Control Treaty.

There was no appeal court for this one-trial system; definitely Japan had lost the case.

A Japanese government representative the former Deputy Foreign Minister Hiroji Tsuruoka said "it is regrettable, moreover, it is deeply disappointing. As a state that has the importance of both international law order and rule of law in mind, it would comply with the judgment".

The Fisheries Agency supposed that “the aim of stopping research whaling is entirely at the Antarctic Ocean. From now on, the contents would be examined, and inquires would be carried out carefully".

Tani Mitsuo, a store manager of the hotel Ichinotani that bought whale meat from the research whaling ship, talked about gastronomic culture by saying that “still there is catching in the northwestern Pacific Ocean (with the research whaling), I think there is more of them over there, and hope to use them a little bit at a time. Since only the Antarctic Ocean was stopped, it does not eliminate the food culture entirely".

The traditional small whale fishery was still being performed at the coast of the Taiji-cho at Wakayama.

Mr. Suji Shitomero, a former Antarctic Ocean whaler crew stated that "at first it was a surprise. Because by no means I think we could lose, our whaling is strictly regular whaling, and of course it is not research whaling. I hear that whaling is continuing quietly".

Sure enough, this court judgment might have some kind of influence on Japanese whale culture.

   I am interested to know how the Japanese would react to this whale fishing restriction.