Director Louis Psihoyos speaks to reporters after “The Cove” was shown at the Tokyo International Film Festival on Wednesday.
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'The Cove' gets mixed reaction from Japanese audience

Thursday 22nd October, 05:18 AM JST

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KobeKid at 05:50 PM JST - 28th October

from an interview with the director of The Cove

CFT: Did you have any dialogues with people who are involved in the hunting in Taiji?

LP: A lot of my discussion was with a curator at the Taiji Whale Museum. He is a young guy. He used to be an assistant curator at New Bedford Whaling Museum in America. And he's been very helpful and helped me to understand a lot of issues.... I asked him, “Would you let your child eat dolphin meat?” He said he wouldn't. I said "Why not?" Then he said "We didn't believe you when you gave us the statistics. We thought maybe you are lying or exaggerating.” So I asked him "What's the change?" He answered "One Japanese media did the story about the mercury. So now we believe the statistics." （「Uncleared Suspicion about "The Use of Polluted Whale Meat in School Lunch" (1)」 September 5th, 2007 and 「Uncleared Suspicion about "The Use of Polluted Whale Meat in School Lunch" (2)」September 9th, 2007) So I said, "You thought we were lying seriously?" It took one of their own media for them to believe the story. For me it started to get into the mind-set. Okay it is really problem for Japanese people to trust or understand westerner's statistics.
davidattokyo at 06:17 PM JST - 28th October

KobeKid,

I agree that packaging leaves a bit to be desired, and this goes for everything not just whale products. Maybe junk food should also have warnings on the packaging that if eaten in too large a quantity (and not exercising etc) it could be bad for the health.

But I thought it was really interesting that the National Institute for Minamata Disease had done these tests, given the barrage of comments here at JT suggesting that Taiji could be a repeat of Minamata. Very interesting indeed, and I'm sure I'll remember the fact the next time someone mentions Minamata.

:)

As for the Director story about their stats, I'm not surprised, I don't trust the stats from anti-whalers either due to their ulteria motives. They are like the boy crying wolf. This director himself is certainly a porky teller.

browny1,

Maybe I did post comments that contradict, it happens when commenting on what various people think. I can tell you what my stance is if you care to ask though.

My consistent approach has been simply there is a story to be told in Taiji. Some don't want the story to be told. Some do. Simple.

Got it. Pity the story did not include the information about the tests done by the National Institute for Minamata Disease, and other pertinent information that would be informative to people looking for balance.

featherhead,

the simplist response should be "So what! Change the culture."

The simple answer is "Not just because some other people say so without good enough reason".

As for slavery, a realisation that the colour of our skin does not change the fact that we are all humans led us to learn to give all humans the same rights, I gather (something like that?).

As for whaling etc, I think we'll eventually have a recognition that different folks eat different foods and that all humans choices ought be respected and tolerated.

It's not just whales after all. It would take a long time for all the "good for eating" animals to be universally agreed. It would take less time for people to learn to respect other food cultures.
cleo at 07:36 PM JST - 28th October

they recommend eating in moderation and avoid eating too much kidneys and other internal organs. Interestingly they do suggest that frequent cetacean eaters switch to eating Baleen whale products as a substitute

That's not quite right, david. Your link states that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recommends eating 'in moderation' (once in 2 months for expectant mothers). What the NIMD recommends is that Taiji women who may become pregnant should have the mercury content of their hair tested, as should little kids. And anyone else who eats whale meat regularly.

It also points out that, like smoking, there are benefits in stopping the nasty habit.
browny1 at 08:25 PM JST - 28th October

davidattokyo-

good try - but no point asking you to comment on your contradiction, only to have to fathom a contradiction of a contradiction.

And your excuse for contradicting bares all.

And re what the story did or didn't say about Minamata Institute research results just keeps the chuckles coming. What you want a 24 part 2 hour series on Taiji Dolphin Hunting? And don't leave anything out. Guffaw!

I myself thought the film should at least have shown the makers of their bayonets (you know katana steel)to prove that death was clean and quick and part of our national heritage.

But don't stop.
Cicada at 08:41 PM JST - 28th October

The movie sucks, it's message is incoherent and the director seems like an idiot. Oh, and speaking of cows, this guy is milking the publicity for all he can get. Bad publicity is just as good as good publicity. Even though the movie itself sucks and anyone wasting their time and money on it is a bigger idiot than the director.
browny1 at 10:15 PM JST - 28th October

cicada - right on - eh?

I particularly liked your in depth analysis

Mastered the niche on Sucks & Idiocy. Good to see.

Keep up the good work.
KobeKid at 10:29 PM JST - 28th October

Cicada where have you been? You know Roger Ebert says the film is a cinch for an Oscar nomination but what does he know.

Since you might have missed this I'll re-post it for you

I saw a segment by CNN on the showing of the film at TIFF last week. Although it was added at the last minute, shown in the morning on a weekday, no posters on the grounds, almost no advertising no banners, the tickets sold out an hour after they went on sale. The press was told not to interview anyone after the film and were rushed into a stairwell after the movie. However the CNN crew ran into a young man in his twenties who had just seen the film and he had some very good advice. "People should watch this film, before they argue about this issue." I hope all Japanese will have the opportunity to see the film and make up their own minds.

not bad advice from somebody who has actually seen the movie.
davidattokyo at 09:52 AM JST - 29th October

cleo,

Thanks for your nitpicking.

But at least it is established that the NIMD does not regard eating whales as being the same as suicide, as the anti-whaling / dolphin killing propaganda would have me believe, and indeed that eating baleen whales like Bryde's whales is a good option for whale eaters.
davidattokyo at 09:54 AM JST - 29th October

KobeKid, sounds like Cicada has seen the movie. For some reason I'm under the impression that I wouldn't think much of it if I were to waste my time watching it either.
cleo at 03:40 PM JST - 29th October

the NIMD does not regard eating whales as being the same as suicide, as the anti-whaling / dolphin killing propaganda would have me believe

Perhaps you'd like to show us one instance of eating whale being portrayed as 'the same as suicide'. As far as I know no one has claimed it's lethal - Minamata disease, which is an acute form of mercury poisoning that unfortunately was lethal in extreme cases, is a neurological syndrome commonly manifesting itself as numbness of the limbs, general muscle weakness and narrowing of the field of vision. It also has a terrible effect on fetuses in the womb. The whale-eating variety apparently manifests itself in inarticulate grunting in the face of cameras and pretty young actresses, numbness of the part of the brain that normally deals with compassion, general cognitive weakness and a narrowing of the mind so as to prevent sufferers from even contemplating the possibility that frenzied bloodbaths of marine mammals might not be a Good Thing.

What, by the way, makes you think Cicada has in fact seen the movie? His intellectual, in-depth analysis of the facts presented and blow-by-blow account of how the director got it wrong? His claim that anyone wasting their time and money on it (including, if you're correct, himself) is an idiot? Or the simple feeling that he's one of yours?

I agree that it would be a waste of time for you to watch the film. The narrowing of your mind by the mercury poisoning (see above) means you'd be incapable of getting anything out of it, and you'd probably end up waving a boathook and grunting, like your Taiji friends.
davidattokyo at 06:52 PM JST - 29th October

cleo,

As far as I know no one has claimed it's lethal

"As far as you know" has been shown to be quite unreliable. Regardless, the fact is that NIMD does not suggest that people do not eat these products, but eat them in appropriately moderate fashion.

This is excellent advice I think.

The whale-eating variety apparently manifests itself in inarticulate grunting in the face of cameras and pretty young actresses

Ah, humour! Very good!

What, by the way, makes you think Cicada has in fact seen the movie?

The way s/he phrased his/her comment.
cleo at 11:48 PM JST - 29th October

"As far as you know" has been shown to be quite unreliable

You're the one claiming that 'the anti-whaling / dolphin killing propaganda' are trying to persuade you that eating whale/dolphin meat is lethal. So why not come up with a few specific examples to prove that I'm incorrect?

I appreciate your attempt at humour in explaining in detail why you think Cicada has seen the movie. Note I said 'attempt'.... don't give up the day job yet.

Oh hang on ... this is your day job, isn't it?

:-)
davidattokyo at 01:41 PM JST - 30th October

Exhibit A)

http://www.savejapandolphins.org/minamata.php

Lots of info about Minamata disease and people dying from it, even a dolphin or a whale would be smart enough nous to connect the dots!
browny1 at 05:24 PM JST - 30th October

davidattokyo, davidattokyo, davidattokyo -

your mis-interpretation(understanding?) of the questions posed is obviously intentional, because your cause has no hope if it isn't.
KobeKid at 06:35 PM JST - 30th October

Lots of info about Minamata disease and people dying from it, even a dolphin or a whale would be smart enough nous to connect the dots!

shorter David "You guys lied! You said you'd die, when in truth you'll only go blind and have babies with birth defects."