'The Cove' director risks arrest to come to Tokyo

Sunday 20th September, 03:38 PM JST

By Yuri Kageyama

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 29 Total Comments Show All

UnagiDon at 09:35 PM JST - 20th September

Wasn't he in Japan recently slogging around Taji itself, and was there a reason why he wasn't at risk of arrest then? I'm sure self-promotion has nothing to do with it being such an issue this time around.
cow76 at 09:43 PM JST - 20th September

I'm sure he'd love to be arrested if he gets a per centage of the gross from the film. The publicity would turn his film into an outstanding success story.
Badge213 at 12:51 AM JST - 21st September

Just deny him a visa to enter Japan in the first place. Paul McCartney for YEARS was denied a visa to enter Japan for past drug issues.
12345678 at 01:53 AM JST - 21st September

He should do a firm about Prison, that would be funny.
isthistheend at 05:39 AM JST - 21st September

If he stays locked up for 21 days, maybe he can get news of the whereabouts of Ichihashi. That could be the next film. "The Back-side of Dolphins".
memyselfI at 11:57 AM JST - 21st September

American director Louie Psihoyos and other members of his crew violated trespassing laws when they documented the hunt in the seaside town of Taiji, where 2,000 dolphins are killed every year, mostly to be sold as meat. I support the director and his crew. This should be exposed

"I really don't like capturing dolphins for aquariums or sea ( parks )world. That is why I avoid such parks, zoo, anything that holds an animal in captivity. If you have ever seen a dolphin in the ocean cahsing a ship or jumping into the waves. It's like watching children play. They are very playful- to see a dolphin in a big aquarium tank breaks my heart. They should be--Free . Don't get me started on the zoos."
memyselfI at 11:59 AM JST - 21st September

Despite the controversy, Psihoyos, a National Geographic photographer, said he was excited about the film being shown in Japan.

This movie needs to be shown nationwide.

"if you have ever seen a dolphin chasing a ship or a boat at high speed in the ocean. It's like watching a child play in the water. They should be free !!!! Being caged is not fun."
motytrah at 12:17 PM JST - 21st September

The film is what it is. You either support the slaughter and the manor it was conducted or you don't. The posturing of the of the J-Cops is amateur hour material but doesn't serve any purpose.
JeffLee at 03:30 PM JST - 21st September

Every national, provincial, and state park in Canada and the USA requires that you get a permit to film for commercial purposes. If you don't have a permit, you will be charged with trespassing (among other things).

You're wrong. I just checked Alberta parks website. Its provincial parks require permits only if special supervision or if crew's requirements are beyond those of regular park visitors, or if crew's presence poses a possible threat local ecology. Anyway, coverage of news events is exempt even from those requirements.

You're crazy if think US or Canadian TV news/documentary crews apply for permits whenever they enter a park's boundaries.
womanforwomen at 11:11 PM JST - 21st September

Thanks to this guy, others coming from US will be subject to more pressure at the Japanese immigration.
usaexpat at 11:37 PM JST - 21st September

Even the Japanese wouldn't be dumb enough to arrest this guy and give him and his movie more publicity.
motytrah at 06:52 AM JST - 22nd September

The permit thing is the biggest red herring of them all. What's the purpose of a film permit in a wilderness area? To ensure that the film makers don't disturb the wild life. Exactly what are they disturbing in the middle of a slaughter? The fishermen? Cry me a river.
sf2k at 02:39 PM JST - 22nd September

Right, so he comes, goes to court and the court would have to prove that the slaughter of the dolphins was somehow disturbed by his presence. Parks are to protect wildlife normally. With new jury system the J-Police can't control the outcomes any more and haven't a hope if the movie is screened for the jurors. If the evidence is the movie, then they have to see it.
kirakira25 at 09:58 AM JST - 26th September

What a dilemma for the authorities - don`t arrest him and allow him free access even though he broke the law and they are dying to nab him. Or arrest him and fuel the publicity. Tough one!
Nessie at 03:17 PM JST - 30th September

"if you have ever seen a dolphin chasing a ship or a boat at high speed in the ocean. It's like watching a child play in the water. They should be free !!!! Being caged is not fun."

So THAT'S why they're always chasing ships.