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is a town located in Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. As of March 31, 2011, the town had an estimated population of 3,428〔(Taiji Town Hall statistics ).〕 and a population density of 541 persons per km². The total area is 5.96 km². Taiji is the smallest local government by area in Wakayama Prefecture because, unlike others, it has not experienced a merger since 1889, when the village of Moriura was merged into Taiji. Taiji shares its entire overland border with the town of Nachikatsuura and faces the Pacific Ocean. Taiji has long been well known as a whaling town and spearheaded the development of more sophisticated whaling techniques in the 17th century. In 1988, a ruling by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) caused Taiji to suspend commercial whaling. However, the town continues to hunt small whales and dolphins. Taiji's annual dolphin hunt is a subject of controversy and the town faces continued pressure from protest groups. == History == Taiji has been primarily known as a whaling town. Japanese traditional whaling techniques were developed here in the 17th century, and the commercial hunting and catching of dolphins remains a major source of income for its residents to this day. Wada Chūbei organized the group hunting system (刺手組) and introduced a new handheld harpoon in 1606. Wada Kakuemon, later known as Taiji Kakuemon, invented the whaling net technique called ''Amitori hō'' (網取法) to increase the safety and efficiency of whaling. This method was applied for more than 200 years. The town was dealt a massive blow in 1878 when a large group of fishermen endeavored to kill a whale. The sheer strength of the whale pulled many of the fishermen out to sea. Refusing to cut the whale loose until it was too late, many fishermen drowned or were lost at sea as a result. Around one hundred fishermen died in the course of this event.〔C. W. Nicol (1979), (Taiji - Winds of Change ), article retrieved 6 February 2008.〕 After the Russo-Japanese War, Taiji's whaling industry became buoyant again as it became a base for modern whaling. When the Antarctic whaling started, Taiji provided crews for the whaling fleet. In 1988, Taiji suspended commercial whaling as a result of a ruling by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Whalers from the town of Taiji continue to hunt small whales such as melon-headed and pilot whales as well as dolphins; commercial activities which are not regulated by the IWC. Whalers from Taiji also participate in the annual hunt for minke whales which is sanctioned under IWC regulations for scientific purposes. According to the Fisheries Research Agency, 1,623 dolphins were caught in Wakayama Prefecture; this figure represents about 13% of the total national dolphin catch for that year. In 2008, 1,484 dolphins and whales were caught. In 2009, 2,317 dolphins and whales were caught, just under the town's self-imposed quota of 2,400. The town's annual dolphin drive hunt was featured in the 2009 documentary ''The Cove''. Some people who appeared in the film, including Taiji assemblyman Hisato Ryono, have stated that the documentary's producers lied to them about the film's intended content. Since the film's release, more activists than before, many from outside Japan, have gone to Taiji to observe or protest the annual dolphin slaughter which usually begins in September. As a result, the town announced in July 2011 that it was reinforcing its police presence at the cove where the killings take place by operating a 24-hour, 10-man kōban in order to prevent confrontations between activists and locals. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Taiji, Wakayama」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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