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, in terms of active hunting of these large mammals, is estimated by the Japan Whaling Association to have begun around the 12th century. However, Japanese whaling on an industrial scale began around the 1890s when Japan began to participate in the modern whaling industry, at that time an industry in which many countries participated. Japanese whaling activities have historically extended far outside Japanese territorial waters. During the 20th century, Japan was heavily involved in commercial whaling. This continued until the International Whaling Commission (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling went into effect in 1986. Japan continued to hunt whales using the scientific research provision in the agreement, and Japanese whaling is currently conducted by the Institute of Cetacean Research. This is allowed under IWC rules, although most IWC members oppose it. The whale meat from these scientific whale hunts is sold in shops and restaurants. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the Japanese whaling program in the Southern Ocean, begun in 2005 and called "JARPA II", was not for scientific purposes and ordered the cessation of JARPA II in March 2014. Following initial co-operation from Japan, the media reported in September 2014 on Japan's intention to submit a revised whaling programme in November 2014. The plan NEWREP-A is scheduled to begin in December 2015; the objective is to collect 3,000 Antarctic minke whales over ten years, starting with 330 whales during the 2015-2016 season. The population size of the Antarctic minke whale is considered "data deficient" but "clearly in the hundreds of thousands". These hunts are a source of conflict between pro- and anti-whaling countries and organizations. Nations, scientists and environmental organizations opposed to whaling consider the Japanese research program to be unnecessary, and that it is a thinly disguised commercial whaling operation. Japan maintains that annual whaling is sustainable and necessary for scientific study and management of whale stocks. Japan also argues that objections to whaling are based upon cultural differences and emotional anthropomorphism. ==History== Archeological evidence in the form of whale remains discovered in burial mounds suggests that whales have been consumed in Japan since the Jōmon period (12,000 BC). Without the means to engage in active whaling, consumption at that time primarily stemmed from stranded whales. Surviving Ainu folklore reveals a long history of whaling〔 and a spiritual association with whales. The earliest records of hand thrown harpoons date back to the 12th century. 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「Whaling in Japan」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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