Junichi Sato: Last blog before his arrest for exposing whaling corruption in Japan
This is a rough translation of the final blog that Junichi Sato wrote before he was arrested in Tokyo for allegedly stealing a box of whale meat, itself stolen from the Japanese taxpayers, that he presented to police as evidence of widescale fraud in the whaling industry:
20 June 2008/06/23Whale Meat Embezzlement News No.11: toward IWC and G8
It is sad but it seems like this is the last update of this blog for a while. Last night TV news reported that Aomori police would arrest us.
As I have been continuously saying publicly, I will keep supporting and helping the investigation of what we have done and of the embezzlement of whale meat by the Nisshin Maru’s crew.
We have been helping the investigation. For example, we gave written reports of what we have done to Aomori police, even before I was asked.I will continue in this supporting spirit.
One month has passed since we revealed the whale meat embezzlement. We have received many supporting and opposing opinions from many people since then. We were even contacted by someone who had further information about the whale meat embezzlement.
Every opinion and all information is very important. Please keep sending it to us.As my knowledge of the embezzlement grows deeper and deeper, I have re-realized that the corruption runs deep in the research whaling programme, which has been conducted by Amakudai-politicians with more than 10,000,000,000 yen in tax money.
Our arrest was reported when this major corruption began to become clear.
I wish this to be a good chance for the Japanese people to think again about the research whaling with a calm mind.
It is true that the whaling issue is not as famous as many other issues. When the whaling issue is discussed, it tends to conclude something like “Whaling is Japanese culture” ”We do not want to prohibit eating whales by Westerners”.
This kind of cheap and easy discussion has become a curtain for the corruption to hide behind.
We should think, as taxpayers, if there is a necessity to use our tax money to conduct this research whaling, which only a very few people profit from.
I want to ask to hearts of people who has been involved to this embezzlement.
Is it OK to keep being silent?
There are many people who know about it.
There was a whale meat eating party at Nagata-Cho(governmental and political center city) on 11 June. Rich whale meat was served to many invited politicians. The whaling is supposed to be “scientific”. Do you think there is no problem using the byproduct this way?
Japanese whaling will be discussed at the IWC starting from next week. It will be interesting to see how the Japanese government will act.
It is certain that the centre of people’s interest will be if Japan can protect the Southern Ocean cooperated with international bodies.
I believe that the crews of Nisshin Maru should contribute to the non-lethal cetacean research since they have special skills and experiences. I believe this is the positive resolution. Prime Minister Fukuda, what do you think about launching a scientific research proposal which includes the impact of global warming in the Antarctic before G8 meeting?
If Japan really wants to be a leading country in environmental issues, I ask the Japanese government to deal in a way which shift this international conflict to international co-operation.
Please support a true discussion about this whaling issue.
I would appreciate it if you would read all my back blogs about the embezzlement.
I believe and hope the Tokyo Prosecutor’s office will reveal the truth.
Greenpeace Japan
Junichi Sato
Junichi is being held without charge in a small whaling town. Demand his release: http://www.greenpeace.org/tokyo-two
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Comments
Japan should be ashamed release these people immediately.
Posted by: barrie botley | June 24, 2008 3:29 PM
Research whaling is not done to make a profit, so complaining that few people profit from it shows that Sato is out of touch.
barrie, Sato and co. allegedly commited what constitutes a crime. The way they are being treated is the way that any other alledged criminal is treated.
Posted by: david | June 25, 2008 10:22 AM
Please release Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, they are good men only doing what they believe, and millions of others believe, is morally right. If it weren't for people like Junichi and Toru, and Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd etc, the whales wouldn't stand a chance. Free them now and arrest the whale murderers instead.
Posted by: Diana Carlton | December 12, 2008 11:15 PM
David - "research whaling is not done to make a profit". It's also being conducted for any independently scientifically approved research. So that begs the question - what is it actually being done for???
Oh - and a sophisticated democracy should be able to distinguish between crime committed for personal benefit, and crime committed for the protection of national security or of public order, or of public health or morals, as defined by Article 19(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - to which Japan is a signatory.
Posted by: Missy M | January 18, 2009 5:28 PM
Missy M, Japan conducts research because this is critical for the good sustainable utilization of the whale resources. The data from Japan's research is made available to the IWC Scientific Committee.
The Greenpeace activists used the stolen goods for the anti-whaling campaign of their employer, Greenpeace. The crime did not protect national security or public order, or public health of morals. The crime only resulted in the hard-working crew member of Nisshin Maru having his whale meat gift taken from him, unlawfully. The man's employer confirmed that they gifted this meat to him. He did not steal it from his company, as falsely alleged by Greenpeace. Greenpeace's allegations were slander designed to smear whalers. Japanese people are not fooled by this.
Posted by: Matsumoto Kiyoshi | January 20, 2009 12:15 PM
Junichi and Toru took a box of stolen whale meat, and turned it over to the police.
The meat didn't belong to their employer. It belonged to the Japanese taxpayer (because they who pays for the whaling).
Full details and timeline at...
http://www.greenpeace.org/tokyo-two
Posted by: Andrew | January 21, 2009 10:57 AM
By the way, from our webpage "Japan's junk science:
Posted by: Andrew | January 21, 2009 11:00 AM
As a Japanese tax payer I can confirm that the whale meat did not belong to me, it belonged to Kyodo Senpaku.
Greenpeace is wrong :)
Posted by: david | January 27, 2009 5:57 AM
Ah, good to see you again David-san. Still speaking for all of the Japanese people, I see.
Posted by: Andrew | January 27, 2009 6:39 PM
Stay strong. And thank you for your courage.
Posted by: The Lorax | March 2, 2009 1:36 AM