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Julian Ryall

Iceland’s move towards a whaling ban could leave Japan more exposed than ever as it defends an industry critics say relies on public money, political symbolism and a shrinking domestic appetite for whale meat.
The Icelandic government has announced plans to submit a bill early next year to end whaling – a step that would leave Japan and Norway as the world’s only two nations still carrying out commercial hunts.
For environmental campaigners, the move has renewed hopes that Japan will no longer be able to justify the annual killing of up to 412 whales.
Public opinion in Japan has shifted away from support for whaling in recent years, according to surveys. Animal rights groups say negative publicity and a sense of isolation would intensify if Tokyo and Oslo were left standing alone.
However, Japanese defenders of commercial whaling frame it as a matter of traditional culinary culture. Some argue that anti-whaling campaigns are rooted in Western bias, saying there is no moral difference between consuming whale meat and eating livestock or fish caught at sea.
Anti-whaling campaigners say the key to ending the practice is convincing Tokyo to stop subsidising a loss-making business that produces food few people eat.

International isolation
“If Iceland does ban whaling, that will make Japan and Norway even more isolated than they already are,” said Wendy Higgins, a spokeswoman for Humane World for Animals, a global non-profit organisation based in Washington.
“I do think a ban in Iceland, and the international applause that will inevitably create, could impact public awareness and opinion within Japan, which is already shifting away from support for whaling.”
The most recent survey on public attitudes towards whaling was conducted by the Japan Wildlife Conservation Society and published in August 2024. It found that only 10 per cent of the 1,000 respondents felt that losing access to whale meat would affect their lives, while 49 per cent said it would have no effect at all.
Just 7 per cent of those questioned had eaten whale in the previous 12 months. Yet, 16 per cent opposed a government ban – more than double the proportion of recent consumers, suggesting that resistance to a ban is driven by factors beyond culinary preference.
When asked why whaling should continue, respondents most frequently cited the need to “maintain Japanese culture and tradition”. A sizeable number also pointed to the importance of taking a stand against outside pressure.

Higgins said while traditionalists in Iceland had long fought to protect whaling, a policy shift there would resonate in Japan.
“If a country like Iceland, with similar narratives around culture and national pride, chooses to end whaling and begin a new era of whale protection, that will be hard for the Japanese public to dismiss,” Higgins said. She added that Norway was in a similar situation, with only 1 per cent of its population eating whale meat.
“If Iceland ends whaling, that will massively increase public pressure on the Norwegian government, particularly among younger voters,” Higgins said. “That would leave Japan completely isolated as the only nation to kill whales commercially.”
Diplomatic pressure points
Ren Yabuki, director of the animal rights organisation Life Investigation Agency, agreed that while total isolation would embarrass Tokyo on the world stage, an extra push would be needed to shut down the industry.
External pressure, he said, could give the Japanese government a politically safe off-ramp to end the practice without losing face.
“Even if Japan was isolated, I do not think that would be enough to halt whaling immediately,” Yabuki said.
“When pressure is exerted during summit meetings with foreign leaders or at major international conferences – pressure that could affect trade and the economy – Japan would halt the subsidies it is currently channelling into whaling,” he said. “Whaling would only be completely halted once companies find they cannot continue to operate at a loss.”

Yabuki pointed to another argument used by those in favour of whaling: as an island nation dependent on marine resources, Japan fears that giving ground on whaling could set a precedent as global fish stocks decline.
“Whaling is used as a ‘breakwater’ in that debate,” Yabuki said. “If this breakwater were to be breached, international regulations could be imposed on other fish and shellfish. Japan is taking a firm stance to protect its right to harvest whales and other marine life.”
Cultural sovereignty
A segment of the Japanese public remains intent on defending what it sees as a key element of national identity and food heritage – and strongly resists outside interference.
“Iceland halting whaling would have no impact on Japan,” said Ken Kato, a conservative Tokyo businessman. “Public opinion there has no meaning on the situation here. It would be unfortunate that a country that has long been an ally in the whaling industry goes back on that, but this is our culture, and nothing will change that.”
Kato said foreign opposition to Japan’s whaling tradition stemmed from double standards.
“The people who criticise us for whaling are not all vegetarian,” he said. “They eat meat and fish, so why is whaling different? Their opposition is based on misunderstanding, and trying to disrupt another country’s culture is racism.
“If they want to ban whaling, what is next? Will our sushi culture also be banned?” he asked. “Other countries need to respect our culture.”
This Week in Asia has contacted Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the government-run Institute of Cetacean Research for comment.


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People eat whale dishes at a restaurant in Tokyo, Japan, in June 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE 

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Snow sculptures are lit up at Odori Park in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan in February 2025 on the opening day of the Sapporo Snow Festival. Photo: Kyodo

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Reykjavik’s move to end hunts increases international pressure on Tokyo as low consumption of whale meat and high subsidies fuel debate


Reykjavik’s move to end hunts increases international pressure on Tokyo as low consumption of whale meat and high subsidies fuel debate.


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Iceland’s whaling ban plan threatens to leave Japan alone in defending industry

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Reykjavik’s move to end hunts increases international pressure on Tokyo as low consumption of whale meat and high subsidies fuel debate

Reykjavik’s move to end hunts increases international pressure on Tokyo as low consumption of whale meat and high subsidies fuel debate