Workers prepare to unload a Minke whale at Kushiro port in Hokkaido, Japan, this Monday (Masashi Kato / Reuters)
Japanese whalers hunt two whales in Japanese waters this Monday, kicking off a resumption of Japanese commercial whaling, halted for more than three decades.
The return of whalers to whales for consumption comes after the government's decision to leave the International Whaling Commission (CBI) six months ago.
Two Minke whales were hunted by boats that sailed this morning from the port of Kushiro (Hokkaido island), after a ceremony in which several politicians defended the legitimacy of this tradition.
At least one of the boats returned to the port in the afternoon and unloaded their tusks, according to AFP journalists.
"It's a small industry, but I'm proud to hunt whales. The practice has existed for more than 400 years in my city, "Yoshifumi Kai, president of a whaling association, told AFP.
For Hideki Abe, it's something new. He is 23 years old and has never participated in such a mission.
