A Video for Japan Dolphin Day

When we met Kayoko Sawamura, she had just encountered wild dolphins for the first time. We could see that she was transformed just as we have been (and as so many people are) by the experience of meeting these fellow creatures respectfully on their terms, as a guest in their home.

The generosity and trust, curiosity and affection that wild dolphins so clearly express towards humans awakens our moral instincts. We instantly recognize that the only proper response is to offer the same courtesy in return. As with all our work, we offer this video in the hope that a visceral experience of who dolphins are will naturally elicit concern for their well being and the health of their environment.

For us at the Dolphin Dance Project, the power of connecting with dolphins lies in its potential to transform how we see ourselves in relation not only to dolphins but all animals and all of planet Earth. We believe that the experience of watching humans and dolphins collaborating as equals can awaken (or re-awaken) a profound recognition of ourselves as a part of a larger, sometimes mysterious web, and a renewed sense of responsibility towards other animals as we make decisions and choices in our daily lives.

Today, the dolphin drive hunt season resumes in Taiji, Japan. Now well known to many because of the Oscar winning film “The Cove,” the village of Taiji is where about 100 dolphins are captured each year for distribution to Japanese and other aquariums, and about 2,000 per year are killed for food. The number of dolphins killed in the drive are small, compared to the hundreds of thousands killed around the world as by catch in fishing gear. However, the drive hunt (oikomi) method is particularly cruel, and the captures of live dolphins is particularly problematic.Like many of you, we are horrified that the inhumane killing and capture of wild dolphins continues in Taiji.

There are many Japanese people who love dolphins. Japanese groups like ELSA Nature Conservancy and Circlet have been working diligently against dolphin slaughter for decades, and continue to do so.  However, in the last couple of years, many major stories in the mainstream Japanese press have focused on the antagonism between foreign activists and the local fishermen. A recent news story reported on the 100 strong police force who have been put into place to control foreign activists who are anticipated to arrive in Taiji, much as they did last season. When stories such as these dominate the press, the general public in Japan is not able to understand the issues fully or identify why they should become involved no matter what their sentiments about dolphins may be.

Ultimately it is the responsibility of Japanese citizens to protect the dolphins, whales and other marine life of Japan. And while it is appropriate for Americans and others around the world to share our concerns, it is essential that we support and embolden Japanese people to act to protect dolphins and whales in order to be effective. Our success will be measured by how many Japanese people we win over.

Sadly, Taiji is not the only threat to dolphins. If you have not previously visited our ‘Protect’ page, we hope you will take this opportunity to to review the primary threats to wild dolphins, all of which are man-made, many of them originating from our own countries.  Many of these issues are being worked on, and there are lists of organizations you can join or support.

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