Friends of Animals was incensed to learn that Japan is again holding a 2026 whaling season. The state quota will allow the murder of 412 whales in the North Pacific—specifically 145 minke, 153 Bryde’s, 56 sei, and 58 fin whales.

That’s 412 whales too many.

In 2019, Japan left the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and went rogue, spending just under fifty million US dollars on a new, high tech whaling vessel to replace its current rig. After leaving the IWC, Japan was able to resume commercial whaling, set its own quotas, and expand operations even further.

Kyodo Senpaku, the group who runs the whaling vessel, packages and sells whale flesh. They also put out a consistent stream of propaganda. They ramble on about “mystical nutrients” found in whale flesh and how whale populations have recovered to the point of harming marine ecosystems—all disinformation, with zero root in fact, designed with one purpose in mind: promote their business and increase profits. This is carnage, trying to masquerade as culture. 

It’s clear Japan is going to the extreme to pander to the masses and convince people that it’s okay to slaughter and consume these wondrous sea creatures. It is not okay, and they should be left alone. About half of all whale species are still listed as endangered or vulnerable. This includes the fin whale—listed as endangered—which Japan plans to kill 58 of.

Friends of Animals believes that Japan’s behavior concerning whales is not only atrocious, but that it also should not be rewarded by profits from tourism. In 2023, as whale industry sales continued to decrease, Japan launched “whale meat vending machines,”  touted as a tourist attraction. The industry went as far as hosting several international influencers for an event to promote whale meat as socially acceptable. It’s not.

Whale meat is heavily marketed to tourists of Japan as a “luxurious” cultural delicacy. The truth is, it’s a transgression on living beings and nature itself. We are big proponents of “voting with your wallet,” or choosing not to financially support unethical practices, places, or government agencies.

This case is no different. Vote with your wallet by boycotting tourism to Japan until their government agencies develop the sense to respect whales.