The Mainichi Daily News,
WAKAYAMA (Kyodo) -- Local leaders and activists who have been engaged in an anti-dolphin hunting campaign in the traditional whaling town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, will hold their first meeting around Nov. 2 to exchange opinions, organizers of the meeting said Wednesday.
According to the organizers and the town government officials, the meeting will be attended by Taiji Mayor Kazutaka Sangen, senior officials of a local fisheries cooperative association and representatives of the anti-hunt groups, including the Sea Shepherd.
The coastal town in southwestern Japan was recently in the spotlight as the Oscar-winning U.S. documentary film, "The Cove," depicted and criticized dolphin hunting in the town.
Anti-hunt activists have been protesting in the town since September when Japanese fishermen began their annual hunt of dolphins, whales and other cetaceans in waters off Taiji.
The Taiji town government had been refusing to hold any talks with the anti-hunt groups, saying the hunting is "legal" and conducted with the permission of the prefecture's governor.
At the meeting, the two sides will express their views and debate based on questions submitted earlier. The meeting will be fully open to the media.
(Mainichi Japan) October 21, 2010
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