The Japanese Culture of Mourning Whales

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxi

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Mayumi Itoh

   Pages 1-9

3. Historical Background

   • Mayumi Itoh

   Pages 11-31

4. Whaling Culture and Whale Graves in the Hokkaidō and Tōhoku Regions

   • Mayumi Itoh

   Pages 33-56

5. Whale Shrines and Temples in the Kantō Region

   • Mayumi Itoh

   Pages 57-69

6. Whale Graves and Monuments in the Chūbu and Hokuriku Regions

   • Mayumi Itoh

   Pages 71-83

7. Sacred Mountains of Buddhism and Shintoism and Whaling Culture in the Kansai-Kinki Regions

   • Mayumi Itoh

   Pages 85-113

8. Pure Land Buddhism and Whaling Culture in the Chūgoku Region

   • Mayumi Itoh

   Pages 115-143

9. Pilgrimage of Eighty-Eight Temples and Whale Graves in the Shikoku Region

   • Mayumi Itoh

   Pages 145-169

10. Buddhism, Catholicism, Shintoism, and Whaling Culture in the Kyūshū Region

    • Mayumi Itoh

    Pages 171-208

11. Conclusion

    • Mayumi Itoh

    Pages 209-221

12. Back Matter

    Pages 223-267

    PDF

This book provides an in-depth study of Japanese whaling culture, emphasizing how the Japanese have considered whales and whaling in relation to their understanding of nature and religion. It examines why and how the Japanese have mourned the deaths of whales, treating them as if they were human beings, and assesses the relevance of this culture to nature conservation and management of sustainable use of natural resources. It also sheds new light on Japanese whaling, one of the most controversial issues in the contemporary world, by highlighting the hitherto unknown aspects of Japanese beliefs about whales and whaling, which constitute an integral part of their core concept of how they should coexist with nature. Through cross-examining previous studies of Japanese whaling, as well as analyzing new documents and conducting field research on location, this book presents a comprehensive survey of Japanese whaling culture and memorial rites for whales and offers viable insights on how theJapanese whaling culture can be applied to solving current global issues, including nature conservation, management of sustainable use of natural resources, and protection of wildlife and its habitats.

• Japanese Whaling Culture and Religious Belief
• Whaling in Japan and Politics
• Japanese Belief Systems about Whales
• Japan and the International Whaling Commission
• Mourning Whales in Japan
• Japanese Whaling and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources.
• Japanese Beliefs about Whales and Whaling
• Japanese Whaling and Coexistence with Nature
• Memorial Rites for Whales in Japan

“Though the book was published in 2018, it remains an excellent resource given the long history of most of the monuments and rituals covered. … The Japanese Culture of Mourning Whales is a unique and worthwhile addition to the small but growing canon on Japanese whaling. As it is arranged by region and includes a map and charts for easy access, I’ve found myself checking it before I travel within Japan … .” (Jay Alabaster, Monumenta Nipponica, Vol. 76 (2), 2021)

• Princeton, USA

  Mayumi Itoh

Mayumi Itoh is former Professor of Political Science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, US. She has also taught at Princeton University and Queens College, City University of New York and has written numerous books, including Globalization of Japan (1998), The Hatoyama Dynasty (2003), Japanese Wartime Zoo Policy (2010), and The Origin of Ping-Pong Diplomacy (2011). 

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