ABSTRACT
The aim of this book is to give a social anthropological account of whaling in Japan. In so doing, we present the first comprehensive account in English of the history of Japanese whaling, showing how it has given rise to a particular kind of culture, and we discuss what happens when that culture is threatened. At the same time, we explain the work organization of those employed in whaling; the role of whaling companies in local and national economies; and the role of the whale in the establishment and maintenance of local community identity (ritual, food, gift giving). In short, we are concerned with what we term a “whaling culture”.
