Golden Hour

Highly controversial, “The Cove” is a documentary exposing the slaughter of more than 20,000 dolphins off the coast of Japan every year and explaining how their meat, containing toxic levels of mercury, is sold as food in Japan and other parts of Asia, often labeled as whale meat.

Most of people are not aware of this issue as it receives little media attention in Japan because the subject is too sensitive to be covered. But since its release in 2009, the film has been making waves in spite of its major ban in Japanese cinemas.

There is a particular quote that grabbed my attention in the film: “A 2006 report in the journal Science predicts a total collapse of the world’s fish stocks within 40 years at the current rate of fishing”. Japan is already facing shortages of red tuna, over-fished and in danger of extinction. Some of the country’s sushi chefs are trying to find creative ways to replace it: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/25/business/worldbusiness/25sushi.html

On September 1, the 6-month dolphin hunting season opens again in Taiji.

I am highly recommending you guys to watch this film, just to find out about this and spread the word.

Official Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYKNCN1ESZM