Felicity Jane Greenland
Department Kyoto University of Foreign Studies Department of British and American Studies, Faculty of Foreign Studies Position Associate Professor |
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Date | 2012/07 |
Presentation Theme | Attitudes and Practices in Japanese Whaling Songs |
Conference | ICAS (International Conference on Asian Studies) |
Conference Type | International |
Presentation Type | Speech (General) |
Contribution Type | Individual |
Venue | Negombo, Sri Lanka |
Details | Prompted by Japan’s cultural heritage argument in defense of its continued whaling, this paper explores both tangible and intangible artefacts of traditional whaling in Japan for information on historical attitudes and practices. Beginning with an overview of Japan’s whaling-related customs and heritage industry, the focus then turns to folksongs associated with the hand-harpoon team-whaling of the Edo period. 50 songs are scrutinized for details of historical whaling methods and for accompanying attitudes in both social and spiritual aspects. This paper may stimulate wider discussion as to how the treatment, preservation or otherwise, of such cultural heritage might affect contemporary issues. |