It seems indicative of a return of Japanese rising nationalism and imperialism for the country to be throwing off it's obligations to conform to world law and instead throw a sop to it's politically powerful fishing industry and nationalist sentiments. Of course America and Australia would have some legitimate grounds for complaint about this poaching of sea life if they too had not already shown utter contempt for world law by attempting to colonise Iraq. If either of those countries had any real spine they would follow Australian Senator Bob Browns suggestion to send their Navy vessels to document and confront the environmental vandalism of the Japanese whaling industry.