| Taiji 太地町 |
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| — Town — | |
| Central Taiji, as viewed from the south, with the marina in the center and the Pacific is to the right | |
| Location of Taiji in Wakayama | |
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Taiji
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kinki |
| Prefecture | Wakayama |
| District | Higashimuro District |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Kazutaka Sangen |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.96 km2 (2.3 sq mi) |
| Population (1 January 2011) | |
| • Total | 3,225 |
| • Density | 541/km2 (1,401.2/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) |
| City symbols | |
| - Tree | Evodia meliifolia |
| - Flower | Grand Crinum Lily |
| - Bird | Blue Rock-thrush |
| Address | 649-5171 |
| Website | Taiji website |
Taiji (太地町 Taiji-chō) is a town located in Higashimuro District, Wakayama, Japan.
As of 1 January 2011, the town has an estimated population of 3,225 and a population density of 541 persons per km². The total area is 5.96 km². Taiji is the smallest local government by area in Wakayama Prefecture because, unlike others, it has not experienced a merger since 1889 when the village of Moriura merged into Taiji. Taiji shares its entire overland border with the town of Nachikatsuura and faces the Pacific Ocean. Taiji has been well known as a whaling town and is considered as the birth place of Japan's modern whaling method. Taiji's annual dolphin hunt is the subject of continued pressure by protest groups.[1]
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Taiji has been primarily known as a whaling town. Japanese traditional whaling techniques were dramatically developed here in the 17th century, and the commercial hunting of dolphins remains a major source of income for its residents to this day.[2] Wada Chūbei organized the group hunting system (刺手組) and introduced new handheld harpoon in 1606. Wada Kakuemon, later known as Taiji Kakuemon, invented the whaling net technique called Amitori hō (網取法) to increase the safety and efficiency of whaling. This method lasted more than 200 years.
The town was dealt a massive blow in 1878 when a large group of fishermen endeavored to kill a whale. The sheer strength of the whale pulled many of the fishermen out to sea. Refusing to cut loose the whale until it was too late, many fishermen were lost or drowned at sea as result. Around a hundred fishermen died during this episode.[3] Taiji's whaling industry became buoyant again after the Russo-Japanese War as it became a base for modern whaling. When the Antarctic whaling started, Taiji provided crews for the whaling fleet.[4] In 1988, Taiji suspended their commercial whaling as a result of a ruling by the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
The town continues to hunt small whales, such as melon-headed and pilot whales, as well as dolphins; commercial activities which are not regulated by the IWC. Whalers from Taiji also participate in the annual hunt for minke whales,[5] which is sanctioned under IWC regulations for scientific purposes. According to the Fisheries Research Agency, 1,623 dolphins were caught in Wakayama Prefecture; this figure represents about 13% of the total national dolphin catch for that year.[6] In 2008, 1,484 dolphins and whales were caught. In 2009, 2,317 dolphins and whales were caught, just under the town's self-imposed quota of 2,400.[7]
The town's annual dolphin drive hunt was featured in the 2009 Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove. Some people who appeared in the film, including Taiji assemblyman Hisato Ryono, have stated that the documentary's producers lied to them about the film's intended content.[8] Since the film's release, more activists than before, many from outside Japan, have gone to Taiji to observe or protest the annual dolphin slaughter, which usually begins in September. As a result, in July 2011, the town announced it was reinforcing its police presence at the cove where the killings take place by operating a 24-hour, 10-man kōban in order to prevent confrontations between activists and locals.[9]
There are two small-scale onsens (hot springs) in the town.
Taiji's summer festival is called the Taiji Isana Festival that is held annually on August 14.[10] Isana is an old Japanese word for whales. Its autumn festival is called the Taiji Kujira Festival (kujira means whales in Japanese) that is annually held on the first Sunday of November. Both the festivals are heavily whale-themed and the attractions include the Kujira Odori (lit. whale dance) and the Kujira Daiko (lit. whale drumming). The Kujira Odori is a traditional dance that whalers used to perform to celebrate a good catch. This dance is unique in that the dancers only use their upper body as they dance sitting on whaling boats. It is identified as intangible cultural heritage by Wakayama Prefecture.[11] The Kujira Daiko is also traditional and it describes a battle between a big whale and small whaling boats by drumming.
The Kisei Main Line of JR West runs through Taiji. Taiji Station is the only station in the town and is located just outside the Moriura area. A circular bus line connects the station with the tourist areas and the town hall. All Local trains and some Express trains stop at Taiji Station.
The main roads that run through Taiji are as follows.
There are no high schools or universities.
In 2010, hair samples from 1,137 Taiji residents were tested for mercury by the National Institute for Minamata Disease (NIMD). The average amount of methyl mercury found in the hair samples was 11.0 parts per million for men and 6.63 ppm for women, compared with an average of 2.47 ppm for men and 1.64 ppm for women in tests conducted in 14 other locations in Japan. From the total population, 182 Taiji residents who were found with extremely high mercury levels underwent further medical testing to check for symptoms of mercury poisoning. None of the Taiji residents displayed any of the traditional symptoms of mercury poisoning, according to the Institute.[12][13] However, the Japan Times reported that the mortality rate for Taiji and nearby Kozagawa, where dolphin meat is also consumed, is over 50% higher in comparison to fourteen similarly sized villages in other regions of Japan,[14] though it contains some notable errors and is not verifiable from the statistics published by other government agencies.
The chief of the NIMD, Kōji Okamoto, said, "We presume that the high mercury concentrations are due to the intake of dolphin and whale meat. There were not any particular cases of damaged health, but seeing as how there were some especially high concentration levels found, we would like to continue conducting surveys here."[15]
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