Dolphin Hunt Film Screenings Cancelled In Tokyo

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/06/05/arts/entertainment-us-japan-film-dolphins.html?_r=1&hp

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo screenings of "The Cove," an Oscar-winning documentary about a grisly annual dolphin hunt have been canceled over planned protests by conservatives who say the film is anti-Japanese, the distributor said on Saturday.

The film, which picked up an Oscar for best documentary feature this year, follows a group of activists who struggle with Japanese police and fishermen to gain access to a secluded cove in Taiji, southern Japan, where dolphins are hunted.

Directed by former National Geographic photographer Louie Psihoyos and featuring Ric O'Barry, a former dolphin trainer from the "Flipper" television series, "The Cove" has prompted activists to threaten street demonstrations.

Planned showings of the film at two cinemas in Tokyo this month have been canceled because of fears the protests might inconvenience movie-goers and others, according to Unplugged, the Japan distributor.

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Japan's government says the hunting of dolphins and whales is an important cultural tradition.

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The gov't is full of crap. They hide their bloody animal murdering under the guise of research or tradition. Not true! They lie. Thanks for posting. I am really mad now.

who are largely unaware of the atrocities in Taiji.

The Japanese people would be outraged. I have seen video of Japanese people who were randomly chosen on the street and shown clips of "The Cove." The looks on their faces were of shock and disgust.

Thank heavens we have corporations and their puppets in the media and government so that the work of the world can get done.

it'.

That still didn't mean it was right. It wasn't.