Japan’s withdrawal from the IWC: An explanation

Abstract

This article aims to provide a comprehensive explanation for Japan’s withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and research-based pelagic whaling operations. While the key factors underlying these withdrawals were the low profitability of special permit whaling (SPW) due to shrinking whale meat demand and the aging of pelagic whaling vessels, these alone cannot fully explain Japan’s action as it did not need to leave the IWC if it were willing to end SPW. Therefore, additional factors need to be considered to explain Japan’s withdrawal, such as changes in domestic political processes. First, the decline in the profitability of SPW led to the disintegration of the “iron triangle” composed of bureaucrats, industry, and lawmakers that had provided political and financial support for SPW in the Antarctic. Japan decided to leave the Antarctic Ocean because fisheries bureaucrats were less willing to provide the large subsidies needed to continue SPW, which included whaling fleet replacement costs. Furthermore, the final decision to leave the IWC was attributable to the strengthened power of politicians in Japanese decision-making processes. Second, with the weakened influence of the whaling industry, whose core interest lied in the continuation of SPW, the relative clout of the ruling politicians increased. Finally, the prime minister’s power in the decision-making process was further strengthened, enabling the final decision to leave the IWC.