Couple of observations about the Japanese moves on whaling...
This is more about domestic Japanese politics than anything else. The ruling LDP party is not doing well and they are looking for issues to show them protecting Japanese interests internationally. This issue is a vote-winner in a few port towns where the whaling fleet works out of and with the voters with a nationalistic outlook.
Most Japanese I know don`t actually like eating whale - the older generation were fed it at school and hate it and the younger generation just don`t like the taste. Given the choice, most people strongly prefer US beef to Japanese whale. Domestically the pro-whaling groups are working hard to market the stuff - without a great deal of success and it is rumoured that about 5 years worth of the current quota from "scientific" whaling is currently stock-piled and unwanted.
The outcome of the current row will only be solved through diplomatic give and take - Japan may not what to start whaling but they will want to be seen to fighting and they will want something else. So the short-term response is to support Greenpeace et al and ensure that UK politicians and diplomats fight this issue. In the medium term, economics will determine whether Japan continues whaling (scientific or otherwise). If people don`t buy the stuff and the elderly whaling population dies out and is not replaced by the younger people then it will stop.
Have a look at Greenpeace Japan`s website:
http://www.greenpeace.or.jp/index_en_html http://www.greenpeace.or.jp/campaign.../index_en_html
Hugh