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FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0247
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA IMMEDIATE 4919
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA IMMEDIATE 7315
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RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO IMMEDIATE 5567

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 005536 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR D, G AND OES/OA - MHAYES/JFIELD AND EAP/J 
USDOC FOR NOAA/NMFS - US IWC COMMISSIONER HOGARTH AND 
MCCARTY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017 
TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA IWC JA
SUBJECT: WHALING: TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BY JAPAN NOT TO KILL 
HUMPBACKS THIS SEASON 
 
TOKYO 00005536  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, Reasons 1.4 (b) (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary: International Whaling Commission (IWC) 
Chairman Dr. William Hogarth and IWC Vice Chairman and Japan 
Fisheries Agency Deputy Director General Akira Nakamae, came 
to a tentative agreement for Japan to delay killing any 
humpback whales until after the June 2008 IWC annual meeting. 
 Because this year,s JARPA II hunt ends in April 2008, the 
agreement would effectively eliminate the possibility of 
Japan killing humpback whales until late 2008.  Nakamae noted 
this agreement is tentative, subject to his ability to 
convince Diet members and others in the GOJ to accept such a 
delay.  Nakamae made the point that Japan is willing to 
cooperate with Dr. Hogarth as the IWC Chair and expressed 
appreciation for his leadership and commitment to finding a 
way forward.  He promised to fly to Washington December 18 to 
meet again with Dr. Hogarth.  Dr. Hogarth asked the GOJ to 
delay killing humpbacks to allow the facilitation process he 
is proposing as Chair of the IWC time to see results.  Dr. 
Hogarth and Nakamae also outlined their ideas for the March 
2008 Intersessional Meeting and June 2008 IWC annual meeting. 
 End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Intersessional Focus on Process; IWC Focus on Deliverables 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) The IWC Chairman (and U.S. Commissioner to the IWC), 
Dr. William Hogarth, met Fisheries Agency of Japan Deputy 
Director General Akira Nakamae, who is also IWC 
Vice-chairman, to discuss the planned IWC Intersessional 
Meeting and way forward for the next IWC annual meeting on 
December 11 in Tokyo.  Dr. Hogarth opened by saying he will 
remain as Chair of the IWC even after he resigns from the USG 
at the end of December 2007.  He assured Nakamae the USG is 
committed to finding a way forward on the whaling issue. 
 
¶3.  (C) Dr. Hogarth went on to say he was pleased with the 
recent Steering Committee meeting and with the choice of Dr. 
Juma as facilitator of the Intersessional Meeting.  The March 
Intersessional Meeting will make the participants comfortable 
with the process and provide them with case studies on how 
such an approach has worked in the past.  Dr. Hogarth 
proposed the next IWC annual meeting focus on finding a way 
forward and forego resolutions, and subcommittee and 
committee meetings.  It should not have the same agenda as 
past IWC annual meetings, but focus on two to three issues 
that could be solved within 2008.  There was a desire from 
the Steering Committee to make something happen. 
 
¶4.  (C) Nakamae agreed a focused agenda was best for the next 
IWC annual meeting.  He promised as much cooperation as 
possible from the GOJ for the Intersessional Meeting.  While 
he appreciated USG efforts to "normalize" the IWC, the LDP 
whaling caucus had advised that Japan must continue to work 
with pro-whaling countries as a "failsafe."  Nakamae said an 
educational approach fostering common understanding is 
needed.  The main agenda item for pro-whaling nations would 
be small-type coastal whaling, while "whale-watching 
activists" would want that issue included on the agenda. 
However, he was concerned by the "sharpening mood" of the 
Latin American countries, particularly concerning the 
proposed South Atlantic whale sanctuary.  All parties must 
bring the various ideas together at the Intersessional 
Meeting for a successful outcome. 
 
¶5.  (C) Dr. Hogarth agreed good planning for the 
Intersessional Meeting is important to avoid derailing the 
process.  One possible outcome would be to agree on a small 
negotiating team to put together a set of options to be 
discussed at the next IWC meeting.  If the next IWC can show 
results in areas such as "community whaling" and restrictions 
on Antarctic whaling, it would show that the process works. 
Now is the best time to do this: while the U.S. is Chair and 
Japan is Co-chair. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Tentative Agreement not to Kill Humpbacks This Season 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶6.  (C) Dr. Hogarth moved to the issue of Japan,s proposal 
to take humpback whales in JARPA II this year.  He urged 
 
TOKYO 00005536  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Japan delay taking any humpbacks until after the June IWC 
meeting to give the Chair's process time to work.  He fears 
that killing humpback whales may cause a significant popular 
and political backlash in anti-whaling countries and could 
derail any negotiations.  Nakamae at first gave the standard 
GOJ reply: since JARPA II is legal, Japan has no intention of 
stopping.  The take of humpbacks is necessary to the research 
Japan is doing on whale stocks in the Antarctic and Japan has 
"no intention of changing the objectives of JARPA II."  He 
added the outcome of the Anchorage meeting left Japanese 
politicians and others in the Japanese whaling community 
disappointed.  Also, Japan could not be seen as backing down 
to Australia following its strong criticism of this year,s 
JARPA II. 
 
¶7.  (C) Nakamae then softened his tone, noting New Zealand,s 
recent willingness to discuss "community whaling."  He asked 
what Japan could do as Vice Chair to support Dr. Hogarth,s 
effort to find a way forward.  He said personally he would 
like to do his best to convince others in the GOJ that Japan 
should refrain from taking humpback whales.  While he could 
not guarantee success in convincing all parties involved, the 
time is short.  He would have to "streamline" the complex 
issues of whaling for them to understand.  Nakamae said to 
convince others in the GOJ, he would like Dr. Hogarth to 
promise two things: 1) to set a deadline for a resolution to 
the STCW issue, and 2) a commitment from the USG not to 
criticize elements of Japan,s STCW program (e.g., commercial 
elements). 
 
¶8.  (C) Dr. Hogarth said that he told the Steering Committee 
the deadline for resolution of the STCW issue must be 2009. 
However, the IWC must find a way to recognize the importance 
of whale watching since the two are not mutually exclusive. 
He assured Nakamae the USG would like to see a solution and 
if the process moves forward he is certain there would be 
agreement within the USG.  If Japan agreed to move forward, 
the U.S. and Japan as Chair and Co-chair could issue a 
statement on timelines, etc.  Nakamae replied he would try to 
persuade the Japanese side to delay taking humpbacks.  He 
added that he would present this effort as Japan,s support 
as Vice Chair for Dr. Hogarth,s initiative.  It should not 
be seen, however, as Japan giving in to Australian pressure. 
Nakamae said that he would like to come to Washington to see 
Dr. Hogarth on December 18, after he had consulted with Diet 
members.  After that meeting he would prepare a new research 
plan that did not included humpback whales. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶9.  (C) Nakamae,s attitude was much more positive than in 
the past.  His displeasure with the Australian stance and 
concerns over Latin American attitudes were obvious, but he 
was buoyed by New Zealand,s willingness to discuss community 
whaling and by the talk of a timeline for resolution of STCW. 
 However, his claimed need to consult Diet members is 
probably specious.  His willingness to come to Washington so 
soon (only one week after this meeting) would indicate he 
already knows the Diet members will give a positive response. 
 In a meeting later that day, MOFA Director General for 
International Economic Affairs Yoichi Otabe said he fully 
supports Nakamae's position.  He most likely wants to take 
advantage of the domestic public relations boost of 
announcing such an agreement from Washington. 
 
¶10.  (U) This cable was cleared by Dr. Hogarth. 
SCHIEFFER