FW: URGENT APPEAL FOR LETTER CAMPAIGN AGAINST BARBARIC RITUALS IN HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

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Akiko Monday, June 25, 2007 3:37 AM

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URGENT APPEAL FOR LETTER CAMPAIGN AGAINST BARBARIC RITUALS IN HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

URGENT APPEAL FOR LETTER CAMPAIGN AGAINST BARBARIC RITUALS IN HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

***ONLY ONE letter from you will definitely help!!!***

I urge all caring individuals and animal rights organizations to act now in order to prevent the revival of horrendously barbaric rituals by Ainu in Hokkaido in September 2007.

Please see the attached photos. (A news clip from Mainichi on the 2nd May and the photos of a bear being killed in the ritual.) "Iyomante" is supposed to be the most important ritual within Ainu tribe. They kill hibernating mother bear in the cave then take the cabs back and rise for one to two years, and then they choke the bear to death. They say it is the core of Ainu culture, but it is mere excuse for entertaining killing. In modern days, no Ainu makes living by bear hunting, and it is hard to imagine that all modern general Ainu people would be pleased to see the revival of such an ancient rituals, which is half a century old. Most likely it was planned by some commercial people in tourism industry. The Ministry of Environment Japan published their view last October; "The ritual does not violate the law as long as it is observed in an appropriate manner for justifiable purposes". If they regard such ceremony, killing an innocent bear cab, is harmless educationally and ethically, can they show it to children? I would like to know if shooting arrows and choking the poor bear can be "performing properly within proper reason".

Also, I would like Hokkaido government to abolish "Permission to hunt bears for cultural inheritance" which they permit as special case for Ainus.

Is this notorious method of hunting aimed at hibernating mother bear and cubs a "culture"?

Their view is "If the scene of killing the bear cub is shown publicly, it could be against Law for The Humane Treatment and Management of Animals". The government permits brown bear hunting in order to inherit" traditional Ainu hunting method". It is very strange that No Ainu make living by hunting at present. The other issue is bear hunting in Japan.

Last year, Japanese black bear alone, 5000 of them were shot killed just because they came near to human habitation area. The worst record is 2000 in the year 2004, so this number is utterly outrageous.

It is hopeless as most governments views are "the distinction cannot be helped as bears are hazardous to human safety". However, this view is so false as hunting is all controlled by Hunting Associations in local areas. They apply for hunting permits "in order to eliminate human hazard" and kill the bears then take their livers out. One liver is sold for \200,000 (£870 approx.) to \600,000 (£2,600 approx.)!!

Permitted hunting period is between 15 November and 15 February. (1 October to end of February in Hokkaido), and of course bears are killed perfectly legally within these periods. It is clearer than watching the sun that no bears will survive in Japan if we do not do anything now.

Last year, a ceremony called, "Marat Opnika" which kills grown up bear instead of cubs, revived in Asahikawa Hokkaido after 7 years. 60 people attended the ceremony from all over Hokkaido, and a male bear which was 4-5 years old was sacrificed.

We should urgently ban these meaningless killing for pleasures of few people. When bears feel absolute danger of being attacked by humans in the cave, mother bears sometimes eat their cubs. They do that as they don't want their cabs to be killed by humans. Some hunters cut off bears' feet with an axe if the bear resists coming out from the cave because of their fright. We strongly urge the government to ban "Cave hunting" and all hunting in Japan urgently despite the pressure by the hunting associations, and would like Bear care specialists in each local authorities. It is vital that we send letters to the following bodies.

Minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi

Ministry of Environment

Government of Japan Godochosha No.5,

1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Cho-ku, Tokyo 100-8975

JAPAN

Tel: 81-(0)3-3581-3351

Email: MOE

Governor Harumi Takahashi

Hokkaido Government

Nishi 6-chome, Kita 3-jo, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8588 JAPAN Tel: 81-(0)11-231-4111

Mr. Kazushi Abe Vice Chairman Utari Association (This organization promotes the ceremony.)

Presto 1 .7 (7F), North 1, West 7,

Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0111

JAPAN

Tel: 81-(0)11-271-4171

Email: ainu

Please please send your views to the above addresses without a delay.

Thank you all for your help and god bless all of you!

Best Regards,

Akiko (I would like to remain anonymous for various reasons.)