Ayukawa - The Weight of a Life

When I hear news of a catch I cannot sit still. My energy is heightened when news of a whale has been caught. This is how it goes when you work within whaling. I am a Japanese, you see.

– A resident of Ayukawa on the emotions he experiences working in the whaling industry

There is no Ayukawa without whaling.

– Fisherman Hiroyuki Akimoto on Ayukawa's deep connection to whaling, New York Times 24 March 2011

To eat whale meat is part of being Japanese, and it enables people in this region connect with their past. I don’t see why anyone should object to that.

– Restaurant owner Shinji Sato on the fading tradition of eating whale meat, Guardian 28 June 2019