Exclusive From Japan: Hayden Panettiere's Dolphin Diary
In October 2007 Hayden Panettiere, spokesperson for the Save the Whales Again! Campaign, created an international media frenzy when she and five surfers paddled out into the blood filled waters of Taiji’s notorious dolphin killing cove. The peaceful demonstration turned violent when the fishermen attacked the floating protesters with poles and spinning propellers. The moment was captured in The Cove, which won the 2009 Oscar for best feature documentary. Hayden and Save The Whales Again! went back to Japan last week. Here’s Hayden's first-hand account of the trip—exclusive to TakePart.com.
I wasn’t sure what to expect on my trip back to Japan. I think a lot of people assume that I hate Japan, or would want to boycott Japanese products because of my issues with their dolphin hunting policies.
Hayden Panettiere with Whaleman Foundation Founder Jeff Pantukhoff at a whale museum in Japan
But really, nothing could be further from the truth. It’s a beautiful place—the people there have such an intense appreciation for nature. I absolutely love it. I think the media likes to paint a picture of West vs. East—Us vs. Them. But I think we all have more in common than that. I wanted to take this trip to reach out to people in Japan that feel the same way. You see, the majority of people living there don’t know about the dolphin hunts, and would never condone them if they did. And for the few who do eat dolphin meat, there is a serious human health concern. Dolphin meat is highly toxic and isn’t safe for people to eat.
And the larger issues surrounding the hunts—the captivity industry, mercury contamination, and the burning of fossil fuels—are global problems that we all need to work together on.
So this trip was about opening communication channels and building bridges. But I knew to do that, we had to at least try to have constructive conversations with government officials in Taiji.
In the weeks leading up to the trip, we called the Taiji’s Mayor’s office and the Fisherman’s Union representatives to ask if we could meet with them, but were turned down.
We felt strongly that the Japanese people needed to know that we were serious about engaging with city officials; so we went anyway—with several Japanese TV crews and journalists in tow. When we got to the Mayor's office, we politely asked to meet with him, but were again turned down.
Taiji city official from the Mayor's office confronting Hayden Panettiere and Jeff Pantukhoff
Then we went down the street to the Fisherman’s Union Hall to ask to meet with officials there. When we got to the union hall, it was completely locked up—even though it had been open for business minutes before. As I knocked on the door, several men were seen shooting photos from a 3rd floor window, but they never opened the door.
The fact that the mayor and fisheries reps wouldn’t meet with us is strange to me. They have complained that the international press and The Cove were biased and had not fairly reported the locals' side of the story. Now I don’t know about you, but if it were me, and I thought I was being misrepresented in the press, I would speak out at any available opportunity to set the record straight, especially given the fact that several Japanese TV crews and reporters were on the scene.
We then went down to the cove. Although it was empty (the hunts just ended for the season), words can’t describe the full range of emotions I felt.
To honor the dolphins, and to bring awareness to the Japanese people, we created an image in the sand of a dolphin leaping out of the water along with the Japanese kanji for “Respect & Health.”
We then ended the day with a visit to the whale museum where they keep captive dolphins on display. I am totally against these facilities, but when I saw the dolphins swimming around in their tanks, I tried to give them as much love and positive energy as I could. Sadly, these are the lucky ones. It’s the captivity industry that keeps the fishermen in the business of killing dolphins. Trainers come to the cove to pluck out the most attractive dolphins to sell to “sea parks” and “swim with dolphins” programs around the world. They can make as much as $150k for a dolphin. If we all stopped going to dolphin shows—not just in Japan but EVERYWHERE—we’d have a major impact.
The next day we were in Osaka where we met up with local residents and formed another huge aerial art piece, this time with a dolphin and a diver surrounding the Japanese symbols for “Health” and “Respect.” I spent time hanging out with everyone, letting them know why I had returned to Japan. I even learned a new dance—the Dolphin Dance. Everyone was amazing—it completely confirmed my belief that once these practices are widely understood in Japan, they will be rejected. Of course, there were a few people who didn’t agree with what we had to say, and I understand that. I don’t think we’ll change everyone’s minds in one day, but I hope we at least got people thinking.
On our last day back in Tokyo, we were able to meet with some influential Japanese business and political leaders to discuss how we can better work together. I reiterated to everyone there that I love Japan, the Japanese people and their culture, and that I hope we can all work together to find common ground.
Hayden Panettiere and Jeff Pantukhoff meet with Japanese business and polititcal leaders in Tokyo
All in all, it was an intense week and there’s a lot more hard work to do, but I’ve never been more hopeful. The word is getting out in Japan, and I have faith that people there will ultimately be the ones to shut down the cove for good.
Aerial shot of people joining together in Osaka to form a dolphin, diver and the Japanese symbols for Respect and Health, part of the "Save the Whales, Again!" campaign.
Below, watch a video of Hayden Panettiere's recent trip.
Quick study: Whale, Dolphin and Porpoise Hunting | Mercury Poisoning
Related stories: Hayden Panettiere on Her Empowering Return to "The Cove" | Photo Update: Hayden Panettiere's Save the Whales, Again! Tour Stops in Osaka | Back in Japan, Hayden Panettiere Advocates for Closure of the Cove | Hollywood Said It, You Do It | The Cove Wins Academy Award for Best Documentary | UPDATE: Dolphins Being Killed Again in Japan | The Taiji Dolphin Slaughter Continues... | An Earth Day Message from Hayden Panettiere
Participant Media, the parent company of TakePart.com, is responsible for the Social Action Campaign for The Cove.
- Categories: Environment
i love what u are doing and i want to help i wish i could come there and help i think it is wonderful what u are doing
!!!!!!!
You are an inspiration Hayden! Your commitment and love for these gracious animals is honestly and truly amazing. I give my pledge to get the word out there and raise awareness and way I can, for this ongoing slaughter that is completely inhumane.
Hayden, I don`t agree with you. I lived in Japan for six months ( in Hamamatsu- chi, Shizuoka- ken) and already at this time, I used to discuss with japanese friends why they used to eat whale meat.
The oriental way of thinking is quite peculiar, it doesn`t go "beyond"- like the occidental brain, it has been condidioned for centuries in it`s tradition. The majority of Japanese people doesn`t really care if Dolphins and whales are killed in a horrible way. For them, it is just a "thing". They don`t have the same relationship with animals that occidentals can have.
The answer that I used to get was : oh, but whale meat is so nice.
They just don`t get it and they will never get it.
Chinese are the same with their chinese medicine : if the bear bile is good for their health, they will keep it alive in a little cage his whole life, suffering. Nothing will change their mind - tradition conditioned ways of thinking in the whole world. People are not free to think.
It is a pessimist note , but the way societies were shaped put the whole world in the situation we are right now : global warming, storms, thousands of people dying and still Bush and Obama wouldn`t sign Kyoto agreement. We still have industries buyng "quota" to pollute.
I recently swam with a free dolphin and it just made me feel more and more angry with what happens in Japan _ I would kill the hunters, if I went to Japan, but that would just put me in jail and more hunters would come.
You do a fantastic work, don`t give up. Maybe Japan government will feel ashamed and stop the hunt.
Cecille from France
It's refreshing to see a celebrity put their wealth and status to good use. Many movie stars and musicians will donate large sums of money to charities (which is wonderful), but not many actually go out and do something about the issue. Seeing you and those other brave few go out into the water in "The Cove" was very inspiring. I only wish I had the resources to do what you're doing. Keep up the good work.
Hayden you are an angel ... we support you in your efforts to save precious life ... to better our world.
Awesome ... you go girl!!!!! I have posted about you on Facebook and will continue to spread the word!
Lotsa love
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Soul-Therapy/278635488830
Go hayden!! im so happy that were making a difference over there and your doing such a great job at it!! keeping peace in the picture is the way to go. thank you for what your doing, your making an awesome impact. keep it up!!
I became aware of the Cove and started doing much research, including donations to several causes, including the Whaleman Foundation and Save the Japan Dolphins. It is refreshing to see a young star do something good in the news, rather than going to parties, buying designer clothes, and trying in some way to be a good role model for others. If more sports personalities and stars in TV and Hollywood would donate part of their huge salary to help many causes, we might get closer to solving many of them. It also made me have a call to action in my own community in Colorado, and I now volunteer at the Human Society and was just elected to be on the Board of Directors. Thank you so much Hayden for what you do and how you have inspired me. Best of everything in your fight, I support you so much. I hope I live to see the day it all ends and humans will take care of animals instead of abusing, using and killing them. Bless all of you, continue the communications so the whole world will know and watch.
I respect Hayden's work in trying to save dolphins. Her reputation is damaged in my eyes, however, by appearing in CoverGirl commercials and acting as their spokesperson. CoverGirl, like many other cosmetic companies, engages in horrific animal testing procedures, all of which are totally unnecessary. How can you justify saving one group of animals while taking money from a company that kills, mutilates, and conducts such savage and cruel testing??
Hayden you are amazing. Thanks for everything that you do. I would love to be right there with ya
Hayden,
I am so proud of you for helping our dolphins and whales. We need more young people like you that make a difference in this world. Emma.
Everything will be all right.I listened voice of dophin once.It is fair-sounding.I like them very much.Good luck.
Only a life lived for others is worth living!, well done Miss Panettiere, hopefully this will make them realise, there really is no point to this meaningless slaughtering of these beautiful creatures, which have caused no harm to anyone whatsoever..
Best Of Luck
mike
Hayden, thank you for raising awareness. We have to be a voice for these beautiful creatures. If you haven't talked to Captain Paul Watson with Sea Shepherd, you should. Maybe you two could team up and do commercials or something. That could create a positive impact and would raise even more awareness of the senseless slaughter of dolphins and whales. God bless you in all you do.
I also meant to add.... you may want to create a Facebook page just for Take Part if you all haven't already. Good luck!
Dawn
Nice work hayden!
Thank you Hayden for trying to make a difference.
This stupid slaughtering of dolphins needs to come to an end.
We love you.
Good luck. Hope and sucess for you all. Freedom and happiness for dolphins all over! And human beings too!
From Marcia, in Brazil