A whale of a tale: Hatoyama's 'New' Japan

Abstract

When the factory ship of a Japanese whaling fleet collided with and sank anti-whaling speedboat Ady Gil early in January 2010, radical conservationists cried not only 'foul' but 'attempted murder'. The Japanese countered with claims of harassment on the high seas, including attempts to foul propellers, and alleged that the activists were armed and dangerous. Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard's call for mutual restraint drew from Tokyo 'the toughest public stance a Japanese government has taken towards Australia on ... [any] issue - in recent times', and was 'highly unusual in singling out for criticism a senior member of a friendly government'.