I got mildly rebuked on DU a while back

[pnorman]

in a discussion on "cruelty to animals" in Japan. I was, I believe, correct in that in some ways they WERE "cruel" (but less hypocritical). Here's an article that shows the Japanese regard for "lesser creatures in the same moral universe" in a different light. Also, at the death of a beloved panda several years ago, the entire nation publicly grieved.


Dolphin with first artificial fin makes a splash at Japanese aquarium

Sat Mar 12, 3:24 PM ET

TOKYO (AFP) - A dolphin, equipped with what is believed to be the world's first artificial fin, demonstrated her swimming and jumping skills to celebrate her recovery at a Japanese aquarium.


The dolphin, named Fuji, carried a message in a case with her mouth, splashed the water with a giant jump and climbed onto a stage in front of 750 spectators at the Churaumi Aquarium on the sub-tropical island of Okinawa.

"She waved her rubber fin a good-bye at the end of the 20-minute demonstration in an event to mark her recovery," Miki Yoshido, the aquarium's director, told AFP by telephone.

Fuji, estimated to be 34 years old, lost 75 percent of her tail fin due to a mysterious disease in late 2002.
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Weeks after the surgery, a veterinarian at the aquarium asked his friend at Bridgestone, Japan's largest tiremaker, for help.

Bridgestone spent about two years developing the artificial fin that can endure the pressure of water in jumping.

The most difficult part was creating the smooth texture of rubber so as not to scratch a dolphin's skin, according to Bridgestone spokesman Shinichi Kobori.

The artificial fin was given to the aquarium for free but it cost the company about 10 million yen (95,000 dollars).
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1540&ncid=1540&e=1&u=/afp/20050312/sc_afp/japananimalsdolphin