On Tuesday, pro-whaling demonstrators gathered outside the Australian Embassy in Tokyo. They are protesting against the disturbance of their whaling activities in the Southern Ocean by a conservationist group, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

The protesters also accuse the group of racial discrimination.

[Shuhei Nishimura, Political Activist]:

"Whale eating is part of the Japanese tradition. Russians and Norwegians also eat whales. But some Western people, including the Sea Shepherd don't condemn them but only bash Japan. It's absolutely racial discrimination against Japanese people."

The Australian government is also condemning the hunting. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says his government will soon present a proposal to the International Whaling Commission.

The Japanese fisheries minister said the hunt will continue.

[Hirotaka Akamatsu, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister]:
"Whaling is in the national interest of Japan, so the government will carry through such issues to protect Japan's market and interest."

In early January, the hard-line Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's powerboat Ady Gil had its bow sliced off by a Japanese security ship.

The Japanese fisheries minister condemned the activists who he claimed threw bottles of butyric acid onto whaling ships, as well as flashing laser lights and using water cannons.

Japan says whaling is a cultural tradition. While most Japanese do not eat whale meat regularly, many are indifferent to accusations that the hunting is cruel.