Japan Whaling Association

Hand-harpooning whaling by organized groups starts in Taiji, Japan

Hand-harpooning of Baird's beaked whales starts in Chiba Prefecture, Japan (near Wadaura)

Whaling using nets begins in Taiji, and spreads to Shikoku and Kyushu, contributing to rapid expansion of whaling

Sperm whaling starts in the U.S. (US-style whaling)

Organized whaling using nets starts in Ayukawa, Japan

Modern whaling is developed in Norway

With harpoon guns completed in Norway, Norwegian-style whaling starts

A storm claims the lives of 111 whalers from Taiji. This incident prompts transition from net whaling to modern whaling

Japan starts Norwegian-style whaling

The world's first whaling factory ship (Netherlands) sails out to Spitsbergen sea

Norway sets up a whaling station in South Georgia Island; Whaling begins in Antarctic Ocean

First whaling factory ship sails to Antarctic Ocean

Full-scale modern whaling starts in Japan with construction of modern whaling station in Ayukawa

A mother ship equipped with a slipway goes on whaling for the first time

First International Whaling Convention is signed

Claws (tail fin pinchers) appears

Japan enters mother ship-type whaling in Antarctic Ocean

U.S. quits whaling

Japan suspends mother ship-type whaling upon the outbreak of World War II

International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling is signed

Japan resumes whaling in Antarctic Ocean

International Whaling Commission (IWC) is established

1st IWC meetings are held

First meeting of the International Whaling Commission held

Japan joins IWC

Japan joins the IWC

Olympic system is abolished; Self-declared whaling starts

Olympic system abolished; self-declared whaling voyages begin

Country quota system starts

National quota system implemented

Hunting of humpback whales in Antarctic Ocean is banned

UK quits whaling

Hunting of humpback whales in the Antarctic Ocean prohibited

United Kingdom ceases whaling

Hunting of blue whales in Antarctic Ocean is banned

Hunting of blue whales in the Antarctic Ocean prohibited

Resolution calling for 10-year moratorium on commercial whaling is adopted at United Nations Conference on Human Environment

Blue Whale Unit system is abolished; Catch quota by whale type system starts

Norway withdraws from whaling in the Antarctic Ocean

Japan starts minke whaling

The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment adopts a proposed recommendation for a 10-year moratorium on commercial whaling

Blue Whale Unit (BWU) system abolished; catch limits set by whale species

New Management Procedure (NMP) is adopted

Hunting of fin whales in Antarctic Ocean is banned

Hunting of sei whales in Antarctic Ocean is banned

IWC adopts an Indian Ocean whale sanctuary

IWC adopts a commercial whaling moratorium

in 1982 the IWC adopted a moratorium on commercial whaling (paragraph 10 e of the Schedule to the ICRW) without advice from the Commission’s Scientific Committee that such measure was required for conservation purposes

At the 34th IWC meeting (Brighton), a moratorium on commercial whaling was adopted. Japan lodged an objection to the decision made without scientific evidence.

Japan withdraws objection to IWC moratorium

Following discussions between Japan and the United States, Japan withdrew its objection to the commercial whaling moratorium.

Japan withdraws from Antarctic whaling and starts research whaling (JARPA)

Japan ceased commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean and began scientific whaling (JARPA).

Japan suspends coastal catching of minke and sperm whales

Japan stopped coastal whaling of minke and sperm whales.

IWC estimates population of minke whales in Antarctic Ocean as 760,000

The IWC assessed the minke whale stock in the Southern Ocean at 760,000 individuals.

Iceland withdraws IWC

North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) is established

IWC completes development of Revised Management Procedure (RMP)

Five management procedures were proposed, and after the extensive testing, the one proposed by J. Cook was adopted, and finalized as the Revised Management Procedure in 1992.

The revised management plan (RMP) was completed at the IWC.

Norway resumes commercial whaling

Norway resumed commercial whaling.

IWC adopts southern ocean whale sanctuary

Japan starts research whaling in northwest Pacific (JARPN)

A Southern Ocean whale sanctuary was adopted at the IWC meeting.

Japan began scientific whaling of minke whales (JARPN) in the northwest Pacific.

Japan starts research whaling (JARPNII) for feeding study

Japan added the finback and sperm whales and started the second phase of the northwest Pacific cetacean capture survey (JARPNII).

54th IWC meeting is held in Shimonoseki

The 54th IWC meeting was held in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Japan added the herring whale and commenced the second phase of the northwest Pacific cetacean capture survey, a full-scale survey.

IWC adopts Berlin initiative

Japan starts research whaling (JARPAII)

Japan began the second phase of the Antarctic cetacean capture survey (JARPAII), targeting the Antarctic minke whale and the long-finned pilot whale.

IWC adopts St. Kitts and Nevis Declaration

At the 58th IWC meeting (St. Kitts and Nevis), the 'St. Kitts Declaration' was adopted, calling for the normalization of the IWC and expressing the view that a commercial whaling moratorium is unnecessary.

Iceland resumed commercial whaling.

St. Kitts and Nevis Declaration

Confrence for the Normalization of the IWC in Tokyo

A meeting to normalize the IWC was held in Tokyo.

To address the IWC's dysfunction, the 'Future of the IWC' process was initiated.

Regarding the 'Future of the IWC' process, a comprehensive consensus proposal was presented by the chair and vice-chair, but anti-whaling countries refused to base their discussions on this proposal, effectively causing the process to collapse.

IWC Scientific Committee agreed to 515,000 as a new estimate of the abundance of Antarctic minke whales

The IWC Scientific Committee agreed on a new estimate of 515,000 Antarctic minke whales.

ICJ judged to suspend the issuance of special permission for JARPA II implemented by Japan

Japan submitted to the IWC Scientific Committee a new research plan in the Antarctic Ocean (NEWREP-A) replacing JARPA II

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled to halt the issuance of special permits for Japan's second phase Antarctic cetacean capture survey (JARPA II).

Japan submitted to the IWC Scientific Committee a new research plan in the North-Eastern Pacific Ocean (NEWREP-NP) replacing JARPN II

National Law on the implementation of scientific research on whales for the implementation of commercial whaling enforced in Japan

Japan notified withdrawal from the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling and announced resumption of commercial whaling starting July 2019