To this day most people in Japan are unaware of the existence of
the dolphin drive hunts and their ties to the captivity industry.
Japan is also one of the countries with the greatest number of dolphinariums.
At Project ANIMA, we aim to raise local awareness on the conditions of dolphins and whales in Japanese national waters and inspire a desire for change. Our expression of activism is rooted in spiritual values, active hope and respectful dialogue as we work towards inspiring a deeper understanding of the sentient nature of the Cetacea and what we can do to support them.
Our Japan-based organization focuses on two primary actions:
Laying the groundwork in Japan for the creation of an authentic Rescue and Rehabilitation Sanctuary for Dolphins and Small Whales retired from marine parks and dolphin swim facilities
An annual grief ceremony in Hatakejiri Bay in Taiji to honor the lives lost during the dolphin drive hunt
“Anima”, the root word for Animal and Animism, means “soul” in Latin.
This ancestral animist worldview, prevalent in Japanese traditions and ways of life, is central to our vision. Reverence for Nature and the recognition of its sacredness is at the heart of the Shintoist religion and still pervades many aspects of modern life in Japan.
At Project ANIMA we wish to inspire a form of reconciliation with the cetacean communities of Japan as we recognize our kinship with them. It is also an invitation to “go back to our roots” and reclaim the animist heart of Japan, where Nature is revered and vibrant with spirit and soul.
