I spent a lot of time there, and I've discussed the issue with, literally, hundreds of Japanese.
It might help understanding to think of this as being similar to the Freedom Fries moment for us. The Japanese actually have a strong case based on the values that were in place when the International Whaling Commission was established and the treaty drafted.
However those values are no longer shared as universally as they once were and unfortunately for those whose values have changed, the beliefs holding whales to be a good source of protein that should be 'harvested' are difficult to debate on the level of science - and that is what the treaty is based on, science related to sustainable harvests. This has left those whose values have evolved arguing things from a weak hand since the 'science' as understood in the original treaty actually does say that it is possible to conduct limited commercial whaling in a sustainable fashion.
The "Freedom Fries" aspect enters in because for decades now, their bats hit crazy ultra right wing has seized on this issue as an example of the West pushing Japan around. They haven't made whaling popular, but they have stiffened support for resisting pressure to abandoning whaling. It has become a twisted form of patriotism where individuals readily acknowledge all that you've said, and even that whaling is obsolete. Yet, the next thing out of their mouth is how they don't like the arrogance of those cow eaters who pretend to argue about science but are actually trying to dictate morality.
The difference between this issue and Freedom Fries is that this has persisted as a RW cause for decades.
Now, one of the most reprehensible right wing leaders since WWII is in office. He got there by having his party obstruct recovery from the tsunami and meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear plant and blaming it on the party then in power. He is enacting draconian policies across the board - a states secret law that would curl your hair; rewriting/reinterpreting the 'Peace Constitution' to allow Japan to wage war; and over-riding and ignoring 95% opinion supporting the phase out of nuclear power in order to preserve the existing dysfunctional energy production and distribution system to name just a few.
His policies are not popular, yet he manages to hold power by stirring the RW pot with things like whaling.
The International Court ruling was very narrow, but it could have served as a great rallying point for a graceful end to whaling while simultaneously pushing the right wing pretty far back into the pit of public disdain they've occupied since the war. Unfortunately, the opposite has happened and whaling is instead headed towards becoming more entrenched than ever.
The fucking right wing asshats are the same everywhere.
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