Want to know why Japan's earthquake recovery efforts are moving in slow motion? Ask the whales.
Tokyoites have grown accustomed to shocking news items since the earth shook and the oceans rose. The nuclear meltdown has proven far worse than the government admitted; radioactive cesium made its way into baby food; more leaks were found in the damaged Fukushima reactor; and warnings by seismologists still go unheeded.
Yet the tale of the whales and the $US30 million is what proved most disturbing - and shed light on why Japan is either unable or unwilling to undertake reforms needed to avert credit-rating downgrades and reverse deepening deflation.
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Japan spent about 2.28 billion yen ($29 million) on whaling expeditions from funds allocated for recovery from the earthquake and tsunami. It's a drop in the proverbial bucket, given that the government plans to spend at least $US300 billion rebuilding the Tohoku region. It's a highly telling expenditure, though, with significance far beyond the price tag. (Sydney Morning Herald)
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