What is the Cetology Study Group of Japan?

The Cetology Study Group of Japan is a network for study, education and gathering information related to cetaceans: whales, dolphins and porpoises. It is an interdisciplinary organization with about 200 members from various backgrounds: biologists, paleontologists, archaeologists, historians, ethnologists, writers and other people interested in cetaceans. Ceto-ken, which is short for the name in Japanese, began by focusing on only cetaceans in the Sea of Japan, but now covers all marine mammals and regions in and around Japan.

Since 1982, when a new aquarium was opened in Notojima-machi and numerous dolphin bones were excavated from the layers of about 5000 B.P. at the Mawaki site in Noto-machi, a string of interesting incidences around the Noto Peninsula have got our attention on cetaceans. Of special importance was an accidental net-catch of Mesoplodon off Noto Peninsula on March 3, 1988, as this was a stimulus for founding Ceto-ken. The late Prof. Munesato Yamada (Prof. Emeritus of Anatomy, Kanazawa University, 1922-1994) knew it was a Mesoplodon when he saw the photograph on a newspaper. He collected the skull and confirmed that it was a female Mesoplodon stejnegeri (Stejneger's beaked whale). In December 1988, he founded "The Sea of Japan Cetology Research Group", and took office as the first president. The name of the organization was renamed the Cetology Study Group of Japan in 2005.

During the 3 days from December 2 to 4 in 1988, a symposium on "The Sea of Japan and Cetology" was held under the auspices of the Prefectural Government of Ishikawa. A talk by C. W. Nicol titled "Whalers, whalers, let us hear your stories" in Nanao-shi was a commencing event. The next day, scientific sessions were held at Notojima Aquarium concerning the natural history of cetaceans in the Sea of Japan. Finally, on the third day was a visit to the Mawaki site in Noto-machi, where lectures on archaeology, history and human commitments concerning cetaceans were given. Thus, the activities of the group opened up a new door to natural history studies on the cetaceans of the Sea of Japan.

Scientific meetings have been held annually since the first in Kanazawa, 1990. Publications include the scientific journal of cetology, the abstract of the papers presented at the annual meeting, the guide for identification of cetacean species, and the news letter. The home page address is http://www.cetology.gr.jp/.

An emergency measure for stranded marine mammals is the most important among our activities. Adequate action needs a network for contacting and collaborating with many people and organizations. Ceto-ken contributes largely to make and support the network. We are interested in cetaceans not only from a biological viewpoint. Let us also discuss cetaceans and human commitments.