捕鯨(ほげい)

ほげい
noun
whaling
1. whaling
The practice or industry of hunting whales. A historically and politically significant topic in Japan, where whaling has a long cultural tradition. Composed of 捕 (catch) + 鯨 (whale).
日本(にほん)の捕鯨(ほげい)は長(なが)い歴史(れきし)がある。
Japan has a long history of whaling.
商業(しょうぎょう)捕鯨(ほげい)は国際的(こくさいてき)に議論(ぎろん)されている。
Commercial whaling is debated internationally.
この港町(みなとまち)はかつて捕鯨(ほげい)の拠点(きょてん)として栄(さか)えていた。
This port town once thrived as a whaling base.

USAGE:
捕鯨(ほげい) refers specifically to whale hunting as an activity or industry. For the whale itself, use 鯨(くじら).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 商業(しょうぎょう)捕鯨(ほげい) (commercial whaling)
  • 調査(ちょうさ)捕鯨(ほげい) (research whaling)
  • 捕鯨(ほげい)船(せん) (whaling ship)
  • 捕鯨(ほげい)基地(きち) (whaling base)
  • 捕鯨(ほげい)禁止(きんし) (whaling ban)

CULTURAL NOTE:
Whaling has been practiced in Japan for centuries, particularly in coastal communities like 太地町(たいじちょう) in Wakayama Prefecture. Japan withdrew from the International Whaling Commission in 2019 and resumed commercial whaling in its territorial waters.

general
Added 2026.3.8 18:07
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