Police, theaters brace for protests as dolphin-hunt film opens Saturday in Japan

TOKYO —
Theaters planning to screen controversial dolphin-hunting documentary
“The Cove” from Saturday are working closely with police to develop
high-alert security measures against threatened disruptions by
protesters.

The U.S. film, which won the 2009 Oscar for best
documentary, contains secretly filmed footage of a dolphin hunt in
Taijicho, Wakayama Prefecture.

Twenty-four theaters have decided to screen the
film, and six will begin on Saturday. Those six have vowed to cooperate
with police efforts to see the opening day pass without incident.

The film’s release in Japan was initially scheduled for June 26, but was canceled after several theaters withdrew from agreed screenings following forceful protests.

“We won’t stand for the hypocrisy and frivolity of
theaters that support Westerners’ anti-Japanese actions by showing such
a movie,” a protest group said.

Theater N Shibuya in Tokyo was one of several theaters that decided to cancel screenings in June.

“We got numerous protest phone calls and received a
notice saying protest activities would be staged,” a staff member of
the theater said.

Spokespersons for Cinem@rt Roppongi in Tokyo and Cinem@rt Shinsaibashi in Osaka
said they decided to cancel June screenings because, “We’re concerned
that the controversy would create an environment where our customers
can’t enjoy movies safely.”

Media coverage of the uproar significantly raised public awareness of “The Cove.”

On June 9, soon after a media report
that the film’s initial release was canceled, a symposium comprising
journalists and film industry figures was held in Tokyo to discuss the implications of the controversy. The venue was filled to capacity, with still more people wanting to attend.

A speaker at the symposium said: “The movie has its pros and cons. But whether to show it or not is a totally different issue.”

Another panelist said, “People should join in the debate only after watching the movie.”

Outside the venue, protesters handed out flyers
objecting to the film being screened in the nation, but there were no
major troubles on the day.

“The Cove” director Louie Psihoyos said the controversy has attracted the attention of many Japanese
people, who have become interested in knowing more about what is
actually depicted in the movie.

Takeshi Kato, president of Unplugged Inc.,
the film’s distributor, said, “We’ve begun to get more phone calls from
people supporting the screening of the film (than opposing it).”

Rising support has encouraged a total of 24 theaters across the nation to commit to screening the documentary.

Protests have already been staged near Theater Image Forum in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, and Yokohama New Theatre in Yokohama, demanding that those venues cancel their scheduled screenings.

The Yokohama District Court has banned a Tokyo-based protest group from making speeches near the Yokohama theater.

Police will discuss security measures for Saturday with each of the six theaters screening the film.

Koyo Yamashita, manager of Theater Image Forum, said, “We’ll cope with the situation, including making our own efforts to guard our theater.”

Yoshiyuki Hasegawa, manger of Yokohama New Theatre, said, “We’re hoping to make it through the screening without causing our customers any trouble.”

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