Japan will continue with a scientific mission in the Pacific . Both announcements by the ministry sparked renewed anger among environmentalists , who say Japan 's research program is a thinly veiled attempt to circumvent a ban on the commercial whale meat trade . A U.N. court found the nation 's Antarctic hunt violated a ban on commercial whaling . Japan says the proposal is scientific ; plans to submit a revised proposal soon .
Japan will continue with a scientific mission in the Pacific . A U.N. court found the nation 's Antarctic hunt violated a ban on commercial whaling . Japan says the proposal is scientific ; plans to submit a revised proposal soon .