[GoNative]

I really don't buy it's part of the culture so we should respect it view. There's been many things in many cultures over the years considered barbarous or unusually cruel that have been discontinued. Possibly this is one should also discontinue.

I doubt many Japanese are aware of what goes on down there and suspect many would be appalled if they did.
Many nationalists here appear to see it as just another issue of outsiders trying to interfere with their great nation. I doubt they could care less about any cultural aspects, they just like to huff and puff about any issue where foreigners poke their noses into what they see as the right of Japanese to do whatever they want.

Have any of the animal rights groups out there planned to try and disrupt the cull?