Japan Launches Whaling Mission
日本恢复捕鲸行动
　

Shrugging off possible U.S. sanctions over its expanded whale hunt, Japan threw a party today as a fleet of ships headed off for the Antarctic on a mission to take 400 minke whales over the next five months.

　　This port on the southwestern tip of Japan’s main island bid a rousing farewell to the five-ship fleet — part of the country’s much-criticized whale research program — with a brass band, beer toasts and fireworks.

shrug off： 蔑视，摆脱；日本大规模捕鲸的行为招致了国际社会的一致声讨。
minke whale：小须鲸；日本在五个月内要捕杀400头小须鲸，可真够狠的哟。
brass band： 铜管乐队, 军乐队。

“We want everyone to understand that the research we are doing is necessary,” Shimonoseki Mayor Kiyoshi Ejima told the crew and dozens of officials and spectators under tents set up on the wharf.

research：研究活动；捕鲸者把他们的商业活动美其名为科学研究。
spectator：观众，看客。

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