Jūrō Oka

He was one of many Japanese students sent abroad to the U.S. and Europe by the Meiji government to bring modern whaling techniques to Japan. He traveled through Norway, Finnmark, the Azores and Newfoundland acquiring whaling knowledge and equipment.

Norwegian-style modern whaling, based on the use of power-driven vessels, cannons and exploding harpoons, was introduced in the Meiji era largely through the efforts of Jūrō Oka who is now considered the father of modern Japanese whaling. Oka traveled the world gathering information about whaling practices including to Norway for harpoons, cannons and expertise. He also established the first modern whaling company in Japan in 1899, Nihon Enyo Gyogyo K.K. which took its first whale on February 4, 1900 with a Norwegian gunner, Morten Pedersen.

In the early 20th century, Juro Oka dominated the whale meat market in Japan with assistance and instruction from Norwegian whalers and their leased or purchased ships.