I generally agree with you, I'm not sure I agree with your framing. I more agree with you when you say whales are not something most Japanese would eat, so it doesn't make sense to put this on Japan as a country to move forward and stop killing whales. There are some unsavory people and practices in all countries and amongst all groups, and by that logic we all need to be better people.

That said, that tax payer money might finance a new whaling ship might be closer to something you can pin on the government, so that's a valid concern I think.