Oscar-winning documentary "The Cove" premieres in Japan

U.S. documentary "The Cove" about the controversial traditional hunt of dolphins in Taiji of Japan's southwestern Wakayama Prefecture premiered in Japan on Saturday.

The film was screened at six cinemas in Hachinohe, Sendai, Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto and Osaka. With police patrolling around the theaters, no major turmoil has been reported so far.

Eighteen other theaters in 16 prefectures are to screen the film in the days to come, local media reported.

According to Kyodo News reports, seven people who appeared to be right-wing group members gathered in front of Yokohama New Theater and protested against the showing.

Some Taiji locals also voiced their objection to the documentary, citing the fact that it was mostly shot in the town with hidden cameras. They claim the film is based on wrong information and infringes on individual rights as they were filmed without permission.

The documentary film, which won the Oscar Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 82nd Academy Awards in March this year, was originally scheduled to be shown at 26 theaters across Japan on June 26, but local protests caused its screening to be canceled.

Source: Xinhua