The Taiji Ten (sometimes called the Taiji 5 since only 5 remained in captivity) were a pod of ten Orcas captured by a Japanese fishing company in January 1997. They were held inside Taiji bay for several days before 5 of the orcas were removed after being sold to various amusement parks. The remaining family members refused to leave the bay, and their family, and so were driven out of the bay.

Four of the five captured orcas died shortly after their capture, and only one survives to this day. This poem is a tribute to these animals who were viciously and mercilessly taken from their families, and left to die in loneliness and captivity.