<p>For <em>Beyond Japan</em>'s final episode, <a href="https://olivermoxham.wordpress.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Oliver</a> is joined by Aike Rots, <a href="https://www.hf.uio.no/ikos/english/people/aca/japanese-studies/tenured/aikepr/index.html">Associate Professor of Japan Studies at the University of Oslo</a>, to discuss the agency of animals in influencing human society and cultures. Aike’s collaborative project, <em>Whales of Power</em>, explores how whales have affected ritual practices in coastal communities of East Asia and how those practices have adapted and changed in the 21st century.</p> <p>Follow the <em>Whales of Power</em> project <a href="https://twitter.com/WhoP_UiO" target="_blank">on Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.hf.uio.no/ikos/english/research/projects/whales-of-power/" target="_blank">via their website</a>.</p> <p>A final message from Oliver:</p> <p>"After 85 episodes, <em>Beyond Japan</em> now draws to a close as I turn my attention to my PhD research. I would like to thank all the guests who have shared their research with us and to you the listeners who have supported this exciting new medium for sharing academia with the wider world. I intend to return to academic podcasting again in the near future – you can follow my blog at <a href="//olivermoxham.wordpress.com" target="_blank">olivermoxham.wordpress.com</a> for updates on that.</p> <p>For now, enjoy revisiting our back catalogue. As always, thank you for listening."</p> <p>IMAGE AND AUDIO CREDITS</p> <p>Intro-outro music: <a href="https://www.motionelements.com/artists/jasonszklarek" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jasonszklarek</a> / <a href="https://www.motionelements.com/stock-music-17111277-relaxing" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MotionElements.com</a></p> <p>[L] Kujirabune gyōji in Yokkaichi (Mie prefecture). Photograph by Aike Rots (2022).</p> <p>[R] Benzaiten statue comforting a dolphin soul. Shrine near Yobuko. Photograph by Aike Rots (2022).</p> <p>Copyright © 2023 Oliver Moxham, ℗ &nbsp;2023 Oliver Moxham. May be freely distributed for education purposes.</p>