Together with the International Research Center for Japanese Studies in Kyoto (Nichibunken), the DIJ will co-host the international symposium The Current State of Animal Welfare Movement Research (main language: Japanese) on February 14-15. It aims to explore the animal welfare movement in Japan from multiple perspectives, including ethics, history, and society. The term “animal welfare movement” here refers to all social activities aimed at human-animal coexistence, improving animal treatment, protection, and legal recognition. Four researchers from Japan and abroad, including DIJ sociologist Barbara Holthus („The Sociology of Humans and Pets: Happiness, Loneliness, Multispecies Families“, in Japanese), will give presentations to examine human efforts concerning animal treatment under the umbrella term “animal welfare movement,” re-examining the nature of human-animal relationships. Participation in the symposium is only possible online.