Viktoria-Sophie Gerlach

My name is Viktoria-Sophie Gerlach. I am studying Japanese Studies at the Free University of Berlin and am currently an intern with Barbara Holthus at the DIJ. Here, I am assisting her with her research on pets in contemporary Japanese society, intergenerational justice and euthanasia for older pets, and the declining birth rate in Japan. During my stay, I will focus on conducting research as well as planning, organizing, and following up on the cooperation with the International Research Center for Japanese Studies in Kyoto in mid-February 2026. I will also assist with field research in Tokyo.