Description
The Gods of the Sea offers a comprehensive oceanic history of Northeast Japan by centering whales as key actors in regional development. Fynn Holm traces how coastal communities exploited, revered, and coexisted with whales across four centuries, from the 1600s through 2019.
The book examines multiple dimensions of human-whale interaction, including commercial whaling practices, religious and spiritual beliefs, ecological changes, and modern conservation efforts. Holm demonstrates how whales were integral to the region’s economy, cultural identity, and environmental understanding.
As part of the Cambridge Oceanic Histories series, this work contributes to a broader understanding of how maritime communities shaped and were shaped by ocean ecosystems, offering valuable insights into Japan’s complex relationship with marine resources and the long-term consequences of human exploitation of ocean life.
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