Open Call – A Researcher’s Room

The Finnish Institute in Japan offers a working space for a Japanese or Finnish doctoral researcher, whose research topic is related to Japan or to Finland. The researcher’s room can be used for two months between October – December 2023.

An air-conditioned room with an access to kitchen (equipped with refrigerator and microwave) is provided. The room can be used weekdays between 9AM-5PM. The researcher’s room is located at the Finnish Institute in Japan, Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo.  

 

APPLICATION

Kindly send your application, including description of your research, the timetable of your research, and the name and contact information of your supervisor, in English by September 22nd, 2023 to science@finstitute.jp

Exhibition Long Live Wivi Lönn!

Exhibition Long Live Wivi Lönn! celebrates her career and her significance for the generations of female architects who followed afterwards. It presents key designs from Lönn’s career, together with history of female architects in Finland.

Wivi Lönn drawing at her home in Jyväskylä, 1911–13. Photo: Fredrik Wilhelm Lönn / Museum of Central Finland

 

Year 2022 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Wivi Lönn (1872–1966). She can be considered the first woman in Finland to have worked independently in the field of architecture. Lönn was a pioneer in school design and a virtuoso of spatial composition.

Long Live Wivi Lönn!
31.8.–19.9.2023
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library, 4th floor multipurpose hall
(5-7-13 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Free entrance, welcome!
For opening hours, please visit the library’s website.

The exhibition is produced by the Finnish Museum of Architecture, and it was previously shown at Waseda University.

Main photo: Tampere Fire Station, 1908. Museum of Finnish Architecture / Aukusti Heinonen

Vacant post at the Finnish Institute in Japan

 

The Finnish Institute in Japan (FIJ) promotes Finnish science, culture and higher education supporting and enabling co-operation and dialogue between Japan and Finland. The Institute identifies and recognizes trends and co-operation possibilities connecting potential collaboration partners. The Institute is part of Team Finland in Japan, and belongs to the network of 16 Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes.

The Finnish Institute in Japan is now hiring an Office manager starting August 1st, 2023, or according to agreement.

As the Office manager you will organize and coordinate office administration and procedures, in order to ensure organizational effectiveness and efficiency. Other tasks include administrative and executive support related tasks, and coordinating FIJ’s activities such as events, meetings and seminars. The office manager will work under the guidance of the Director of the FIJ.

In order to manage the task successfully, the applicant should have

* An academic degree

* Fluency in written and spoken English

* Native-level Japanese language skills

* Ability to work in a small but dynamic organization where tasks and duties may vary

* Knowledge of Finnish culture

The employment contract will be made for a period of three years.

Warmly welcome to send your application.

Please send your motivation letter and CV, in English, to anna-maria.wiljanen@finstitute.jp by May 21st, 2023.


Inquiries and more information:

Director Anna-Maria Wiljanen, anna-maria.wiljanen@finstitute.jp, +81 (0)80 4069 7846

Available for phone inquiries on Tuesday May 9th, at 5-6PM.

AI & Ethics -seminar

The Finnish Institute in Japan continued its AI-events with AI & Ethics ­seminar, held March 2nd at 3–6 PM onsite at Roppongi Academyhills and online on ZOOM. The seminar was the second part of the Finnish Institute in Japan’s seminars on the topic of AI and ethics and brought together experts on AI from both Finland and Japan. 

Date: March 2nd, 2023, 3–6PM
Onsite venue: Roppongi Academyhills
Online venue: Online (ZOOM)

Program:
3:00 Opening words
Dr. Anna-Maria Wiljanen
Director, Finnish Institute in Japan

3:15 “Japan – Society 5.0 & AI Ethics”
Dr. Lorenz Granrath
IXP – Institute for Experimental Psychophysiology, CONTACT Software, Kienbaum JAPAN, Waseda University – Energy NEXT

4:00 “Use of Telepresence, Experiences and Ethical Questions”
Dr. Sari Heikkinen (online on Zoom)
Laurea University of Applied Sciences

4:45 Break

4:50 “Issues with AI-based talking robots”
Dr. Graham Wilcock
University of Helsinki

5:30 “Conversational Agents and Trustworthy Interaction”
Dr. Kristiina Jokinen
AI Research Center, AIST Tokyo Waterfront
University of Helsinki

6:10 Closing words – Dr Anna-Maria Wiljanen

Finnish Institute in Japan

Photo: pixabay.com

Conference: The Åland Example – a tool for a more peaceful world!

The Åland Islands is an autonomous, self-governing, Swedish-speaking part of Finland. The League of Nations granted Finland sovereignity over Åland in 1921. Furthermore, Åland is also a demilitarised region as confirmed in the Paris Peace Treaty in 1947. How to structure and build up a functional autonomy? What are the legal parameters and what does it require from governing Parliament and the region involved? How to ensure that local language is preserved? These topics were be discussed by the experts at the conference organized by the Finnish Institute in Japan and the Embassy of Finland, Tokyo. The conference was a part of the Finnish Institute’s 25th Anniversary program. Thank you to all participants!


Date: February 16th, 2023
Time: 3PM (doors open 2:30PM) – 6PM, followed by a networking reception
Participants: 40 persons
Place: Embassy of Finland, Tokyo

Program

3:00 Opening words
Anna-Maria Wiljanen, Director of the Finnish Institute in Japan

3:15 Greetings
Tanja Jääskeläinen, Ambassador of Finland to Japan

3:35 “The Åland Example – A Success Story”
Mats Löfström, MP, Parliament of Finland

4:05 “The Åland Example – 100 years of Experience, The Åland Islands Peace Institute – 30 years of Peace Work”
Sia Spiliopoulou-Åkermark, Director, The Åland Islands Peace Institute

4:40 Coffee break

4:50 “The Åland Islands’ Legal Status and Its Implications”
Kaija Suvanto, Director General, Legal Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

5:20 “The Åland Examle: A Japanese View”
Fujio Ohnishi, Associate Professor, University of Hokkaido

5:50 Closing remarks
Anna-Maria Wiljanen, Director of the Finnish Institute in Japan

6:00 Networking reception at the Embassy of Finland, Tokyo

7:45 Doors close

The program may be subject to changes.

Organized by:

Oona Mäkelä: Same Same but Different

Exhibition: Feb 9 (Thu) – Feb 13 (Mon) 1-7pm
Venue: Almost Perfect, 2-3-2 Kojima, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Opening Talk Session with Anna-Maria Wiljanen, the director at the Finnish Institute in Japan: Feb 9 (Thu) 6-9pm
Please register for the talk event via Peatix.

A casual party on Feb 11 (Sat) 5-7pm with drinks served.
Please come visit to see her works.

Exhibition Same Same but Different is a collection of illustrations, prints and small clay creatures. The exhibition is about the things we can all find joy from despite of our background – in this case nature and dogs.I wanted to focus on similarities between Finland and Japan instead of the differences. Even though as an outsider I will always be seeing a lot of difference I noticed I was still attracted to the same things as in Finland. Things here might just have a little bit different shape but in the end they are the same.

Bio:
Oona Mäkelä is a Finnish graphic designer, illustrator and print designer represented by Napa Agency. She’s attracted to fascinating color combinations and shapes. She aims to create work that is easy on the eyes and has something humorous to it. She is inspired by everyday life and badly behaved dogs.

 

Photos: Oona Mäkelä

Together Again

REGISTRATION FOR THE FESTIVAL IS NOW OPEN!
The festival will take place September 8th 2023 10–17 in Helsinki Central Library Oodi, Finland and online.

Register for the in person event at Helsinki Central Library Oodi

Register for the online livestream

 

Together Again is an expansive art project fostering gatherings, workshops, intercultural dialogues and socially engaged art, organised by the Finnish Academic and Cultural Institutes across the world. Together Again presents six community-based works to audiences in Amsterdam, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, New York, Oslo, Paris, and Porto, as well as online. The project takes place throughout 2023 and culminates in a one-day festival held in Helsinki Central Library Oodi, Finland on the 8th of September 2023. The festival is free and open to all!

For more information on the artists and events, please visit project website https://togetheragain.fi/about/

Together Again is organised by the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux, the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland, the Finnish Cultural Institute in Madrid, the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York, the Finnish-Norwegian Cultural Institute and Institut finlandais, and supported by the Finnish Institute in Germany, the Finnish Institute in Japan and the Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes (SKTI).

AI and Ethics Panel Discussion

The Finnish Institute in Japan continued its AI-events December 13th, 2022 with AI and Ethics panel discussion. Panelists were Dr. Kristiina Jokinen, Dr. Graham Wilcock and Dr. Lorenz Granrath and moderator Dr. Anna-Maria Wiljanen. Thank you for participating!

AI and Ethics Panel discussion
Date: December 13th, 2022 4–6PM + Networking reception
Onsite venue: Roppongi Academy Hills, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 49F
106-6149 Tokyo, Minato-ku, Roppongi 6-10-1
https://forum.academyhills.com/roppongi/access/
Online venue: ZOOM meeting room

【プログラム / Programme】

16:00 Opening speech
Dr. Anna-Maria Wiljanen Director, Finnish Institute in Japan

16:55 Break

17:00 Panel discussion
Panelists: Dr. Kristiina Jokinen, Dr. Graham Wilcock and Dr. Lorenz Granrath
Moderator: Dr. Anna-Maria Wiljanen

17:55 Closing remarks
Dr. Anna-Maria Wiljanen Director, Finnish Institute in Japan

18:05 Networking reception

19:30 Doors close

Photo: pixabay.com

Study in Finland meets AI

STUDY IN FINLAND MEETS AI – SEMINAR

Study in Finland meets AI seminar followed by a networking reception was held on December 2nd, 2022 onsite at Academy Hills in Roppongi and online on ZOOM.
Thank you everyone for participating!

Programme:
14:00 Opening words Anna-Maria WIljanen, Director, Finnish Institute in Japan
14:15 Information about studying in Finland Jenna Tavasti, Finnish Institute in Japan
14:45 Coffee break
15:00 Alumni talk 1 Hanako Fukuda, alumni of Oulu University of Applied Sciences (International Business, 2018–2021)
16:00 Alumni talk 2 Yuta Ichikoshi, exchange student at University of Jyväskylä (2017–2018)
17:00 Break
17:10 Studies and AI Anna-Maria Wiljanen, Director, Finnish Institute in Japan
17:30 Q&A session
17:55 Closing remarks Anna-Maria WIljanen, Director, Finnish Institute in Japan
18:00 Networking reception (onsite only)
20:00 Doors close

Study in Finland meets AI seminar
Date: December 2nd, 2022, 2PM
Onsite venue: Roppongi Academy Hills, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 49F
106-6149 Tokyo, Minato-ku, Roppongi 6-10-1
https://forum.academyhills.com/roppongi/access/
Online venue: ZOOM meeting room

Finnish Institute in Japan

Photo: Suomi Finland

Almost Perfect 2023: Oona Mäkelä

Oona Mäkelä has been chosen to participate in the 2023 Almost Perfect -residence program.

 

”Hello! I’m Oona, an illustrator and designer from Helsinki. For some years now I’ve worked at my dream job as a freelance creative. I design prints for clothing (and occasionally rubber boots), illustrate book covers and create visual identities for sustainable businesses. 

I try to bring something recognisable to my projects by using vivid colors, abstract shapes and playful fonts. I think it’s important to always have something humorous involved, it makes the work more approachable. What brings me inspiration is everyday life and the small details of it. I keep my eyes open wherever I go, I think it’s fun to observe passers by for example. I take walks in the forest everyday with my dog and there is always something interesting to be spotted in the nature. 

I hope that this residency will bring me exciting new experiences in the new surroundings and with new people, and that I will take a lot of nice memories with me back home. I hope it will also give me new ideas and approaches to my work, something I didn’t think about before. I’m excited to get to know a new culture and climate and I’m looking forward to be confused and surprised by things. I’m very curious to see how everything goes and I can’t wait to step on the plain to Japan! ”