The Foundation of the Finnish Institute in Japan has chosen DA Jaakko Nousiainen to be the Director of the Finnish Japan Institute for a three-year term starting on January 1, 2025, when the term of the current Director Ph.D., MSc. Anna-Maria Wiljanen, ends.
The director is responsible for the institute’s science and culture program and project planning, managing social relations, and expanding networks in Japan and Finland. The Institute is based in Tokyo.
Jaakko Nousiainen completed his dissertation at the University of Lapland in the Faculty of Arts in 2015. Nousiainen has previously worked as the Director of the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland. He has a multidisciplinary background in art, culture, and digital media.
“There is a special connection between Finland and Japan. Our societies are at an interesting turning point, and I am happy to be able to take part in strengthening ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable development and cooperation between our countries in the areas of culture and science”, says Jaakko Nousiainen.
Finland has a total of 17 science and culture institutes in different parts of the world. The Finnish Japan Institute is the only institute in East Asia.
“Our Institute is widely known in Japan and plays an important role in the creation of cooperation networks and projects between Finland and Japan. Japanese and Finns collaborate on social and environmental upheavals, and here both science and culture are important,” says Professor Antti Ahlava, Chairman of the Board of the Finnish Japan Institute.
The Finnish Japan Institute is a scientific and cultural institute operating in Tokyo. The institute’s task is to identify and anticipate the development and cooperation needs of Finland and Japan in science, university cooperation, and culture, and to act as a bridge between potential cooperation parties.
Kuva: Sara Nguyen