Juha Saunavaara – Researcher interview

Juha Saunavaara – Researcher interview

Q1 Please introduce yourself briefly.

My name is Juha Saunavaara and I am an Associate Professor at Hokkaido University Arctic Research Centre. I started in my current position in January 2017, having previously worked for many years at the University of Oulu. However, I first visited Hokkaido University already in 2003.

Q2 Could you tell us what your research is about?

I did a dissertation on general history, but in recent years it has become difficult to define what I call ‘my field’. I do a wide range of regional studies that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries, with a focus on the Arctic and the North. My current research focuses on telecommunications and transport infrastructure development, international cooperation between different levels of local government and other non-state actors, and responsible and sustainable tourism. The exploration of divergent themes is made possible through collaboration with colleagues in different fields.

Q3 What can your research help us to understand, and what is its aim?

The purpose of my research is to increase awareness and understanding of the present and the past of the Arctic and Northern regions. Arctic research often focuses on climate change and its impacts, and increasingly on issues related to geopolitics. In my own research, I have often sought to analyse the various interactions between local actors and issues and global drivers of change. Many of my projects have involved some form of collaboration with representatives of business and different levels of government. I hope that the results of my research could provide tools for informed decision making, help to avoid various conflict situations, or at least help the different actors to understand the background and logic of the thinking and actions of others involved.

Q4  As a Finn living in Japan, what can you tell us about the challenges, benefits or just interesting things about living in Japan?

While there are certainly a lot of frustrations and confusions associated with the bureaucracy of every country and every university, Japan offers a safe, stable and stimulating working and living environment. Living and working in Hokkaido myself, the environment and climate could almost be described as reminiscent of home. Although many services in Japan are unfortunately still difficult to access in English, the Japanese language offers a wonderful life-long journey and challenge, one that regularly brings at least myself back down to earth, especially if I’ve been mistaken enough to think too highly of myself. Although I consider the idea of ’When in Rome, do as the Romans do’ a good and sound principle, changes in work culture, for example, do not just happen, they are made and carried out by individuals. In my own experience, the university world can lead the way, for example, in flexible working hours, and foreign workers can contribute to the debate on various reforms with their own opinions, experiences and examples.

Q5  What advice would you give to Finnish researchers who want to come to Japan to do research?

Japanese universities and research institutes are more open to international cooperation and recruitment. While governmental guidance and funding partly explains new international openings, there are certainly a wide range of other reasons behind this, from the need for a Japanese workforce and international skills to the major structural changes that are shaping Japanese society. Finland and Finnish expertise have had a good reputation in Japan for decades. On this basis, it is usually relatively easy to build individual and research group level collaborations, which can be funded by Finnish, Japanese or, for example, European financial instruments. Although there are clear priorities in research cooperation between Finland and Japan, which often seek to find answers to common problems or to exploit mutual expertise, I would like to encourage Finnish researchers to take new and open-minded approaches. Japan and Japanese researchers can offer unexpected answers or at least challenge us to ask new questions. In my own case, the idea that sometimes you have to go far to see near has been fully realised.