The Finnish Institute in Japan has granted TelepART mobility support for Alexi Tuomarila Trio’s Japan tour. The trio will perform in seven cities across Japan between October 31 and November 4, 2018.

Alexi Tuomarila is a well known figure in the Finnish and European jazz scenes both as a strong pianist and composer who has collaborated with numerous other artists. Bassist Joonas Tuuri and drummer Jonne Taavitsainen – both up and coming jazz artists of the younger generation – are joining him for this tour. The multitalented trio draws inspiration from different genres, thus creating a mature and rhytmic unique atmosphere.

For more information on the tour and concert venues, visit Alexi Tuomarila Trio’s website.

Supported and selected by the Finnish Institute in Japan and Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, the Helsinki-based sculptor, designer and installation artist Man Yau has started her 1,5 month residency period in Shigaraki.

Overarching themes in Yau’s works are the colourful and industrial expression in form and shape as well as the seemingly plastic, often full of contrasts finish. Her works have been shown in numerous group and solo exhibitions in Finland and abroad – including Seoul, Berlin and Milan. Her latest exhibitions have been held at Jingdezhen in China, Fiskars Summer House project and department store Stockmann in Helsinki.

More information:

Artist Man Yau selected for the institute’s and SCCP’s ceramic residency

Shigaraki Ceramic Culture Park

Man Yau

Photo credit: Finland Film Festival

The Finnish Institute in Japan is supporting Finland Film Festival which has been working to promote Finland and bring attention to Finnish films and culture for the past ten years. The festival is held at EUROSPACE cinema in Shibuya, November 3-9, 2018.

This year’s selection includes five very different films ranging from documentary film to heavy metal comedy and suspense drama. All films are shown in their original language and have Japanese subtitles. Tickets (JPY 1,500) can be purchased in advance through EUROSPACE’s website or at the cinema’s ticket office during the day of the screening.

More information on the films, screening times, ticket sales and the venue is available in Japanese on the Finland Film Festival’s official website, Facebook page and Twitter.

The Finnish Institute in Japan is hosting a FIN/JPN LAB -event to celebrate and showcase the intercultural artist residency programs between Finland and Japan on October 31, starting at 6PM.

The collaboration between the Finnish Institute in Japan, Youkobo Art Space and its Finnish counterpart Waria Artbreak Air has a long history. The aim of these artist exchange programs is to introduce Japan and Japanese culture to Finnish artists, and Finland and Finnish culture to Japanese artists.

Artists-in-residency Naoko Chiba, Chie Kamekura, Venni Ahlberg and Saara Ekström will present the results of their stays and take part in a panel discussion which will be moderated by Anna-Maria Wiljanen, Director of the Finnish Institute in Japan. Kaisa Kerätär will tell the Waria Artbreak’s point of view to this appreciated exchange.

Naoko Chiba: The Stone Said (2011)

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Date & time: October 31st, 2018, 6-8PM

Venue: The Finnish Institute in Japan, 3-5-39 Minamiazabu, Minato, 106-8561 Tokyo

RSVP to elina.suominen@finstitute.jp, by Monday, October 29th 2018

The Finnish Institute in Japan is organizing a 5-day event on 5-9 November to celebrate and bring awareness to the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland.  Focusing on this theme has been a long-term goal of the Institute, as many in Japan are not aware of the Swedish-speaking minority and its historical and cultural impact on the Finnish society.

This year the Finnish-Swedish Culture Week comprises of a 5-day program with academic seminars, artist talks and other social events focusing on identity, well-being, female artists and design. Speakers invited from Finland include Kaisa Kepsu (Head of Research, Think Tank Magma), visual artist Maria Wolfram, fashion designer Rolf Ekroth and textile designer Emma Hagman.  Invited speakers from Japan are Associate Professor Erika Takahashi (Department of Anthropology, Chiba University) and textile designer Yuki Kawakami.

The last day of the Finnish-Swedish Culture Week is celebrated with a traditional crayfish party – ensuring an unforgettable experience filled with schnapps songs, funny hats and – of course, crayfish!

To participate in the events, please register below

REGISTRATION FORM

※Registration open until November 4, 23:59 JST

【PROGRAM SCHEDULE】

Finnish-Swedish Language Café

Finnish-Swedish Heritage Day Seminar
Identity and well-being among the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland

Time	Tuesday, November 6, 16:30-19:15 (followed by reception)
	On this day we celebrate the official Finnish-Swedish Heritage Day with an academic seminar, focusing on the identity and well-being of the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland. The Finnish-Swedish Heritage Day (in Swedish “Svenska dagen”) is celebrated on 6th of November in Finland to appreciate the culture and history of the Swedish-speaking population.
Lecturers
	Kaisa Kepsu (Head of Research, Think Tank Magma) Finns or Swedes? The identity of the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland
	Erika Takahashi (Associate Professor of Anthropology, Chiba University) Welfare system and eldercare among Swedish-speaking in the archipelago (in Japanese)
Place	Embassy of Finland, 3-5-39, Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Max	60 participants

Artist talk
Finnish-Swedish Women Artists

Time	Wednesday, November 7, 17:30-19:30
	Come and listen to a presentation about Finnish-Swedish female artists and an artist talk with Finnish-Swedish painter and installation artist Maria Wolfram discussing her art and sources of inspiration.
Presentation	Director of the Finnish Institute, Ph.D. Anna-Maria Wiljanen
Artist	Maria Wolfram is a Finnish-Swedish painter and installation artist who lives and works in Helsinki and Hong Kong. In her art she focuses on identity, interaction, human condition and power from a female perspective.
Place	ALMOST PERFECT, 2-3-2 Kojima, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Max	30 participants

Fashion and textile design talk event

Time	Thursday, November 8, 18:00-20:00
	This day focuses on Finnish-Swedish people in fashion and textile design, together with fashion designer Rolf Ekroth, textile designer Emma Hagman and Japanese textile designer Yuki Kawakami. The designers will tell about their work accompanied by a discussion of the similarities between Finnish and Japanese design, aesthetics and sources of inspiration.
Speakers
	Rolf Ekroth (Fashion designer) is currently one of the biggest names in Finnish menswear fashion. His collections draw inspiration from sports culture in the 1990s and has been worn by artists such as Jared Leto and Finnish singer Alma. At the beginning of this year he launched a collection in collaboration with Finnish outdoor brand Halti at the Pitti Uomo Fashion Fair.
	Emma Hagman (Textile designer) has studied textile design in Paris, where she specialized in print design. She has many years of international experience in textile-, garment- and graphic design, working for brands such as Ikea, Finlayson and Nokia.
	Yuki Kawakami (Textile designer) is a textile designer based in Kiryu, working closely with fashion brands in Japan. She has also collaborated with Rolf Ekroth and studied in Finland as an exchange student at Aalto University.
Place	Spiral Room, Spiral 9F,  5-6-23 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Max	40 participants

Finnish-Swedish Crayfish Party (FULLY BOOKED)

Earlier this year, the Finnish Institute in Japan, the Bioart Society and the BioClub Tokyo selected a Helsinki based Austrian researcher and artist Christina Stadlbauer for the Tokyo Art and Science Research Residency.

Photo by: Christina Stadlbauer / http://christallinarox.wordpress.com

During her one month residency, Stadlbauer will be focusing on a project called Ceramic Scar Tissue. A Kin Tsugi Experiment to Grow Instead of Glue Broken Ceramics. Her innovative project combines the Japanese kin-tsugi tradition of repairing broken ceramics and contemporary biotechnology in an attempt to create a living fixing agent – ”scar tissue of biomatter” – to mend and heal the fragments.

Stadlbauer has been working with kin-tsugi for years and is also leading a practice group in Helsinki. During her stay Stadlbauer will also be giving presentations at the Finnish Institute in Japan (details to be announced soon) and the metaPhorest seminar at Waseda University on Friday, October 12th at 7:00PM. The welcome reception will be held at the BioClub Tokyo on Tuesday, October 16th at 7:00PM and the final residency presentation and farewell party will be in the same location on Tuesday, November 6th at 7:00PM.

More information on Stadlbauer’s residency and projects: https://bioartsociety.fi/posts/christina-stadlbauer-selected-for-the-tokyo-art-and-science-research-residency or https://christallinarox.wordpress.com/

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 one of the 17 Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes.

The Finnish Institute in Japan is looking for an Academic Research
Coordinator from January 1, 2019 or according to agreement.

As the Academic Research Coordinator you will observe scientific trends and communicate with universities and other academic institutions in Japan and Finland. Other tasks include promoting academic exchange as well as coordinating FIJ’s academic activities such as conferences, symposiums and meetings.
The Coordinator 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 and experience of studying and/or doing research in Finland

The employment contract will be made for a period of three years with an option for renewal.

Please send your motivation letter and CV, in English, to
anna-maria.wiljanen@finstitute.jp by October 19, 2018

Inquiries and more information:

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

Available for phone inquiries on Wednesday October 10, at 2-4pm.

Download PDF version

By its closing time on September 24th 2018, ”Love Stories, Road Trips and Dresses” – 20 years of fashion and lifestyle by Ivana Helsinki successfully gathered nearly 3000 visitors interested in fashion, design and Finland.

In many ways, Ivana Helsinki returned to their roots with this exhibition. Established in 1998 by Paola and Pirjo Suhonen, the now renowned fashion and lifestyle brand first came to Japan very early on. This, along with the history as well as the future of the brand, was also discussed in the talk event on September 20th. Lead by Anna-Maria Wiljanen, Head of the Finnish Institute in Japan, and prompted by questions from the audience, the Suhonen sisters also discussed their life philosophies as well as their creative process.

A new Ivana Helsinki book was delivered to the exhibition directly from the printing company. The book portrays the brand’s history through 100 printed fabrics and the stories behind them.

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Collaboration between the Finnish Institute in Japan and Ivana Helsinki will continue in the future with a project combining science and culture.

The Finnish Institute in Japan is organizing the 20^th anniversary exhibition of the Finnish art, fashion and lifestyle brand Ivana Helsinki. “Love Stories, Road Trips and Dresses” – 20 years of fashion and lifestyle by Ivana Helsinki  showcases the journey of Ivana Helsinki from an idea to a recognisable and internationally renowned fashion and lifestyle brand. Finnish Institute in Japan is also celebrating its 20^th anniversary and focusing especially on the multitalented Finnish women as role models for the women of today.

Created by Paola and Pirjo Suhonen, Ivana Helsinki is most known for their unique, timeless and functional products. They have since broadened their fashion brand to a whole new lifestyle concept, expressing their own style and values – be it through unique collaborations, handmade rugs or private music shows.

EXHIBITION

”Love Stories, Road Trips and Dresses” – 20 years of fashion and lifestyle by Ivana Helsinki

PROGRAM

Ivana Helsinki: Talk event

Date: September 20 (Thursday)

Time: 6:00-8:00PM

Location: Spiral Garden (Spiral 1F)

Presenting the fascinating story of Ivana Helsinki and a panel discussion about fashion and lifestyle with Paola & Pirjo Suhonen, moderated by the Director of the Finnish Institute in Japan, Anna-Maria Wiljanen.

Limited seats, RSVP to info@finstitute.jp (by Monday September 17)

Documentary film premiere Avanto-Erkki

Time: Shown daily during the exhibition at

11:00AM

3:00PM

7:00PM

Location: Spiral Garden (Spiral 1F)

Avanto-Erkki, a documentary film by Paola and Pirjo Suhonen, will have its Japan premiere during the exhibition. The film focuses on the 93-year-old war veteran Erkki Makkonen enjoying his life, while preparing for the Winter Swimming World Championships in Siberia.

The duration of the film is approximately 1 hour, and it will be screened daily at 11:00AM, 3:00PM and 7:00PM during the exhibition.

The Finnish Institute in Japan has granted its first TelepART mobility support to Finnish musician Petri Kumela, who is touring Japan later this autumn. Petri Kumela is one of Finland’s most sought-after classical guitarists, known on the international scene for his originality and versatility. He has released nine recordings that have all gained critical acclaim.

Guitarist Petri Kumela in Helsinki, Finland in July 2010. Photo: Saara Vuorjoki

Kumela will perform in Hiroshima, Sapporo, Tokyo and Kawasaki from October 28 to November 4. The concerts include solo recital and chamber music together with mezzo soprano Yukari Komagamine and composer Ichiro Hirano.

Click here for more information on Petri Kumela.

More information on his Japan tour dates.

The TelepART mobility support program is a funding program launched by the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux in 2016. The programme is made for artists in performing arts, such as theatre, circus, music and dance. Through a rapid-access funding model the programme enables artists to quickly react to opportunities.

Apply for the TelepART here.