Japan-Finland Relations

November 2009

History of the Bilateral Relationship

Japan and Finland have consistently maintained a friendly relationship, since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1919, and exchanged diplomatic missions in 1921. In recent years, the relationship between Japan and Finland has expanded steadily in not only the economic and trade areas, but also in the cultural and academic fields. Japan concluded in 1978 a cultural agreement with Finland, which was the first of this kind among the Nordic countries. FINNAIR began operating non-stop flights to Tokyo under the Air Services Agreement signed in 1980. It takes only nine hours between both countries since flights were allowed to pass over Siberia in 1991. Various events were organized for the 75th anniversary of Japan-Finland relationship in 1994.

Economic Relations

As regards trade between Japan and Finland, Japan has a tendency toward an export surplus. However, Finland supports the idea of free trade, and it assumes an approach, under which this trade imbalance should be diminished by expanding Finnish exports, without import restrictions.

Trade between Japan and Finland displayed a tendency to become smaller at the beginning of the 1990s, due to the recession in both countries. However, trade has been expanding since 1993. Particularly for the period of three years from 1994 onwards, the "Finland Advantage Campaign" was held by the "Finland Foreign Trade Association" and 12 Finishes enterprises, which launched their businesses in Japan. The goal of this campaign, to double the exports from Finland to Japan in three years, was successfully achieved at the end of 1995. In 1998, a new campaign called "Finland Plus" started.

Japan' Trade with Finland in Recent Years (Billion Yen)
	Exports to Finland	Imports From Finland	Trade Balance
1993	77	47	30
1994	101	67	34
1995	130	109	21
1996	125	127	-2
1997	162	108	54

Cultural Exchanges

Japan implemented in 1990 and 1991 a comprehensive cultural project called "Japan Today in Scandinavia", introducing Japanese culture. This included various performances, exhibitions, and seminars. In 1994 various kinds of events were held commemorating the 75th anniversary of the two countries' friendly relationship.

Exchange of Visits

Prime Minister Nakasone was the first Japanese Prime Minister who paid the official visit to Finland in January, 1987. Among Imperial families, Their Imperial Highnesses the Prince and Princess Hitachi visited officially in September, 1995 by the invitation of President Ahtisaari.

Prime Minister Aho visited Japan in October 1993, Foreign Minister Haavisto in October 1994, and Prime Minister Lipponen in April 1997. President Ahtisaari paid official visit to Japan in September 1997, and visited Japan again during the Nagano Olympics in February 1998.

Back to Index