Japan-Sweden Relations (Overview) 
March 2012
History of the Bilateral Relationship
Japan's contacts with Sweden date back to Japan's period of isolation. Carl Peter Thunberg, the best disciple of botanist Carl von Linne and one of the Swedes that first visited Japan, came to Japan in 1775 as a doctor for Holland's East India Company. While staying in Japan for about 15 months, he collected plants, and, after returning home, wrote a book titled "Flora Japonica" about the botany of Japan.
The first treaty between Japan and Sweden was signed in 1868 in Yokohama through Dutch legation. In 1880, the Japanese Minister to Russia was concurrently appointed Minister to Sweden. The first Japanese Minister to Sweden assumed his post in Sweden later in 1904, while the first Swedish Minister was officially received in Japan in 1907. Both countries raised their legations to the status of embassies in 1957. Since then, Japan and Sweden have been cementing their friendship, through various activities including exchange of VIP visits, thus accelerating mutual understanding between both countries.
Economic Relations
Trade and economic consultations are, in principle, held in Tokyo and Stockholm alternately every year, according to the minutes agreed upon in May 1975. The consultations have, providing an opportunity for both countries to exchange news on matters of mutual concern, an important role to play in the economic relations between the two countries.
Since 1993, Sweden has had trade surplus over Japan except 2008. In 2010, the main export items from Japan to Sweden are passenger cars, video equipments, and organic compounds, while the main import items from Sweden are timber, communication equipments and medicines.
Cultural Exchanges
As Japan comes to play a more and more important role in the international community, Swedish people are heightening their interest in Japan, not only in its economy, social system and culture, but also in its history and way of thinking.
The European Institute of Japanese Studies was established at the Stockholm School of Economics in 1992. The Institute contributes to the promotion of various research activities on Japan not only in Sweden, but also all over Europe. The Institute also holds seminars and lectures on Japan-related subjects, thus contributing to the expansion of exchanges between the two countries and between Japan and Europe. The Institute opened a Tokyo Office in October 1997. Research on Japan is also conducted at the Center for Pacific Asia Studies at Stockholm University and other institutes.
The Nobel Prize plays a very important part in the exchanges between both countries. Eighteen Japanese have so far been awarded a Nobel prize.
Back to Index
