Finnish Ambassador to Japan Tanja Jaaskelainen discusses the appeal of the Moomins and the cultural similarities and connections between Japan and Finland. Published on By At the Finnish Embassy in Japan, every staff member's business card features a character from the beloved Moomin stories. We choose the character ourselves.
I chose the brave and independent Little My for mine. Handing out these unique cards to Japanese people always breaks the ice and sparks conversations. Discussing the characters fosters a warm atmosphere and provides an opportunity to promote Finland.
Only the embassy staff in Japan have cards with Moomin characters on them. Finnish diplomats in other countries don't really do this. It shows how familiar Japanese people are with the Moomins.
We even display Moomin plush toys in our embassy's waiting room. The Moomins can be considered a potent form of soft power. Finland is fortunate to have created such iconic characters.
Similarly, Japan is celebrated for its manga and anime. Through these cultural mediums, Finns feel a deep connection with Japan. It's wonderful how both countries deeply value their cultural traditions: hot springs in Japan and saunas in Finland.
In Finland, the sauna isn't just about cleansing the body. It's also a space for emotional well-being and inner peace. Similarly, hot springs in Japan serve a comparable purpose.
While some Europeans may feel uneasy about nudity, Finns are quite comfortable with it, just like Japanese people .