Japan Bridge Scandinavia is the new name
At the association’s annual meeting on 20 April 2023 it was decided to change name from Japan House Scandinavia to Japan Bridge Scandinavia, mainly to be distinguished from the three Japan Houses established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and instead emphasize the bridge as a connection between people and countries, not least because the association has its seat in a region where a bridge connects Sweden and Denmark. A new board was elected. Ofelia Madsen, with several years of work experience with Japan from her time at Sony, was elected as the new chairman, and Mikael Palmquist, chairman IKEA Japan KK, was reelected as the vice chairman. Cerold Andersson, Fanuc Nordic, Lars Vargö, Institute for Security & Development Policy Japan Center, Micael Nord, City of Malmö, Viktor Öwall, Lund University, and Anders Olshov, Intelligence Watch, were reelected as board members. Rebecka Lettevall, Malmö University, Monika Liljenqvist Hermansson, HMS Networks, and Therese Fällman, City of Lund, were elected as new board members. To deputy board members were elected Henrik Fajerson, Skanska, and Johan Grundström Eriksson, AirIkr. At the meeting Nikolina Johnston, COO Uniqlo Scandinavia, presented how the company entered the Scandinavian markets and Anders Olshov, Director Intelligence Watch, the new report ”Scandinavia’s Sustainable Tech Banana Beckons Japan”. Masato Oda, CEO OSINTech, gave a Japanese view and reactions to the report.