Japanese tourists are interested in humdrum Finnish everyday life

Finland Café exhibition in Tokyo presents the work of ordiner Helsinki residents

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By Riikka Haikarainen
     
      Increasing numbers of Japanese tourists arriving in Finland do not want to sit on a tour bus in order to visit places of interest.
      ”Already half of the incoming Japanese tourists arrange their trip to Finland themselves. They are interested particularly in everyday life in the country. In other words, in how Finns combine work and leisure or in how city people can gain access to the countryside”, reported Shigeyoshi Noto in the Senate Square on Sunday.
     
Working for Finpro, the former Finnish Export Association, Noto believes that the best way to market Finland as a holiday destination to Japanese tourists is with the help of everyday life.
      Finpro had invited ordinary Finns to the Senate Square to present handicrafts and works of art of their own, or to perform music.
      A Finpro jury will choose a selection of them to be sent to an exhibion entitled Finland Café 2008 to be organised in Tokyo by Finpro’s "Visit Finland" unit. Around 3,000 to 4,000 Japanese visitors are expected to attend the event in December.
     
At noon, several dozen local citizens were queueing for an interview by the jury.
      Jouko Halonen from Espoo wanted to send to Japan some ornaments he had made of recycled copper wire and lead crystal.
      An eight-point star can be attached for example to a window. When the light strikes a crystal, it reflects all rainbow colours.
      Halonen believes that colours have a healing influence: ”A blue light can help to cure for example an infection, if one has a sore throat”.
     
A Hiace van decorated with paintings was parked in the middle of the square.
      Maija Hyvönen-Hossain, who runs an art café in Herttoniemi’s Kivinokka, was putting on display some works made by her friends in Herttoniemi.
      ”I wanted to come here, as Japanese people have good energy”, she said.
      Hyvönen-Hossain also appreciated the friendly reception the works got. The jury appeared to understand all kinds of creativity.
     
Some design experts had also turned up in the Senate Square.
      Master of Fine Arts Saija Malila presented felt slippers called Vilu (”Cold”), which she had designed, saying:”I was thinking about ice swimmers, who have to run from sauna to the ice-hole”.
      Those who are not tempted by the idea of ice swimming can use such felt slippers indoors. ”The Japanese are a slipper people”, Malila noted.
      Tatu Ahlroos, who has a degree in functional space design, brought to the Senate Square his design for a street gallery that could be kept open round the clock to liven up the city.
     
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 17.11.2008


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish design appeals to Japanese taste (3.10.2006)

See also:
  Big and bigger in Japan (25.9.2007)

Links:
  Finpro
  Visit Finland (in Japanese)

RIIKKA HAIKARAINEN / Helsingin Sanomat
riikka.haikarainen@hs.fi