30 November 2019 – The year of 2019 is 100^th anniversary year of diplomatic relations between Japan and Finland, and various events have been organized across Japan.FWBC, as an organization having close relationship with Finland in many ways, celebrated this by holding a one-day event for the public in Sendai city.

The event was titled “Learn from Finnish Lifestyle”, introducing Finland and their way of thinking from various aspects, including work, education, family, lifestyle and design etc. through two lectures.

FWBC invited two well-known experts for lectures: Sirkku Sakane, Associate Professor at Kyushu Lutheran College and Satoshi Ishii, Professor at Tohoku Institute of Technology. Sirkku Sakane is Helsinki-born Finnish lived in Japan for more than 20 years and Satoshi Ishii studied and researched at Aalto University and the head of Nordic Design Research Institute at Tohoku Institute of Technology.

In addition, FWBC decorated the venue with Finnish design products and pictures, as well as information panels of shops, people, projects, companies and organisations related with Finland, for their promotion.

The event attracted more than 100 people and the venue was crowded with “Finland fans”, who also enjoyed Finnish coffee, tea and chocolate offered by FWBC. Their satisfaction rates were very high according to the questionnaire results, which shows people in Sendai are clearly interested in Finland and its culture. FWBC would like to expand this circle of “fans of Finland” in Sendai and  surrounding areas through various activities.