More than 150 years after establishing diplomatic relations, Japan and Sweden are turning an enduring friendship into a forward-looking partnership built on innovation, economic security and the next generation. Hideaki Mizukoshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Sweden, discusses expanding cooperation in dual-use technologies, resilient supply chains and advanced industry, as well as new opportunities for student exchange, research partnerships and stronger business ties.

Bridges: As Japan and Sweden continue to build on their strategic partnership, what areas of cooperation do you see gaining the most momentum in the years ahead?

Ambassador Mizukoshi: Japan and Sweden are strengthening cooperation across a wide range of areas, including foreign policy, business, science and research, and youth exchange.

Let me highlight two areas where I see particularly strong potential. The first is student exchange. Japanese culture, including manga, has become increasingly popular in Sweden, and the number of Swedish students learning Japanese and wishing to study in Japan is growing rapidly.

The second is cooperation in dual-use technologies. Given today’s increasingly challenging geopolitical environment, the importance of dual-use technologies continues to grow. This is an area where both advanced technological capabilities and a high level of mutual trust are essential. Japan and Sweden are exceptionally well positioned to work together in this field.

Sweden is widely recognized for innovation, sustainability and advanced industry. How can these strengths create new opportunities for Japanese companies and institutions looking to deepen collaboration in Europe?

Sweden is indeed highly regarded by Japanese companies for its strengths in innovation, sustainability and advanced industry. Several leading Japanese companies, including Hitachi, Nippon Steel and Canon, have invested in Sweden precisely because of these advantages.

I believe that creating more opportunities for business exchanges, research partnerships and industry matchmaking will further strengthen collaboration. By bringing together companies, researchers and institutions from both countries, we can unlock even greater opportunities for innovation and long-term growth.

With global supply chains, energy priorities and security concerns continuing to shift, how important is Sweden as a trusted partner for Japan in the Nordic region and the wider European market?

In today’s increasingly uncertain world, resilient supply chains, energy security and economic security have become more important than ever for both Japan and Sweden.

Sweden is a highly trusted partner for Japan, not only in the Nordic region but also in the wider European market. Both countries possess advanced technological capabilities and play important roles in producing critical components for high-value industries. Just as importantly, we share fundamental values such as democracy, the rule of law and support for free and open trade. These shared values provide a strong foundation for even closer cooperation.

Japan and Sweden share more than 150 years of diplomatic relations. How can this long-standing friendship be translated into stronger business, research and people-to-people ties for the next generation?

After more than 150 years of diplomatic relations, Japan and Sweden already enjoy a strong and enduring partnership. What is particularly encouraging is the growing mutual interest among younger generations in both countries, which gives us every reason to be optimistic about the future.

To build on this momentum, we should further promote exchanges among young people, expand cooperation between innovative entrepreneurs, and strengthen collaboration among early-career researchers. By investing in the next generation, we can ensure that the friendship between Japan and Sweden continues to grow for many years to come.