Japan and Finland are experiencing their closest bilateral relationship in over a century of diplomatic ties, driven by shared values, complementary strengths, and a mutual commitment to innovation and security in an increasingly complex global landscape.
“Our bilateral relationship has never been closer,” says Japanese Ambassador to Finland Takashi Okada. “In recent years, our cooperation has expanded rapidly from high-level political dialogue to advanced technology, defense, security, and business. Both countries are highly developed, industrialized economies with world-class technology and R&D capability.”
This deepening partnership is evident across multiple sectors, from cutting-edge defense cooperation to sustainable energy solutions and space technology. The relationship received formal recognition in June 2025 with a joint statement between President Stubb and Prime Minister Ishiba that emphasized cooperation in defense and security.
In the defense sector, Finland’s Patria has reached a historic milestone, with Japan Steel Works (JSW) completing preparations in September for the delivery of the first Patria-designed AMV XP armored vehicle to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Official handover is expected later in the month. “This is our first born baby that actually shows what this is all about,” said Esa Rautalinko, President and CEO of Patria Group. “You can’t have much higher praise and recommendations than being selected by the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
The technology collaboration extends to quantum computing and artificial intelligence. “There is cooperation between Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and Finnish startup IQM on quantum computing, and ongoing cooperation between Japan’s RIKEN Center for Computational Science and Finland’s IT Center for Science,” Ambassador Okada explains.
Finnish space technology company ICEYE exemplifies the innovation partnership. Founded by two Finnish university students in 2014, the company has deployed 54 satellites and now works with Japanese partners including Tokio Marine and investors like Kajima Ventures and NEC. “Everything from search and rescue to flooding and fire damage, basically anything you can think of from space,” describes Dylan Monaghan, ICEYE’s Head of Missions in Japan, highlighting the company’s disaster response capabilities that resonate strongly in Japan.
Sustainable energy represents another crucial collaboration area. “We’re working together on sustainable mobility. Toyota and the city of Jyväskylä are running a social implementation experiment to transform public transportation into a hydrogen-based system, using hydrogen produced from Finland’s excess wind power,” notes Ambassador Okada.
Finnish energy technology company Sumitomo SHI FW, led by CEO Tomas Harju-Jeanty, embodies this sustainable partnership. “We all have a fossil history, but very few of us see a fossil future,” Harju-Jeanty explains, describing how Japanese corporate values and Nordic innovation now work “in true alignment” under parent company Sumitomo Heavy Industries.
The relationship extends beyond technology and defense to cultural connections. Finnish ferry operator Tallink Silja has seen Japanese bookings double year-on-year. “The Nordic and Baltic region is gaining significant attention in Japan, thanks to collaborative tourism efforts and increasing airline connectivity,” said Mikael Hasegawa, Japan Market Sales Manager.
Even in cybersecurity, Finnish expertise finds Japanese application. F-Secure, which protects over one million banking transactions daily, works with major Japanese telecom operators. “With the rapid increase in online fraud in Japan, we will work together with our partners to provide a safe and secure environment for end users,” states Yoshimoto Takayama, F-Secure’s Japan Country Manager.
Ambassador Okada emphasizes the foundation of this expanding partnership: “Working with Finland, with which we share fundamental values, is very easy. We can trust Finland. Japanese and Finnish people are not eloquent about their achievements, but when they promise, they deliver.”
Working with Finland, with which we share fundamental values, is very easy. We can trust Finland. Japanese and Finnish people are not eloquent about their achievements, but when they promise, they deliver.
Takashi Okada, Japanese Ambassador to Finland
With Expo 2025 Osaka underway, Finland and Japan are poised to highlight their synergy on a global stage. As Okada summed up: “Helsinki is the nearest European capital from Japan, and I hope even more Japanese people visit Finland and forge friendships with the Finnish people.”
From defense cooperation and quantum research to sustainable energy and cultural exchange, Finland and Japan are not just cooperating—they are co-creating a forward-looking partnership built on trust, innovation, and shared values.
