Japan and Finland - Musical friendship beyond borders

This Special Feature introduces several musicians and composers who have contributed to the musical connection between Japan and Finland. Our playlist highlights these connections between the two countries, focusing on musicians and composers discussed in this Special Feature, as well as some other works of contemporary music.

As the saying goes, “sometimes you have to travel far to see what is near”. Finnish kantele artist Eva Alkula and Japanese koto artist Tomoya Nakai have performed as a duo for nearly two decades. Their collaboration crystallises each artist’s identity as a musician and enables the birth of something new. The unique union of the distinct timbres of the kantele and the koto is “a match made in heaven”, even if the physical distance between Tokyo and Tampere remains 7,843 kilometres.

Toshi Ichiyanagi, who passed away in October 2022, was one of the most influential and internationally acclaimed Japanese composers of contemporary music. Possibly somewhat less known is that he also had a strong connection to Finland. As the founder and chair of the Japan Finland Contemporary Music Society, Ichiyanagi became a focal figure in fostering musical exchange and collaboration between the two countries. In this interview, conducted in Tokyo in 2018, Ichiyanagi talks about the contemporary music scene in Japan, the importance of cross-cultural collaboration – and his appreciation of Finnish cultural life.

Helsinki-based quartet Barlast, formed in 2016, has won over audiences with their expressive blend of Nordic folk and jazz, where free improvisation plays a significant role. After performing in Estonia, Norway and Hungary, they recently embarked on their debut tour of Japan. Due to the pandemic, the tour had to be rescheduled and delayed for several years. This photo feature highlights their fourth concert in Tokyo, part of a seven-city tour in March 2023.

“This was a pianist of a calibre that I had not yet encountered in Finland,” recalls Seppo Kimanen – cellist, non-fiction author and founder of the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival – thinking back to his first meeting with pianist Izumi Tateno, who divides his time between Japan and Finland.

“It is easy for the Japanese audience to sympathise with the musical characteristics of Finnish works,” writes Yuri Nitta, conductor and chair of the Sibelius Society of Japan.

From the Archives: Hanoi Rocks, Children Of Bodom, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius, Negative, Amorphis, The 69 Eyes, Twilightning, Dreamtale... Finnish heavy rock and heavy metal acts have for years enjoyed great success in the Japanese market. But why Finnish music in particular, and why Japan of all places? What sort of figures and what sort of market are we talking about here? This article is originally published in 2004.

Innumerable concerts, wonderful halls and talented musicians: the popular image of the status of Western art music in Japan has undergone a sea-change in the past few decades. The country has a rich musical culture that today is closely aligned with the West yet continues to explore its own unique pathways. Lasse Lehtonen, Visiting Researcher at the University of Tokyo, discusses the musical culture of Japan in his column, which was written before the COVID-19 outbreak morphed into a pandemic.

"While all the articles address different topics, it becomes apparent that, regardless of genre or generation, the strength of Finnish-Japanese musical exchange ultimately boils down to avid enthusiasm and fruitful collaborations. These collaborations have resulted in long-lasting friendships – both between two countries and between people", writes editor-in-chief Lasse Lehtonen.