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Both Sweden and Japan are at the forefront of green innovation, renewable energy, circular economy, and climate action. This initiative seeks to enhance partnerships in areas such as carbon neutrality, smart cities, sustainable manufacturing, and resource efficiency, with the goal of creating a more sustainable and resilient future. By combining expertise and innovative approaches, Sweden and Japan can work together to drive global sustainability efforts forward.

【Reflection】
On Friday, 10 October 2025, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai marked a significant day symbolising the collaboration between the Kingdom of Sweden and Japan towards a sustainable future. Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden visited the Expo for the first time in seven years. Through her engagement with the younger generation and her attendance at a summit featuring experts from both nations, the day fostered rich exchanges of knowledge and inspiration.

In the morning, Her Royal Highness visited the United Nations Pavilion and took part in a panel discussion with Japanese high school students, Girl Scouts, and start-up representatives. Under the theme of SDG 14, “Life Below Water”, participants shared their ideas in a lively dialogue. The Crown Princess listened attentively to each speaker’s passion and concrete initiatives, commending their proactive attitudes. She also expressed her expectation that the younger generation will play a key role in driving social change, encouraging them to reflect on how they can contribute within their own communities. The direct intergenerational dialogue underscored the growing engagement with sustainability.

In the afternoon, the Sweden–Japan Sustainability Summit 2025 was held in Kansai for the first time. The summit focused on three main themes — Circular Lifestyles, Future Mobility, and Net-Zero Healthcare — with Swedish and Japanese experts and business leaders taking part in in-depth and constructive discussions.

Under Circular Lifestyles, Sweden’s Minister for Public Administration, Mr Erik Slottner, introduced concrete policy measures, while Ms Karen Flug, Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA, shared the company’s pioneering efforts to promote resource circulation and waste reduction. Participants exchanged views on practical approaches, including local recycling models in Japan and examples of sustainable product design developed through collaboration between businesses and municipalities.
The Future Mobility session highlighted advances in the electrification of urban transport and smart city implementation, sparking active debate on opportunities for bilateral technological cooperation and ways to enhance social acceptance.
In the Net-Zero Healthcare session, hospitals and corporations presented initiatives to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, exploring how to balance environmental responsibility with quality patient care. Collectively, the discussions reaffirmed that beyond technology and systems, changes in individual lifestyles and awareness are essential to building a truly sustainable future.

Between sessions, the audience enjoyed a captivating performance by Ms Sárah Áinnak, an artist from Sweden’s northern Sámi region, who blended traditional joik singing with electronic soundscapes. A moving choral performance by high school students expressing hope for the future further deepened the cultural resonance of the event. Her Royal Highness attended the summit throughout, engaging with the speakers and demonstrating her keen interest in each theme.

In her remarks, the Crown Princess reflected on how Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai had strengthened the partnership between Sweden and Japan in sustainability and innovation. During her visit to the Japan Pavilion, she noted a strong sense of “respect for nature” and expressed admiration for the dedication of the students she met at the United Nations Pavilion. These encounters reaffirmed the shared values of respect for nature and passion for innovation that unite both nations in building a better future together.

The day served as a meaningful opportunity for deeper mutual understanding and awareness between the two countries, through dialogue with visitors, insights from experts and artists, and shared reflections on creating a sustainable society. The learning and inspiration gained are expected to translate into further concrete actions and initiatives.


【Post EXPO Initiatives】
Following the summit, Sweden and Japan have been advancing concrete collaborations inspired by the knowledge and discussions shared during the event.

In the field of Circular Lifestyles, local governments and companies are exploring recycling and product design initiatives based on the cooperative models presented at the summit. Participants and partner organisations have been holding workshops and study sessions to translate the summit’s policy and technical insights into practical action plans.
Under Future Mobility, discussions on the electrification of urban transport and smart city development continue among Japanese municipalities and companies, focusing on potential technological cooperation and public acceptance strategies. Meanwhile, initiatives highlighted in Net-Zero Healthcare—including decarbonisation and energy-efficiency measures—are being developed into practical projects led by hospitals and related industries. These efforts are steadily building a foundation for turning the summit’s shared knowledge into tangible results.

Across Expo 2025 as a whole, more than 1.6 million visitors participated in various programmes at the Nordic Pavilion, engaging in rich exchanges spanning policy, technology, culture, and education. The strong networks and trust established through these interactions are already supporting the development of collaborative, solution-oriented partnerships and projects. The experience and relationships built through these efforts will continue to underpin future initiatives in technical cooperation and policy development.

After six months of collaboration and creative exchange, the Nordic Pavilion has truly served as a bridge connecting Japan and the Nordic countries. The encounters, dialogues, and emerging projects nurtured through this process will continue beyond the Expo, carrying forward into the shared future we are shaping together.