Quick Introduction
Exchange Japan is an annual project collaboration led by students at the Stockholm School of Economics and the Royal Institute of Technology in conjunction with students at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo. Its mission statement is to foster cultural and professional exchange between Sweden and Japan.

The main focus of the project is two culture and job fairs held in Stockholm and Tokyo. They are traditionally called Nippon Week and Sweden Day, and are organized by both the Sweden- and Japan-based project groups. The business proposal compiled for Exchange Japan 2012 gives further details regarding the events. It can be found here.

The Context
Japan is today the world’s third largest economy, after the United States and China. The economic exchange between Sweden and Japan has always been significant. Japan ranks as Sweden’s fifth largest export market outside of Europe and in 2010 exports amounted to nearly 15 billion SEK. In recent years, Swedish companies have been very successful in Japan and the turnover for Swedish companies with presence in Japan has increased astoundingly the last few years.

Previously, the manufacturing industry was the primary vehicle for the development of Swedish presence in the country, for instance through Volvo’s acquisition of Nissan. However, during recent years the leading positio has passed to the retail industry, through companies such as IKEA and H&M. Swedish design and consumer products are strong brands in Japan and very much sought after. Today around 100 Swedish companies operate with their own subsidiaries in Japan, and Japan together with China are the countries where the growth rate of employees in Swedish subsidiaries is highest. Swedish and Japanese businesses have long recognized the importance of having a close relationship; indeed, Sweden has an excellent reputation as a forward-looking country in Japan, which further facilitates a strengthened exchange between the two countries.

The Project
Exchange Japan (ExJ) is a cultural and professional exchange project between Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo. The project has varied in theme and focus during the thirteen years since the project was established, but there is a number of recurring activities described below. The project consists of ten students from SSE and KTH, and we work in collaboration with a group of ten students from Hitotsubashi University. The project group from Hitotsubashi University consists of members from the student organization “Magnetism of Sweden” (their website can be found here). Exchange Japan 2012 is the fourteenth edition of the project, and we operate under the International Committee (IntU) at the Student Association of Stockholm School of Economics (SASSE).

The Project
The project is carried out alongside full time studies and through an extensive cooperative effort between Exchange Japan and Magnetism of Sweden (MoS). The main body of work will amount to two specially themed days when students, companies, and other organizations are invited to participate in events arranged by the project. Nippon Week and Nippon Night will be arranged in Stockholm whereas Sweden Day will be arranged at the Swedish embassy in Tokyo. Both days will be arranged jointly by the Swedish and Japanese project groups, and are aimed at attracting both students and businesses with a vested interest in the over-arching project theme: Moving Forward.

To ensure smooth communication and create a community between the project groups, the international collaboration has traditionally been very substantial and genuine. Project members of Exchange Japan 2012 will be welcoming Japanese students during two weeks in February in conjunction with Nippon Week and Nippon Night, and are slated to travel to Japan for two weeks in April for Sweden Day. During the group visits to Sweden and Japan, the tradition has been to also engage is various other activities, including, but not limited to, visits to companies, cultural heritage sites, exhibitions and fairs.

The Report
When the project is completed a project report book will be produced and distributed to students, companies and other parties involved with the project. Aside from recounting the process and outcome of the project for the benefit of sponsors, the report also aims to reach a broader public and group of students to kindle their interest in the project and encourage participation in the future. As more people learn about Exchange Japan, companies that have partnered with the project are given a new forum to reach out to for future recruitment and marketing.