Swedes in Japan (在日スウェーデン人) (Swedish: Svenskar i Japan) consists of Swedish migrants to Japan, as well as their descendants. In December 2023, there were 1,871 Swedes living in Japan.[2]
  | |
| Total population | |
| 1,871 (2023)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Tokyo, Kyoto, Saitama, Sapporo | |
| Languages | |
| Swedish | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Shinto | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Swedes |
History
editJohan Olofsson Bergenstierna was the first Swede to visit Japan, arriving on the island of Dejima in 1647. He later became a marine leader in Sweden.[3] Following the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries in 1868, many Swedish explorers visited Japan. The first large arrivals of Swedes in Japan were in the 1960s when many Swedes arrived to study or live in Japan. Since then Swedes have been one of the significant European communities in Japan. In 2000, there were about 1,000 Swedes in Japan. With almost 2,000 Swedes in Japan as of 2023, it is the largest Scandinavian community in the country and the largest Swedish community in East Asia.[4] Since Swedish culture gained popularity in Japan, especially pop culture, many Swedish events were held in Japan by the Swedish community.[5] Japan has a Swedish protestant church and there have also been wedish-Japanese marriages. Many Swedes are students and work as artists or in Swedish gastronomy.[6][7][8]
In 1984, Sweden Hills was built in Hokkaido where it became a village with Swedish-style houses. It has a population of about 800 and hosts Swedish cultural events. It has also a Swedish cultural center.[9][10]
Notable people
editReferences
edit- ^ 2023年末在留外国人統計
- ^ 2023年末在留外国人統計
- ^ "Johan Olofsson Bergenstierna". Riskarkivet (in Swedish). Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ "Svenska migranters upplevelser i Japan", Diva Portal (in Swedish), retrieved 21 October 2024
- ^ "Summer festival of Metsä". Metsa Hanno. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Anime-Loving Cartoonist from Sweden Shares Joys of Tokyo Life". Tokyo Updates Metro. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Lilla Dalarna Small Swedish countryside house in the middle of Tokyo", Japan Travel, 24 October 2018, retrieved 21 October 2024
- ^ "On plates, Sweden and Japan are a natural pair". Japan Times. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Sweden Hills – An idyllic Swedish town in Japan". Swedish Nomad. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Russell, Dave (19 June 2018). "Swedish lifestyle and culture thriving in Japan". Sveriges Radio. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
