Finnish–Japanese Arctic Research Project Meeting Held at Hokkaido University

The meeting brought together scholars from Hokkaido University and the Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland to advance their joint research collaboration on Arctic geopolitics and governance.

Participants from Hokkaido University included Profs. Juha Saunavaara, Fujio Ohnishi, Dr. Marina Lomaeva, and Ms. Yumi Tanaka. Prof. Kamrul Hossain represented the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland. The meeting focused on the progress of the bilateral research project, “The Russian invasion of Ukraine – impacting actions and visions of Japan and Finland in the Arctic,” funded jointly by the Research Council of Finland and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. The project examines how Finland and Japan can jointly respond to evolving geopolitical and security challenges in the Arctic region, including the impacts of international tensions on Arctic governance, Indigenous communities, and academic cooperation.

During the meeting, the partners discussed the development of a policy brief to be finalized by the end of the project period. The participants also planned a joint workshop to be held in Rovaniemi in September 2026, followed by a joint seminar in Sapporo later in the fall with participation from scholars from both Finland and Japan. The project is jointly led by the Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law at the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland and Hokkaido University, in collaboration with the UArctic Chair in Arctic Legal Research and Education and the Thematic Network on Arctic Law. The initiative further strengthens long-standing academic cooperation between Finland and Japan and promotes bilateral research exchange and mobility between the two countries.