President Stubb's visit to Japan strengthens bilateral ties between the two countries

Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
Press release 37/2025
2 June 2025

President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb, accompanied by his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stubb, will pay a visit to Japan on 8–12 June 2025. The aim of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations between Finland and Japan, discuss current security policy issues and global challenges, and promote cooperation between Finnish and Japanese companies.

During his stay in Japan, President Stubb will meet with Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan. President Stubb will also make a state call on his Majesty the Emperor of Japan.

The programme will begin on Monday 9 June in Hakui City, Ishikawa, with a meeting with the Mayor of Hakui and a visit to the Hakui City Public Library. Later in the day, President Stubb and Mrs Innes-Stubb will visit a high school in the town of Nakanoto, Ishikawa.

On Tuesday morning, 10 June, President Stubb will give a public lecture on geopolitics and the transformation of the multilateral order at the University of Tokyo and meet with students. The event is hosted by the University of Tokyo's Research Centre for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST).

In the afternoon, Business Finland and the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) are organizing a business meeting at which President Stubb will give a speech. The day will conclude with a reception hosted by the Embassy of Finland in Tokyo to celebrate the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces.

On Wednesday, June 11, President Stubb will meet with foreign policy experts at a High-Level Roundtable organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Japan. The discussions will focus on the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The programme also includes meetings with Fukushiro Nukaga, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan and representatives of the Japan-Finland Parliamentary Friendship League.

On Thursday 12 June, the presidential couple will visit the EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and open the special Finland Day celebrations. The main theme of the Osaka World Expo is Designing Future Society for Our Lives. Finland is participating in the World Expo with a joint Nordic pavilion. The Nordic concept is based on the countries’ shared values of trust and collaboration. In Finland, the project is being implemented by Business Finland.

During the visit, Mrs Suzanne Innes-Stubb will have a separate programme in addition to the joint programme of the presidential couple. In Tokyo, she is scheduled to meet Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado of Japan, as well as representatives from UN Women and the Japan Women's Innovative Network. She will also visit the Meiji University.

President Stubb’s delegation will include Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio, Member of Parliament and Chair of Parliamentary Economic Affairs Committee Sakari Puisto, Member of Parliament and Chair of the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Japan and Chair of the Intelligence Oversight Committee Mats Löfström, and Member of Parliament and Chair of the Defence Committee Heikki Autto. The President will also be accompanied by a Finnish business delegation with representatives from the defence and technology industries.

Former President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö and his spouse Jenni Haukio last visited Japan in 2019 to attend the coronation of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino visited Finland in 2019 to celebrate the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Finland and Japan.